Setback Requirements for the LO: Limited Office District in the City of Arlington
The LO: Limited Office district in the City of Arlington requires a 20-foot setback from freeways or frontage roads and a 10-foot setback from all other street frontages. Interior boundaries generally require a 20-foot side setback and a 10-foot rear setback, though any side or rear boundary adjacent to a single-family residential use must maintain a minimum 20-foot setback.
Standard Setback Requirements
Development within the LO: Limited Office district must adhere to specific dimensional standards to ensure compatibility with adjacent residential neighborhoods. The City of Arlington Unified Development Code defines these setbacks based on the type of boundary and the nature of the adjacent land use [Section 2.3.2].
| Boundary Type | Minimum Setback Requirement |
|---|---|
| Freeway or Frontage Road | 20 feet |
| All Other Streets | 10 feet |
| Interior Side Yard | 20 feet |
| Interior Rear Yard | 10 feet |
| Adjacent to Single Family (Side and/or Rear) | 20 feet |
Setback Measurement and Definitions
In the City of Arlington, setbacks are generally measured from the property line [Section 4.1.6.C]. However, the Unified Development Code distinguishes between different types of setbacks:
- Street Frontage Setback: This area extends along any front, side, or rear lot line that is adjacent to a street, private access easement, or alley [Section 4.1.6.A.1]. For arterial and collector streets, the setback is measured from the right-of-way line as shown on the City of Arlington Thoroughfare Development Plan. For all other streets, it is measured from the existing right-of-way [Section 4.1.6.C].
- Interior Side Building Setback: This is the area extending along a side lot line that is not adjacent to a street, easement, or alley [Section 4.1.6.A.2].
- Rear Building Setback: This area extends across the rear lot line when that line is not adjacent to a street or easement [Section 4.1.6.A.3].
Special Conditions and Limitations
Adjacency to Residential Dwellings
A primary goal of the LO: Limited Office district is to provide a transition between residential and non-residential areas. Therefore, the City of Arlington mandates a 20-foot setback for any yard (side or rear) that directly abuts a single-family residential use to provide an adequate buffer [Section 2.3.2.D].
Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Conversions
Under the City of Arlington's implementation of Senate Bill 840, the LO: Limited Office district may be used for multi-family or mixed-use residential developments. When these specific residential uses are established in the LO: Limited Office district, the following maximum caps apply to setbacks and buffers:
- Multi-Family Dwellings: In no instance shall a buffer or setback require more than 25 feet between a property line and a building [Section 5.12.4.F.1].
- Mixed-Use Residential Dwellings: Similarly, for mixed-use projects in non-residential districts like LO, the required buffer or setback is capped at 25 feet [Section 5.13.5.F.2].
Prohibited Encroachments
The City of Arlington prohibits buildings and paving (with the exception of authorized sidewalks and driveways) within required perimeter landscape setbacks. Additionally, the parking of motor vehicles within a perimeter landscape setback is expressly prohibited in the LO: Limited Office district [Section 5.2.2.B.2].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.2: Limited Office | LO
- Section 4.1.6: Setbacks
- Section 5.2.2: Landscaping Required
- 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)