R-O: Residential Office Zoning Guide for Bentonville, Arkansas

In the City of Bentonville, the R-O: Residential Office district serves as a transition zone between high-intensity commercial areas and quiet residential neighborhoods. The district primarily allows for a blend of professional offices, medical facilities, and low-density single-family residential living, with building heights capped at 40 feet and minimum lot sizes of 6,000 square feet [Section 401.07].

Purpose and Intent

The City of Bentonville established the R-O: Residential Office district to provide a designated area for professional offices that do not have a specific limitation on the nature or size of the office. It is specifically intended to function as a transition area where standard residential activity may no longer be practical due to surrounding development, while still maintaining compatibility with existing community facilities and residential uses [Section 401.07].

Allowed and Prohibited Uses

Uses Allowed by Right

The following uses are permitted by right in the R-O: Residential Office district within the City of Bentonville [Section 401.05]:

Residential: Single-family dwellings, assisted living facilities, extended medical care facilities, and temporary shelters.
Offices & Professional Services: General offices, doctor's offices (up to four practitioners), medical laboratories, substance abuse or mental health treatment clinics, financial institutions, and funeral homes.
Public & Institutional: Educational facilities, libraries, museums, cultural studios, governmental service facilities, public safety services, and postal services.
Commercial/Retail: Pharmacies, mobile food vendors, and outdoor vending on private property.
Other: Domestic/household animals and household repair services.

Conditional Uses

The following uses require a Conditional Use Permit approved by the Bentonville Planning Commission to ensure they are compatible with the surrounding R-O: Residential Office area [Section 301.06]:

Residential: Group homes and rehabilitation facilities.
Commercial & Hospitality: Retail stores, restaurants, bakeries, artisan shops, and bed and breakfasts.
Public & Recreation: Religious facilities (churches/synagogues), community centers, and aquariums.
Services: Adult day care, licensed family home child care (6–16 children), and principal-use parking facilities.
Utility & Misc: Utility facilities, wireless communication facilities (cell towers), temporary uses, and urban farms.

Accessory Uses

The City of Bentonville permits these uses only when they are subordinate and incidental to a primary allowed use in the R-O: Residential Office district [Section 201.02]:

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Type A home occupations.
Nonresidential accessory buildings.
Solar energy systems and small wind energy systems.
Donation boxes.

Prohibited Uses

Per the City of Bentonville's regulations, any use not explicitly listed as allowed by right, conditional, or accessory is prohibited in the R-O: Residential Office district. Significant prohibited uses include:

Residential: Two-family dwellings (duplexes), multi-family dwellings (apartments), townhouses, and manufactured home parks [Section 401.05].
Industrial: Intensive or light industrial manufacturing, salvage yards, and slaughterhouses.
Intensive Commercial: Gas stations, car washes, automobile repair, and liquor stores.
Recreation: Bowling alleys, nightclubs, movie theaters, and outdoor amusement parks.

Development Standards

All developments within the R-O: Residential Office district in Bentonville must adhere to specific bulk and area requirements.

Lot and Setback Requirements

Standard	Requirement for R-O District
Minimum Lot Area	6,000 square feet
Minimum Lot Width	60 feet
Maximum Lot Coverage (Interior)	60%
Maximum Lot Coverage (Corner)	65%
Front Setback (Standard)	20 feet
Front Setback (Office with front parking)	50 feet
Side Setback (Interior)	7 feet
Side Setback (Exterior)	20 feet
Side Setback (Office Use)	10 feet
Rear Setback	25 feet
Maximum Building Height	40 feet

[Section 401.07]

Off-Street Parking Requirements

Parking in the R-O: Residential Office district must be provided according to the specific use of the property [Section 501.06]:

Use Category	Parking Ratio Requirement
Single-Family Dwelling	2 spaces per dwelling unit
General Office	1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area
Medical Clinic	1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area
Retail Sales	1 space per 250 sq. ft. of net floor area
Restaurant	1 space per 4 occupants (max capacity) + 1 space per employee (largest shift)

[Section 501.06]

Sections Cited

Article 201 Definitions
Sec 201.02 Definitions Of Terms And Uses
Article 301 Administration and Enforcement
Sec 301.06 Conditional Uses
Article 401 Zoning District Regulations
Sec 401.05 Table Of Uses For Zoning Districts
Sec 401.07 Residential (R) Districts Regulations
Article 501 Off-Street Parking and Loading
Sec 501.06 Number Of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required