Maximum Lot Coverage Requirements for Residential Property in Bentonville

In the City of Bentonville, maximum lot coverage for residential properties varies significantly by zoning district and building type, ranging from 10% in Residential Estate (R-E) districts to 100% in the Downtown Core (DC). Most standard low-density residential zones, such as R-1, typically limit lot coverage to 40% for interior lots and 45% for corner lots. Specific residential types like townhouses and multi-family structures in higher-density districts often allow for expanded coverage reaching up to 80%.

Definition of Lot Coverage in Bentonville

The City of Bentonville defines "Lot Coverage" as the percentage of the total lot area occupied by the ground area of all principal and accessory buildings [Section 201.02]. For specific calculations, the code also references the "Ground Coverage Ratio," which includes the area within the outside lines of exterior walls of all buildings, including porches, decks, patios, balconies, and bay windows. Notably, in Bentonville's R-1 and R-2 Districts, garages and carports are excluded from the ground coverage ratio calculation [Section 201.02].

Standard Residential (R) Districts

The following table outlines the maximum allowable lot coverage for various residential developments within the standard Residential (R) Districts of Bentonville.

District	Building Type	Max. Coverage (Interior Lot)	Max. Coverage (Corner/Exterior Lot)
R-E (Residential Estate)	All	10%	15%
R-1 (Low Density Single Family)	Single Family	40%	45%
R-1 (Low Density Single Family)	Cottage Court	50%	55%
R-2 (Medium Density)	Single Family / Two-Family	40% / 50%	45% / 55%
R-2 (Medium Density)	Townhouse (Structure)	65%	70%
R-3 (Med-High Multi-family)	Single Family / Two-Family	40% / 50%	45% / 55%
R-3 (Med-High Multi-family)	Multi-Family / Townhouse	65%	70%
R-4 (High Density Multi-family)	Multi-Family	50%	55%
R-MH (Manufactured Home)	Manufactured Home Lot/Park	30%	35%
R-ZL (Zero Lot Line)	Zero Lot Line Units	60%	65%
R-O (Residential Office)	Single Family / Two-Family	40% / 50%	45% / 55%

[Source: Section 401.07]

Downtown Neighborhood (DN) Districts

The City of Bentonville applies unique standards to the Downtown Neighborhood (DN) Districts to encourage higher density and traditional urban design while maintaining neighborhood character [Section 401.07-B].

District	Building Type	Max. Coverage (Interior Lot)	Max. Coverage (Corner/Exterior Lot)
DN-1	Single-family	40%	45%
DN-1	Cottage Court	50%	55%
DN-2	Single-family (with/without alley)	50%	55%
DN-2	Townhouse (Structure)	60%	65%
DN-3	Single-family / Two-family	50%	55%
DN-3	Townhouse / Multi-family	65%	70%
DN-4	Single-family / Two-family	50%	55%
DN-4	Multi-family	75%	80%

[Source: Section 401.07-B]

Downtown (D) Districts

Residential uses are also permitted in the Downtown (D) Districts of Bentonville, which feature the highest allowable lot coverage to promote a dense, walkable urban core [Section 401.8-B].

District	Use Type	Max. Lot Coverage
DC (Downtown Core)	Residential and Mixed-Use	100%
DE (Downtown Edge)	Residential and Mixed-Use	80%

[Source: Section 401.8-B]

Accessory Structures and ADUs

The City of Bentonville also limits the coverage of individual structures on a lot. The total square footage of an individual accessory structure cannot exceed 50% of the total square footage of the primary structure, unless the lot is larger than two acres [Section 601.01]. Additionally, the cumulative lot coverage of all buildings (including Accessory Dwelling Units) must not exceed the maximum lot coverage allowed by the specific zoning district [Section 601.01, Section 601.02].

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