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IM: Industrial Manufacturing District in the City of Arlington

Jurisdiction: City of Arlington•Code Version: August 26, 2025

The Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district in the City of Arlington is intended for heavy industrial, manufacturing, and supporting business operations that serve community and regional needs. City of Arlington regulations require that the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district be located away from low- and medium-density residential developments, necessitating a minimum building setback of 40 feet from any shared single-family residential property line [Section 2.3.11].

Purpose and Intent of the IM District

The City of Arlington established the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district to provide appropriate locations for high-intensity industrial activities [Section 2.3.11]. The general purposes of non-residential and mixed-use districts in the City of Arlington, including the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district, are to accommodate the needs of residents and businesses, encourage sound architectural design, and maintain the City of Arlington’s economic base [Section 2.3.1].

Specifically, the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district is designed to:

  • Accommodate heavy industrial and manufacturing uses [Section 2.3.11].
  • Provide space for supporting business and office uses [Section 2.3.11].
  • Ensure high-intensity uses are separated from sensitive residential areas to prevent adverse effects [Section 2.3.11].
  • Preserve, protect, and promote employment-generating uses within the Municipality [Section 2.3.1].

Permitted Land Uses

The City of Arlington allows a variety of industrial, commercial, and utility uses within the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district. Some uses are permitted by-right, while others require a Specific Use Permit (SUP) and may be subject to supplemental standards [Section 3.1.2].

Industrial and Manufacturing Uses

  • Manufacturing, Heavy: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Manufacturing, Light: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Manufacturing and Assembly, Small-Scale: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Asphalt or Concrete Batch Plant: Requires a Specific Use Permit [Table 3.1-2].
  • High-Impact Use: Requires a Specific Use Permit [Table 3.1-2].
  • Salvage Yard (Indoor): Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Salvage Yard (Outdoor): Requires a Specific Use Permit and must follow supplemental standards, including an eight-foot high solid masonry or concrete screening device [Section 3.2.4.B.3].

Commercial and Support Uses

  • Office, Business or Professional: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Animal Production and Crop Production: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Motor Vehicle Sales, New: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Motor Vehicle Sales, Used: Allowed in the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district, but expressly prohibited within the Interstate 20 corridor (bounded by Cooper Street, Arbrook Boulevard, State Highway 360, and Bardin Road) [Section 3.2.3.B.5].
  • Sexually Oriented Business: Permitted subject to supplemental standards, but prohibited in the aforementioned I-20 corridor area [Section 3.2.3.J].

Utility and Transportation Uses

  • Electric Generating Plant: Requires a Specific Use Permit [Table 3.1-2].
  • Utility Lines, Towers, or Metering Stations: Permitted by-right [Table 3.1-2].
  • Wireless Communication Facilities (Towers): Subject to Specific Use Permits and height-to-distance ratios (one-to-one distance to height ratio from a multi-family district) [Section 3.2.4.D.1.c].

Dimensional and Development Standards

All development within the City of Arlington's Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district must adhere to specific lot size, setback, and height requirements.

IM District Dimensional Standards

Standard Requirement
Minimum Lot Area 15,000 square feet
Minimum Setback: Freeway or Frontage Road 20 feet
Minimum Setback: All other streets 10 feet
Minimum Setback: Interior Side or Rear 0 feet
Minimum Setback: Adjacent to Single Family 40 feet
Maximum Building Height (General) N/A
Maximum Building Height (Within 40 feet of residential) 40 feet
Maximum Lot Coverage N/A

[Section 2.3.11]

Fencing and Screening

The City of Arlington enforces strict screening standards for Industrial Manufacturing (IM) properties to maintain the character of the Municipality.

  • Fencing Height: Fencing for industrial uses in the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district shall not exceed 12 feet in height [Section 5.3.4.B.2].
  • Prohibited Fencing: Sheet, roll, or corrugated metal, as well as cast-off or secondhand items, are prohibited for use as fencing or gates [Section 5.3.4.B.2].
  • Service and Loading Areas: Loading docks and heavy equipment storage areas must be screened by an opaque architectural device at least eight feet in height [Section 5.3.3.C].
  • Refuse Facilities: Trash dumpsters must be screened on three sides by a minimum eight-foot masonry fence with an evergreen living screen [Section 5.3.3.E].

General Character

The general character of the Industrial Manufacturing (IM) district is functional and industrial. While building height is generally not restricted, the City of Arlington mandates height limitations when an Industrial Manufacturing (IM) structure is adjacent to single-family residential areas to ensure compatibility [Section 2.3.11]. Sites are typically larger (minimum 15,000 square feet) to accommodate heavy machinery and large-scale production [Section 2.3.11]. External additions to existing Industrial Manufacturing (IM) structures that exceed 30 percent of the original gross square footage trigger a requirement for the entire site to comply with modern City of Arlington design and development standards [Section 5.1.3.A.3].

Sections Cited

  • Section 2.3.1, General Purposes of All Non-Residential and Mixed-Use Districts
  • Section 2.3.11, Industrial Manufacturing | IM
  • Section 3.1.2, Explanation of Table Abbreviations
  • Table 3.1-2, Allowed Uses – Non-residential and Mixed-Use Districts
  • Section 3.2.3.B, Auto Sales, Equipment, and Repair
  • Section 3.2.3.J, Sexually Oriented Business
  • Section 3.2.4.B, Manufacturing
  • Section 3.2.4.D, Utilities
  • Section 5.1.3, Existing Structures
  • Section 5.3.3, Screening of Service, Loading, and Storage Areas
  • Section 5.3.4.B, Fencing in Non-Residential and Mixed-Use Districts
  • Article 12, Definitions

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