Gymnasium and Fitness Center Zoning Guide for the City of Arlington
In the City of Arlington, gymnasiums and fitness centers are categorized as "Recreation, Indoor (Other Than Listed)" and are primarily allowed in commercial and industrial zoning districts, such as the Office Commercial (OC), General Commercial (GC), and Light Industrial (LI) districts. While these facilities are permitted by-right in most non-residential areas, specific supplemental standards apply in the Community Commercial (CC), Downtown Business (DB), and Regional Mixed-Use (RMU) districts regarding street access and total floor area.
Permitted Zoning Districts
The City of Arlington Unified Development Code allows indoor recreation facilities, including gymnasiums and physical fitness centers, in the following non-residential and mixed-use districts [Section 12.3.3.I.10]:
| District Type | District Name | Permission Status |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Office Commercial (OC) | Permitted* |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | Permitted | |
| Community Commercial (CC) | Permitted | |
| General Commercial (GC) | Permitted* | |
| Highway Commercial (HC) | Permitted | |
| Mixed-Use | Downtown Business (DB) | Permitted |
| Regional Mixed-Use (RMU) | Permitted* | |
| Industrial/Flex | Business Park (BP) | Permitted |
| Flex Hybrid (FH) | Permitted | |
| Light Industrial (LI) | Permitted | |
| Industrial Manufacturing (IM) | Permitted |
*An asterisk indicates that supplemental use standards apply in addition to general district regulations [Section 3.1.2.D].
Prohibited Districts
The following districts in the City of Arlington do not permit the establishment of commercial gymnasiums or fitness centers:
- All Residential Districts (RE, RS-20, RS-15, RS-7.2, RS-5, RM-12, RMF-22, and VG) [Section 3.1.5.A].
- Limited Office (LO) [Section 3.1.5.B].
- Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU) [Section 3.1.5.B].
Supplemental Use Standards
Certain districts within the City of Arlington impose additional requirements on indoor recreation uses to ensure compatibility with the surrounding transportation network and urban form.
Street Access Requirements
In the Community Commercial (CC) and Downtown Business (DB) districts, any lot or use for an indoor recreation facility must have primary access from an arterial street or a major collector street, as identified on the City of Arlington Thoroughfare Development Plan [Section 3.2.3.G.3.a].
Size Limitations
In the Regional Mixed-Use (RMU) district, the maximum allowble size for a "Recreation, Indoor (Other Than Listed)" use is limited to 25,000 square feet of gross floor area [Section 3.2.3.G.3.b].
Parking and Design Standards
The City of Arlington requires that all non-residential developments provide adequate off-street parking and adhere to specific design elements.
Off-Street Parking
Parking requirements for gymnasiums and fitness centers in the City of Arlington are governed by "Schedule C." Under this schedule, the Zoning Administrator determines the required number of spaces by applying standards from the most similar listed use or by reviewing a parking analysis provided by the applicant [Section 5.4.3.C].
Multi-Family Site Amenities
While commercial gymnasiums are restricted to the districts noted above, the City of Arlington allows "Fitness centers with sauna or steam rooms" as private site amenities within multi-family residential developments. These must be at least 500 square feet in size and are intended for the exclusive use of residents [Section 5.12.4.E, Table 5.12-1].
Sections Cited
- Section 3.1.2.D (Supplemental Use Standards)
- Section 3.1.5.A (Allowed Uses – Residential Districts)
- Section 3.1.5.B (Allowed Uses – Non-Residential and Mixed-Use Districts)
- Section 3.2.3.G.3 (Recreation, Indoor (other than listed) Supplemental Standards)
- Section 5.4.3.C (Off-Street Parking Schedule C)
- Section 5.12.4.E (Site Amenities)
- Section 12.3.3.I.10 (Recreation, Indoor (Other Than Listed) Definition)