LI Light Industrial Zoning in Arlington, Texas
The LI: Light Industrial district in the City of Arlington is designed to accommodate research, processing, warehousing, and various indoor industrial activities alongside supporting commercial and office uses. Development within the LI district requires a minimum lot area of 15,000 square feet and maintains a strict 25-foot setback when adjacent to single-family residential properties [Section 2.3.10, Section 5.4.9]. While the district primarily focuses on employment-generating uses, it also permits certain high-density residential and mixed-use developments subject to specific location and design criteria [Section 3.2.1].
Purpose and Scope of the LI District
The City of Arlington established the Light Industrial (LI) district to serve both community and regional needs for industrial and service-oriented development. It is a fundamental policy of the City of Arlington that these districts be located away from low- and medium-density residential neighborhoods to prevent adverse impacts [Section 2.3.10].
Detailed List of Allowed Uses
Uses in the City of Arlington are classified as Permitted (P), Permitted subject to supplemental standards (P*), or requiring a Specific Use Permit (S or S*).
Industrial and Wholesale Uses
The LI district is the primary location for the following industrial activities:
- Permitted By-Right: Building maintenance sales and service (P*), Cleaners (commercial), Flex/Office/Commerce, Food processing, Heavy machinery rental/sales/service, Medical or scientific research laboratory, Microbrewery/winery, Wrecker service, Custom and craft work (P*), Manufacturing and assembly (small-scale), Manufacturing (light), Manufacturing (heavy), Salvage yard (indoor), Cold storage plant, Contractors plant/storage yard, Distribution center/warehouse, and Wholesale supply business [Table 3.1-2].
- Permitted via Specific Use Permit (SUP): Asphalt or concrete batch plant (S), Gas well (S*), High-impact use (S), and Salvage yard (outdoor) (S*) [Table 3.1-2].
Commercial and Office Uses
The City of Arlington permits various commercial uses to support the industrial nature of the LI district:
- Permitted By-Right: Animal production, Crop production, Kennel (commercial), Stables (P*), Veterinary clinic (P*), Car wash, Motor vehicle fueling facility, Motor vehicle rental, Motor vehicle sales (new), Bank or financial institution (P*), Bar (P*), Catering service, Restaurant (including take-out, delivery, and drive-through), Office (business or professional), Telemarketing call center, Bail bond service, General personal services, Massage therapy clinic, Tattoo parlor or piercing studio, Gun range (indoor), Lodge or fraternal organization, and most indoor recreation types [Table 3.1-2].
- Permitted via Specific Use Permit (SUP): Auto service center (S*), Auto repair garage (major) (S*), Motor vehicle sales (used) (S*), Alternative financial institution (S*), Day care center (S*), Private club (S), and Marina (S*) [Table 3.1-2].
Residential and Mixed-Use
Residential occupancy in the LI district is restricted to high-density or specialized formats:
- Permitted (Subject to Standards): Dwelling (live/work), Dwelling (multi-family), and Mixed-use development or building [Table 3.1-2].
- Note: Multi-family dwellings in the City of Arlington Light Industrial district are prohibited if they are located within 1,000 feet of an existing High Impact Use or within 3,000 feet of the Arlington Municipal Airport [Section 3.2.1.A.2.a].
Public and Institutional Uses
- Permitted By-Right: Art gallery or museum, Government administration and civic buildings, Philanthropic institution, Religious assembly, Trade school, University/college, Hospital, and Public parks or playgrounds [Table 3.1-2].
- Permitted via Specific Use Permit (SUP): Correctional facility (S), Hospital (psychiatric) (S), and Cemetery (S) [Table 3.1-2].
Prohibited Uses
Within the City of Arlington, the LI Light Industrial district expressly prohibits several uses to preserve the integrity of the zone and public safety:
- Household Living: Dwelling (duplex), Dwelling (single-family detached), Dwelling (townhouse), and HUD-Code manufactured homes [Table 3.1-2].
- Group Living: Assisted living facilities, Boarding home facilities, Community homes for disabled persons, and Foster family or group homes [Table 3.1-2].
- Specific Prohibitions: Overnight truck parking lots are prohibited in all City of Arlington zoning districts, including Light Industrial [Section 3.4.5.C].
- Used Vehicle Sales: Motor vehicle sales (used) are specifically prohibited within the Interstate 20 corridor (bounded by Cooper St, Arbrook Blvd, SH 360, and Bardin Rd) regardless of the Light Industrial designation [Section 3.2.3.B.5].
Technical and Dimensional Standards
All development in the City of Arlington LI district must adhere to the following dimensional requirements:
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 15,000 square feet |
| Minimum Lot Width | 100 feet |
| Minimum Front Setback (Freeway/Frontage) | 20 feet |
| Minimum Front Setback (Other Streets) | 10 feet |
| Minimum Side or Rear Setback | 0 feet |
| Setback Adjacent to Single-Family Residential | 25 feet |
| Maximum Building Height | N/A (unlimited unless restricted by airport overlays) |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | N/A |
[Section 2.3.10, Section 4.1.6, Section 5.4.9]
Parking Requirements
The City of Arlington mandates off-street parking for LI district uses according to the following ratios:
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Office or Administrative Area | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Indoor Sales Area | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Warehousing (1–3,000 sq. ft.) | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Warehousing (10,001+ sq. ft.) | 0.8 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Manufacturing/Assembly | Schedule B Ratios Apply |
| Medical/Scientific Research Lab | Schedule B Ratios Apply |
[Section 5.4.3, Table 5.4-2]
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.1 General Purposes of All Non-Residential and Mixed-Use Districts
- Section 2.3.10 Light Industrial | LI
- Section 3.1.5 Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 3.2.1 Household Living (Residential Supplemental Standards)
- Section 3.2.3 Commercial Uses (Supplemental Standards)
- Section 3.4.5 Supplemental Temporary Use Standards
- Section 4.1.6 Setbacks
- Section 5.4.3 Off-Street Parking Standards
- Section 5.4.9 Parking Facility Location and Design
- Table 3.1-2 Allowed Uses – Non-residential and Mixed-Use Districts
- Table 5.4-2 Off-Street Parking Schedule B