RS-15 Residential Single-Family 15 District in the City of Arlington
The RS-15 district in the City of Arlington is established to support low-density single-family detached residential development on lots with a minimum area of 15,000 square feet. This Residential Single-Family 15 classification limits residential density to a maximum of 4 units per acre and permits a height up to 40 feet for primary structures.
Purpose and General Character
The primary intent of the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district is to provide for single-family detached dwellings and typical accessory developments at low densities within the City of Arlington [Section 2.2.4]. The character of the RS-15 district is defined by its substantial lot sizes (minimum roughly one-third of an acre) and standards designed to ensure adequate light, air, and privacy for all dwelling units while protecting these areas from incompatible land uses [Section 2.2.1].
Permitted Land Uses
In the City of Arlington, land use in the RS-15 district is categorized by whether a use is permitted by right (P), requires a Specific Use Permit (S), or is subject to supplemental use standards (*).
Residential and Group Living
- Dwelling, single-family detached: Permitted by right.
- Assisted living facility (≤6 residents): Permitted by right.
- Assisted living facility (≥7 residents): Requires a Specific Use Permit.
- Boarding home facility: Permitted by right subject to supplemental standards.
- Community home for disabled persons: Permitted by right.
- Foster family and group homes: Permitted by right.
Public, Institutional, and Commercial Uses
- Religious assembly: Permitted by right.
- Government administration and civic buildings: Permitted by right.
- Public or private school: Permitted subject to supplemental standards.
- Community garden: Permitted by right.
- Golf course: Permitted by right.
- Animal and crop production: Permitted by right.
- Day care center: Requires a Specific Use Permit subject to supplemental standards.
- Gas well: Requires a Specific Use Permit subject to supplemental standards.
[Table 3.1-1]
Dimensional and Development Standards
All development within the RS-15 district in the City of Arlington must adhere to specific intensity and placement requirements to maintain the low-density character of the neighborhood.
Intensity and Lot Dimensions
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Max. Density (Dwelling units/acre) | 4 |
| Min. Lot Area (Square Feet) | 15,000 |
| Min. Gross Living Area (Square Feet) | 2,000 |
| Min. Lot Width (Feet) | 80 |
| Min. Lot Depth (Feet) | 100 |
| Max. Building Height (Feet) | 40 |
| Max. Lot Coverage (%) | 40 |
Setback Requirements
| Type of Setback | Minimum Distance (Feet) |
|---|---|
| Front Setback (Arterial or collector) | 40 |
| Front Setback (Local street, alley, or private easement) | 20 |
| Side Setback (Interior) | 10 (One side may be 5 if the other is 15) |
| Street Side Setback (All roadways) | 15 |
| Street Side Setback (Private access easement or alley) | 10 |
| Rear Setback (Side) | 10 |
| Rear Setback (All roadways) | 20 |
| Rear Setback (Private access easement or alley) | 5 |
[Section 2.2.4]
Off-Street Parking Requirements
The City of Arlington requires that the RS-15 district provide sufficient off-street parking to prevent spillover into residential streets.
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Single-family detached dwelling | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Public or private school (Elementary/Middle) | 2 per classroom |
| Public or private school (High School) | 6 per classroom plus 1 per 300 sf of admin office |
| Assisted living facility (≤6 residents) | 2.0 per dwelling unit (not to exceed 1 per bedroom) |
| Religious assembly | 1 space per 4 seats (or 25% of max capacity) |
[Table 5.4-1]
Accessory and Temporary Structures
The RS-15 district permits various accessory and temporary uses, provided they remain subordinate to the primary residential use.
- Accessory Buildings: Must be located behind the front building line and at least five feet from side and rear property lines. A lot under one acre is limited to a maximum of 3 accessory buildings [Section 3.3.6].
- Temporary Uses: Construction field offices, construction storage yards, and real estate sales offices are permitted by right subject to supplemental standards [Table 3.4-1].
- Short-Term Rentals (STR): Permitted only if the property is located within the "STR Zone" (approximately one mile from the City of Arlington entertainment hub) [Section 3.4.5.E].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.2.1: General Purposes of All Residential Zone Districts
- Section 2.2.4: Residential Single-Family-15 | RS-15
- Table 3.1-1: Allowed Uses – Residential Districts
- Section 3.3.6: Supplemental Accessory Use Standards
- Table 3.4-1: Temporary Uses – Residential Districts
- Section 3.4.5: Supplemental Temporary Use Standards
- Table 5.4-1: Off-Street Parking Schedule A
- Section 12.3.1: Residential Uses (Definitions)