Setback Requirements for the C-R Commercial Redevelopment District

In the C-R: Commercial Redevelopment District of Arlington County, front setbacks are generally required to be 40 feet from the centerline of the street, though specific streets within the Clarendon Revitalization District require buildings to be placed against the back of the sidewalk. Side and rear setbacks are not required for most commercial uses unless the property abuts a residential district or contains windows, in which case the setback scales based on building height. One-family dwellings within the Arlington County C-R district must adhere to stricter standards, including a 25-foot front setback and a 25-foot rear setback.

General Setback Standards for the C-R District

The placement of buildings in the Arlington County C-R district is governed by specific rules that prioritize the height of the structure and the type of use. While the C-R district section provides some specialized rules for the Clarendon area, it primarily defers to the general "Bulk, Coverage and Placement" standards of the ordinance [§7.20.3.F].

Standard Category	Use Type	Front Setback	Side Setback	Rear Setback
General District Standards	Commercial, Hotel, and Other	40 ft. from street centerline; must be at least 50% of building height [§3.2.6.A.1]	None required* [§3.2.6.A.2(a)]	None required* [§3.2.6.A.2(a)]
One-Family Dwelling	Residential	25 ft. from street right-of-way line [§3.2.6.A.1(e)]	10 ft. (may be reduced to 8 ft.)** [§3.2.6.A.2(b)]	25 ft. [§3.2.6.A.2(b)]
Clarendon Revitalization District	Specific Streets***	Against back of sidewalk (0 ft.) at ground level [§7.20.3.B.4(a)]	Per General Standards	Per General Standards

* Abutting Residential Rule: If a wall in the C-R district abuts an R or RA district or contains windows/openings, it must be set back 8 feet for the first 10 feet of building height, plus 2 additional feet for every additional 10 feet of height [§3.2.6.A.2(a)].
** Aggregate Width: The combined width of both side yards for a one-family dwelling cannot be less than 30 percent of the lot width [§3.2.6.A.2(b)].
*** Clarendon Streets: This applies to buildings fronting Wilson Boulevard, North Highland Street, or Clarendon Boulevard [§7.20.3.B.4].

Specialized Placement and Exceptions in Arlington County

Clarendon Revitalization District Placement

Arlington County mandates specific "build-to" requirements for properties within the Clarendon Revitalization District that front Wilson Boulevard, North Highland Street, or Clarendon Boulevard. The front building wall must be placed against the back of the sidewalk up to a height between 20 and 30 feet above the sidewalk level. Any portion of the building extending above this height must be set back at least 20 feet from the back of the sidewalk unless a site plan modification is approved [§7.20.3.B.4(a)].

Height-Based Centerline Setbacks

For general commercial or mixed-use structures in the C-R district, Arlington County prohibits any structure from being located closer to the centerline of any street (or officially designated street right-of-way) than 50 percent of the building's height [§3.2.6.A.1].

Encroachments and Equipment

Certain minor structures are permitted to encroach into the required setbacks in the C-R district:

Architectural Features: Bay and oriel windows (without floor space) and chimneys may encroach up to 18 inches [§3.2.6.A.3(a)(1)].
Mechanical Equipment: Air conditioning units and generators are permitted in required side and rear yards provided they are at least eight feet from any side lot line and 10 feet from any rear lot line. If screened by a fence or vegetation, they may be as close as eight feet to a street right-of-way or rear lot line [§3.2.6.A.3(b)].
Roofed Areas: Any roofed-over area attached to a main structure that encroaches into a required yard cannot be enclosed [§3.2.6.A.3(c)].

Sections Cited