Office Commercial (OC) Setback Standards for the City of Arlington
In the City of Arlington Office Commercial (OC) district, the minimum front setback is 10 feet for standard streets and 20 feet for properties located along freeways or frontage roads. While side and rear setbacks are generally not required (0 feet), a minimum 20-foot setback must be maintained when the Office Commercial (OC) property is adjacent to a single-family residential use or district. Residential conversions or mixed-use developments within this district are subject to specific caps, ensuring no required buffer or setback exceeds 25 feet.
Minimum Setback Requirements
The City of Arlington Unified Development Code establishes specific building setbacks for the Office Commercial (OC) district to ensure appropriate separation between structures and public rights-of-way or differing land uses.
| Setback Category | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front: Freeway or Frontage Road | 20 feet |
| Front: All Other Streets | 10 feet |
| Side (General) | 0 feet |
| Rear (General) | 0 feet |
| Side or Rear: Adjacent to Single-Family | 20 feet |
[Section 2.3.3]
Additional Requirements and Exceptions
Adjacency to Residential Areas
When an Office Commercial (OC) development in the City of Arlington is situated adjacent to a property used or zoned for single-family residential purposes, the side and rear setbacks are increased to 20 feet to provide a necessary transition and buffer between the commercial and residential uses [Section 2.3.3].
Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Limitations
Under certain provisions of the Texas Local Government Code (such as Senate Bill 840), the City of Arlington applies alternative standards for multi-family or mixed-use residential developments located within the Office Commercial (OC) district. For these specific residential types, the Unified Development Code stipulates that no required buffer or setback shall exceed 25 feet between a property line and a building [Section 5.12.4 and Section 5.13.5].
Measurement of Setbacks
In the City of Arlington, setbacks are measured from the property lines with specific rules for street frontages:
- Thoroughfare Plan Streets: For arterial and collector streets, setbacks are measured from the right-of-way line as designated on the Thoroughfare Development Plan [Section 4.1.6].
- Non-Thoroughfare Plan Streets: Setbacks are measured from the existing right-of-way [Section 4.1.6].
Double-Frontage and Corner Lots
For double-frontage lots within the City of Arlington Office Commercial (OC) district, street setbacks are required on all frontages [Section 4.1.6]. On corner lots, one lot line is designated as the front lot line (typically the shorter side abutting a street), and the front setback is measured from that line [Section 4.1.6 and Section 12.7.1].
Projections into Setbacks
The City of Arlington permits certain architectural features and structures to project into the required Office Commercial (OC) setbacks, provided they do not obstruct visibility triangles or encroach into the public right-of-way:
- Architectural Features: Cornices, eaves, sills, and similar features may project up to two feet into a required yard, provided they do not occupy more than two percent of the setback area [Section 4.1.6].
- Roofs over Porches: These may encroach up to five feet into a front setback if they remain exterior to the building [Section 4.1.6].
- Handicap Ramps: These are permitted within any required front, side, or rear setback [Section 4.1.6].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.3 Office Commercial | OC
- Section 4.1.6 Setbacks
- Section 5.12.4 Site Design and Building Organization (Multi-Family in Non-Residential)
- Section 5.13.5 Site Design and Building Organization (Mixed-Use in Non-Residential)
- Section 12.7.1 Other Terms Defined (Lot Line, Front)