Building Setback Requirements for the LI: Light Industrial District
In the City of Arlington, the LI: Light Industrial district requires a minimum front setback of 20 feet for properties fronting a freeway or frontage road and 10 feet for all other street types. Interior side and rear setbacks are generally not required (0 feet), except when the property is adjacent to a single-family residential use or district, in which case a minimum setback of 25 feet is mandatory.
Minimum Setback Standards for LI: Light Industrial
The LI: Light Industrial district in the City of Arlington establishes specific dimensional standards to ensure industrial uses are appropriately separated from public rights-of-way and sensitive residential areas. These setbacks are measured from the property lines or the right-of-way lines as defined in the Thoroughfare Development Plan [Section 2.1.3 and Section 4.1.6.C].
| Feature | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Setback: Freeway or Frontage Road | 20 feet |
| Front Setback: All Other Street Types | 10 feet |
| Interior Side Setback | 0 feet |
| Interior Rear Setback | 0 feet |
| Adjacent to Single-Family (Side and/or Rear) | 25 feet |
Supplemental Setback and Buffer Regulations
While the LI: Light Industrial district provides baseline building setbacks, the City of Arlington Unified Development Code specifies additional requirements that may influence the effective placement of structures.
Perimeter Landscape Setbacks
Under the City of Arlington’s design standards, all non-residential development (including Light Industrial) must maintain a perimeter landscape setback where buildings and most paving are prohibited [Section 5.2.2.B]. These landscape buffers must meet the following minimum widths based on the adjacent roadway type:
- Interstate Highway: 20 feet
- Major/Minor Arterial or Major Collector: 15 feet
- Minor Collector or Local Street: 10 feet [Section 5.2.2.B.3].
If the required landscape buffer exceeds the district's minimum building setback (for example, a 15-foot buffer on a Major Arterial vs. a 10-foot district setback), the more restrictive standard applies, effectively pushing the building back to the edge of the landscape buffer [Section 1.7.2].
Residential Adjacency and Screening
When an LI: Light Industrial property in the City of Arlington is located adjacent to property used or zoned for residential purposes, the developer is responsible for installing required screening and buffering [Section 5.3.1.B]. This adjacency triggers "Level 3" screening requirements when bordering single-family residential areas [Table 5.3-1].
Double Frontage Lots
In the LI: Light Industrial district, street setbacks are required on all frontages of a double-frontage lot. This differs from mixed-use districts, where setbacks may only be required for the primary structure's front yard [Section 4.1.6.D].
Setback Encroachments and Exceptions
The City of Arlington permits certain projections to extend into required setbacks, such as:
- Architectural Features: Cornices, eaves, and sills may project up to two feet into a required yard [Section 4.1.6.H.3].
- Roofs over Porches: May encroach up to five feet into a front setback [Section 4.1.6.H.4].
- Handicap Ramps: Permitted within any required front, side, or rear setback [Section 4.1.6.H.5].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.7.2, Conflict with Other Public Laws, Ordinances, Regulations, or Permits
- Section 2.1.3, Zoning District Map
- Section 2.3.10, Light Industrial | LI
- Section 4.1.6, Setbacks
- Section 5.2.2, Landscaping Required
- Section 5.3.1, Residential Screening and Buffering
- Section 12.7.1, Other Terms Defined (Setback)