Zoning Districts Allowing One-Family Dwellings in Arlington County
Arlington County permits the construction of one-family detached dwellings by-right in all Residential (R) districts, all Public (P) districts, most Multiple-Family (RA) districts, and nearly all Commercial/Mixed-Use (C) districts. Minimum lot area requirements for these residential homes vary significantly by district, ranging from 5,000 square feet in the R-5 and R2-7 districts to a minimum of 3 acres in the S-3A and P-S Special Districts.
Permitted Residential Districts
In Arlington County, the Residential (R) districts are primarily designed to accommodate one-family detached dwellings. According to the Residential Districts Principal Use Table, these homes are allowed by-right ("P") in every R district classification [§5.1.2].
The following table outlines the density and dimensional standards for one-family dwellings within these specific Arlington County residential zones:
Dimensional Standards for One-Family Dwellings (R Districts)
| Zoning District | Min. Lot Area (sq. ft.) | Min. Lot Width (ft.) | Max. Height (ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-20 | 20,000 | 100 | 35 |
| R-10 | 10,000 | 80 | 35 |
| R-10T | 10,000 | 80 | 35 |
| R-8 | 8,000 | 70 | 35 |
| R-6 | 6,000 | 60 | 35 |
| R-5 | 5,000 | 50 | 35 |
| R15-30T | 5,000 | 50 | 35 |
| R2-7 | 5,000 | 50 | 35 |
Sources: [§5.2.3, §5.3.3, §5.4.3, §5.5.3, §5.6.3, §5.7.3, §5.8.3, §5.9.3]
Maximum Lot Coverage and Footprint
Arlington County regulates the percentage of a lot that may be covered by structures. These limits are based on the specific zoning district assigned to the property.
| Category | R-5 | R-6 | R-8 | R-10 | R-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Lot Coverage (%) | 45% | 40% | 35% | 32% | 25% |
| Max. Main Building Footprint Coverage (%) | 34% | 30% | 25% | 25% | 16% |
Note: Coverage caps may be increased for dwellings featuring front porches or detached garages in the rear yard [§3.2.5.A].
Multiple-Family (RA) and Commercial (C) Districts
Arlington County also allows one-family detached dwellings in higher-density districts, often to preserve existing residential patterns or allow for transitional development.
Multiple-Family (RA) Districts
One-family detached dwellings are permitted by-right in the following RA districts [§6.1.2]:
- RA14-26
- RA8-18
- RA6-15
Note: The RA7-16 district does not list one-family detached dwellings as a permitted use in its principal use table [§6.1.2].
Commercial and Mixed-Use (C) Districts
Nearly all Arlington County Commercial districts allow one-family detached dwellings by-right. These include:
- Residential/Hotel/Commercial: RA4.8, R-C, RA-H-3.2, MU-VS, C-O-1.0, C-O-1.5, C-O-2.5, C-O, C-O-A, C-O Rosslyn, C-O Crystal City.
- Local and Service Commercial: C-1-R, C-1, C-1-O, C-2, C-TH, C-3.
- Form Based Code: CP-FBC and CPN-FBC.
One-family dwellings are explicitly prohibited (indicated by a blank cell in the use table) in the RA-H (Hotel) and C-R (Commercial Redevelopment) districts [§7.1.2].
Public (P) Districts
Arlington County permits one-family dwellings in all Public districts, though the required lot sizes for some are substantially larger to encourage the retention of undeveloped land [§4.1.2].
| Public District | Min. Lot Area | Min. Lot Width (ft.) | Max. Height (ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-3A (Special) | 3 acres | 60 | 35 |
| S-D (Special Development) | 6,000 sq. ft. | 60 | 35 |
| P-S (Public Service) | 3 acres | 60 | 35 |
Sources: [§4.2.3, §4.3.3, §4.4.3]
General Use Standards
For any property in Arlington County used for a one-family detached dwelling, the following standards apply:
- Definition: A residential building containing one dwelling unit designed for one family and located on a single lot with required yards on all four sides [§18.2].
- Limitations on Units: In all R districts (excepting specific townhouse developments), there shall be no more than one main residential building and its accessory buildings on one lot [§12.3.10].
- Parking: The standard requirement for a one-family dwelling is one off-street parking space per unit [§14.3.7].
Sections Cited
- §1.7 Zoning Districts Established
- §3.2.5 Coverage
- §4.1.2 Public (P) Districts Principal Use Table
- §4.2.3 S-3A Density and Dimensional Standards
- §4.3.3 S-D Density and Dimensional Standards
- §4.4.3 P-S Density and Dimensional Standards
- §5.1.2 Residential (R) Districts Principal Use Table
- §5.2.3 through §5.9.3 (Individual Residential District Standards)
- §6.1.2 Multiple-family (RA) Districts Principal Use Table
- §7.1.2 Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Principal Use Table
- §12.3.10 One-family detached dwellings
- §14.3.7 Required parking and standing space
- §18.2 General Terms Defined