Regulations and Use Standards for the RA-H: Hotel District
The RA-H: Hotel district in Arlington County is primarily intended to support hotel, high-density multiple-family residential, and broad commercial development, with building heights reaching up to 125 feet via special exception. While residential dwellings and certain civic uses are permitted by-right, the majority of hospitality and retail operations require site plan approval, and industrial activities are prohibited within Arlington County's RA-H: Hotel district.
Allowed Uses in the RA-H: Hotel District
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance categorizes uses in the RA-H: Hotel district based on their intensity and approval requirements. These include uses permitted by-right, those requiring a use permit (Special Exception), and those requiring site plan approval.
Residential and Group Living Uses
Arlington County permits various residential forms within the RA-H: Hotel district, though high-density projects often transition into the site plan approval process [Section 7.1.2].
- Permitted By-Right: One-family detached dwellings, duplexes, semidetached dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, and townhouses. Recovery residences with eight or fewer residents are also permitted by-right [Section 7.1.2, Section 12.3.9].
- Requires Use Permit: Recovery residences with more than eight residents, dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and group homes [Section 7.1.2].
- Requires Site Plan Approval: Independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes [Section 7.1.2].
Public, Civic, and Institutional Uses
A wide array of community-oriented facilities is allowed, though most require a use permit to ensure compatibility with the surrounding RA-H: Hotel district environment [Section 7.1.2].
- Permitted By-Right: Fire and police stations, churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and minor utilities [Section 7.1.2].
- Requires Use Permit: Colleges and universities, community centers, community swimming pools, libraries, museums, art galleries or studios, child care centers, hospitals, cemeteries, country clubs, golf courses, parks, playgrounds, and social service institutions [Section 7.1.2].
Commercial and Retail Uses
Commercial activity is a hallmark of the RA-H: Hotel district, typically occurring within larger mixed-use developments [Section 7.1.2].
- Permitted By-Right: Artisan beverages, shared commercial kitchens, audio-visual production and broadcast studios, research and development (flex), and agriculture [Section 7.1.2].
- Requires Use Permit: Kiosks, open-air markets, vehicle service establishments, and publicly owned parking areas [Section 7.1.2].
- Requires Site Plan Approval: Hotels or motels, restaurants, food catering establishments, movie or other theaters, membership clubs and lodges, financial services, and business or professional offices. This also includes retail sales (bakeries, drug stores, grocery stores, etc.) and personal services (animal care, dry-cleaning, barbershops, and mortuaries) [Section 7.1.2].
Prohibited Uses in the RA-H: Hotel District
Uses not explicitly listed as permitted (P), special exception (U/S), or conditional (C) in the Arlington County use tables are prohibited. Within the RA-H: Hotel district, the following categories are generally not allowed:
- Animal Shelters: Specifically omitted from the allowed personal service categories [Section 7.1.2].
- Industrial Service and Heavy Industrial: Uses such as car washes, vehicle body shops, and all heavy industrial or manufacturing operations are prohibited [Section 7.1.2].
- Self-Service Storage: This use is not permitted within the RA-H: Hotel district [Section 7.1.2].
- Wholesale Trade: All wholesale-related trade uses are prohibited [Section 7.1.2].
Density and Dimensional Standards
Development in the RA-H: Hotel district must adhere to specific lot and height requirements. Standards vary between by-right development and those approved through special exceptions [Section 7.4.3].
By-Right Development Standards
| Type of Standard | Multiple-family Dwellings | All Other Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 7,500 sq. ft. | 100,000 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Lot Area per Unit | 1,800 sq. ft. | N/A |
| Minimum Lot Width | 75 ft. | 200 ft. |
| Maximum Height (Feet) | 35 ft. | 95 ft. |
| Maximum Height (Stories) | 3.5 stories | 10 stories |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | N/A | 50% |
Special Exception Standards
| Type of Standard | Multiple-family and Hotels | Elder Care Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 100,000 sq. ft. | 100,000 sq. ft. |
| Maximum Height | 125 ft. / 12 stories | 125 ft. |
| Lot Area per Unit/Guest Room | 600 sq. ft. | N/A |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) | N/A | 1.5 |
Accessory Use Standards
Properties in the RA-H: Hotel district may include accessory uses that are incidental to the primary use of the lot.
- Allowed Accessory Uses: Family day care homes, food delivery services, home occupations, accessory homestays, and small cell or micro-wireless facilities [Section 7.1.3].
- Parking Restrictions: Commercial vehicles with a gross weight exceeding 16,000 pounds are generally prohibited from parking in the RA-H: Hotel district, unless actively loading or unloading [Section 12.9.4.A].
- Surface Coverage: While underground structures may cover an entire lot, the total surface area covered by buildings, roads, and parking after development must not exceed 50 percent [Section 7.4.3.B.1].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.7: Zoning Districts Established
- Section 7.1: Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Use Tables
- Section 7.4: RA-H, Hotel District
- Section 12.3.9: Recovery Residences
- Section 12.9.4: Commercial Vehicle Parking