RS-5 Residential Single-Family 5 Setback Requirements in the City of Arlington
In the City of Arlington, the RS-5: Residential Single-Family 5 district requires a minimum front street setback of 20 feet and interior side and rear setbacks of 5 feet for primary structures. Specific setbacks for side and rear yards that face streets vary between 5 and 20 feet depending on whether the property abuts a public roadway or a private access easement. Certain residential design features, such as covered porches and j-swing garages, may qualify for a 5-foot reduction in the required front setback under specific conditions.
RS-5 District Setback Standards
The City of Arlington establishes specific dimensional standards for the RS-5: Residential Single-Family 5 district to accommodate medium-density single-family detached residential uses. These standards ensure adequate light, air, and privacy while maintaining the character of the neighborhood [Section 2.2.1].
The following table outlines the minimum setback requirements for structures within the RS-5: Residential Single-Family 5 district:
| Setback Category | Condition | Minimum Requirement (Feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Street Front | All conditions | 20 |
| Street Side | Adjacent to all roadways | 15 |
| Street Side | Adjacent to private access easement or alley | 10 |
| Street Rear | Adjacent to all roadways | 20 |
| Street Rear | Adjacent to private access easement or alley | 5 |
| Interior Side | Not adjacent to a street | 5 |
| Interior Rear | Not adjacent to a street | 5 |
| Non-Residential Adjacent to Single-Family | Side and/or rear property lines | 20 |
[Section 2.2.6]
Measurement and Definitions
In the City of Arlington UDC, a street frontage setback is defined as the area extending along any front, side, or rear lot line adjacent to a street, private access easement, or alley where no structure may be built. An interior side building setback applies to the area along a side lot line not adjacent to a street or easement. A rear building setback applies across the rear lot line when it is not adjacent to a street or easement [Section 4.1.6.A].
For corner lots in the RS-5: Residential Single-Family 5 district, the City of Arlington identifies only one lot line as the front lot line for setback purposes. Typically, this is the shorter line abutting a public street [Section 4.1.6.E; Section 12.7.1]. Additionally, corner lots must provide an extra 10 feet of lot width (or 20 feet if abutting an arterial street) over the minimum standards to ensure appropriate building setbacks and orientation [Section 4.1.5].
Authorized Setback Reductions and Encroachments
The City of Arlington allows for certain modifications to the standard setbacks in the RS-5 district:
Front Setback Reductions
- Porches and J-Swing Garages: Covered front porches and j-swing garages (where the garage door is not facing the street) may encroach up to 5 feet into the 20-foot front setback if the lot fronts a local street, private access easement, or alley. This reduction is not available for front-entry garages [Section 4.1.6.G.1].
- Architectural Features: Cornices, eaves, canopies, and similar features may project up to 2 feet into any required yard, provided they do not occupy more than 2% of the required setback area and remain at least 5 feet from the lot line [Section 4.1.6.H.3].
Rear Setback Reductions
- Double-Frontage Lots: If a residence in the RS-5: Residential Single-Family 5 district is on a double-frontage lot where the rear line is a minor arterial or local street and a permitted fence is installed, the rear setback may be reduced to 5 feet [Section 4.1.6.G.4].
Accessory Structure Setbacks
- General Rule: Accessory buildings in the RS-5 district must be located at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines [Section 3.3.6.A.3.b].
- Street-Facing Side Yards: A minimum setback of 15 feet is required from a side property line adjacent to a street on a corner lot. This may be reduced to 10 feet if a side screening fence is installed [Section 3.3.6.A.3.b.i].
- Arterial/Collector Buffer: A minimum setback of 20 feet is required from a rear property line adjacent to an arterial or collector street. This can be reduced to 5 feet if the accessory structure is 200 square feet or smaller and no taller than 8 feet in wall height [Section 3.3.6.A.3.b.ii].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.2.1, General Purposes of All Residential Zone Districts
- Section 2.2.6, Residential Single-Family-5 | RS-5
- Section 3.3.6.A, Accessory Building
- Section 4.1.5, Minimum Lot Width
- Section 4.1.6, Setbacks
- Section 12.7.1, Other Terms Defined