Permitted Zoning Districts for Bars and Nightclubs in the City of Arlington
In the City of Arlington, bars and nightclubs are primarily permitted in heavy commercial and industrial districts, with bars also permitted in the Downtown Business district. All such establishments must adhere to strict separation requirements, including a 500-foot buffer from any single-family or medium-density residential district and a 1,000-foot separation between competing nightclub or sexually oriented business locations [Section 3.2.3.D.1, Section 3.2.3.G.2].
Permitted Zoning Districts
The City of Arlington Unified Development Code distinguishes between "Bars" (establishments deriving more than 75% of revenue from alcohol) and "Nightclubs | Live Entertainment Venues." The following table outlines where these uses are permitted (P), permitted with a Specific Use Permit (S), or prohibited (blank). An asterisk (*) denotes that supplemental use standards apply.
| Zoning District | Bar | Nightclub / Live Entertainment Venue |
|---|---|---|
| CC (Community Commercial) | Prohibited | SUP Required (S*) |
| GC (General Commercial) | Prohibited | SUP Required (S*) |
| HC (Highway Commercial) | Prohibited | Permitted (P*) |
| DB (Downtown Business) | Permitted (P*) | Prohibited |
| FH (Flex Hybrid) | Permitted (P*) | Permitted (P*) |
| LI (Light Industrial) | Permitted (P*) | Permitted (P*) |
| RMU (Regional Mixed-Use) | Permitted (P*) | SUP Required (S*) |
[Table 3.1-2]
Supplemental Use Standards
The City of Arlington imposes specific operational and locational restrictions on these uses to mitigate impacts on adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Bars and Taverns
The City of Arlington defines a "Bar" as any establishment licensed by the State for the sale of alcoholic beverages that derives more than 75% of its gross revenue from on-premise consumption [Section 12.3.3.E.1].
- Residential Separation (DB and RMU): In the Downtown Business (DB) and Regional Mixed-Use (RMU) districts, no entrance or exit (excluding emergency exits) may be located within 500 feet of an RE, RS-20, RS-15, RS-7.2, RS-5, or RM-12 residential district [Section 3.2.3.D.1.a].
- Thoroughfare Access: Bars in the DB and RMU districts must have primary access from an arterial or major collector street as identified in the City of Arlington Thoroughfare Development Plan [Section 3.2.3.D.1.b].
Nightclubs and Live Entertainment Venues
A "Nightclub | Live Entertainment Venue" is defined as an establishment that offers entertainment for remuneration, often involving patron dancing and the dispensing of alcoholic beverages [Section 12.3.3.I.8].
- Residential Separation: In all City of Arlington districts, no entrance or exit (excluding emergency exits) may be located within 500 feet of an RE, RS-20, RS-15, RS-7.2, RS-5, or RM-12 residential district [Section 3.2.3.G.2.a.i].
- Site Separation: There shall not be other nightclubs or sexually oriented businesses within a 1,000-foot radius of the venue's tenant space [Section 3.2.3.G.2.a.iv].
- Size Restrictions: If the nightclub is located in a multi-tenant structure, the tenant space may not exceed 10% of the total gross square footage of the development. If it is a standalone structure, it is limited to a maximum of 5,000 square feet [Section 3.2.3.G.2.a.ii].
- Thoroughfare Access: Access to the lot must be from an arterial or major collector street [Section 3.2.3.G.2.a.iii].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
Both bars and nightclubs in the City of Arlington are subject to the highest parking ratios in the code to prevent spillover parking into public rights-of-way or adjacent properties.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Bar | 14 spaces per 1,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA) |
| Nightclub | 14 spaces per 1,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA) |
[Table 5.4-1]
Sections Cited
- Section 3.1.5: Table of Allowed Uses
- Table 3.1-2: Allowed Uses – Non-residential and Mixed-Use Districts
- Section 3.2.3.D: Food and Beverage Services
- Section 3.2.3.G: Recreation and Entertainment, Indoor
- Section 5.4.3: Off-Street Parking Standards
- Table 5.4-1: Off-Street Parking Schedule A
- Section 12.3.3.E.1: Bar (Definition)
- Section 12.3.3.I.8: Nightclub | Live Entertainment Venue (Definition)