RS-7.2: Residential Single-Family 7.2 District Setback Requirements in Arlington, Texas

In the City of Arlington, the RS-7.2: Residential Single-Family 7.2 district requires a minimum front building setback of 20 feet from local streets and 40 feet from arterial or collector roads. Interior side and rear setbacks for primary structures are established at a minimum of 5 feet, while street side setbacks require at least 15 feet from all roadways. Specific reductions of up to 5 feet are permitted for covered front porches and j-swing garages when fronting local streets [Section 2.2.5, Section 4.1.6.G].

Standard Building Setbacks for RS-7.2

The City of Arlington Unified Development Code defines specific setbacks for the RS-7.2: Residential Single-Family 7.2 district based on the type of roadway or access point the lot faces.

Setback Category	Roadway or Access Type	Minimum Distance (feet)
Front Setback	Arterial or collector	40
	Local street, alley, or private access easement	20
Street Side Setback	All roadways	15
	Private access easement or alley	10
Street Rear Setback	All roadways	20
	Private access easement or alley	5
Interior Side Setback	N/A	5
Interior Rear Setback	N/A	5
Adjacent to Single Family	Non-residential uses (side and/or rear)	20

[Section 2.2.5]

General Measurement Rules and Definitions

In the City of Arlington, building setbacks are measured from the property lines with specific rules for different street classifications:

Street Frontage Setback: This area extends along any front, side, or rear lot line adjacent to a street, private access easement, or alley where structures are prohibited [Section 4.1.6.A.1].
Measurement from Right-of-Way: For arterial and collector streets, the City of Arlington measures setbacks from the right-of-way line shown on the Thoroughfare Development Plan. For all other streets, measurements are taken from the existing right-of-way [Section 4.1.6.C].
Corner Lots: For corner lots within the City of Arlington, only one lot line is considered the front lot line for setback purposes. The Zoning Administrator may determine which street front serves as the front yard based on the prevailing pattern of the street [Section 4.1.6.E].

Authorized Setback Reductions and Encroachments

The City of Arlington Unified Development Code provides for specific reductions to the standard setbacks for the RS-7.2: Residential Single-Family 7.2 district under certain conditions:

Residential Features

Covered front porches and j-swing garages in the RS-7.2: Residential Single-Family 7.2 district may encroach up to five feet into the required 20-foot setback from a local street, private access easement, or alley. This reduction is not applicable to front-entry garages [Section 4.1.6.G.1].

Projections into Setbacks

Certain architectural features are permitted to project into required setbacks within the City of Arlington, provided they do not extend into a public or private easement:

Unroofed Landings and Decks: May project up to 5 feet into setbacks [Section 4.1.6.H.2].
Incidental Architectural Features: Cornices, eaves, and sills may project up to two feet into any required yard [Section 4.1.6.H.3].
Roofs Over Porches: May encroach up to five feet into a front setback [Section 4.1.6.H.4].
Swimming Pools: Decking and the pool itself may project into the required side or rear setback, but the outside wall must remain at least five feet from the lot line [Section 4.1.6.H.8].

Pavement and Driveway Limitations

In the RS-7.2: Residential Single-Family 7.2 district, the driveway length for front-loading, front-facing garages must be at least 20 feet from the front property line. Additionally, the total area of all pavement in the required minimum front yard setback cannot exceed one-half of the setback area or 600 square feet, whichever is less [Section 5.5.3.D.5].

Sections Cited

Section 2.2.5, Residential Single-Family-7.2 | RS-7.2
Section 4.1.6, Setbacks
Section 5.5.3, Standards for Single-Family and Two-Family Residential Dwellings