Setback Requirements for the RM-12 Residential Medium-Density 12 District in the City of Arlington
In the RM-12: Residential Medium-Density 12 district of the City of Arlington, the primary street front setback is 40 feet for arterial or collector streets and 20 feet for local streets, alleys, or private access easements. Interior side setbacks are a minimum of 5 feet, while interior rear setbacks must be at least 10 feet. These standards are subject to specific reductions for townhouses, duplexes, and residential features such as covered porches and j-swing garages [Section 2.2.7.D, Section 4.1.6.G].
Standard Setback Requirements for RM-12
The City of Arlington Unified Development Code establishes specific minimum setbacks for the RM-12 district based on the type of roadway or the orientation of the lot line. These setbacks ensure appropriate transitions between higher-density developments and lower-density neighborhoods [Section 2.2.7.A].
Minimum Street Frontage, Side, and Rear Setbacks
| Setback Location | Roadway/Easement Type | Minimum Distance (Feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Street Front | Arterial or Collector | 40 |
| Street Front | Local street, alley, or private access easement | 20 |
| Street Side | All roadways | 20 |
| Street Side | Private access easement or alley | 20 |
| Street Rear | All roadways | 20 |
| Street Rear | Private access easement or alley | 5 |
Minimum Interior Setbacks
| Setback Type | Adjacent Land Use/Condition | Minimum Distance (Feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Side | Standard | 5 |
| Interior Rear | Standard | 10 |
| Interior (Side/Rear) | Non-residential uses adjacent to single-family | 20 |
[Section 2.2.7.D]
Permitted Setback Reductions and Exceptions
The City of Arlington provides several provisions for reducing minimum setbacks in the RM-12 district, particularly for specific housing types and architectural features.
Residential Architectural and Garage Reductions
In the RM-12 district, certain structures may encroach into the required street front setback:
- Porches and J-Swing Garages: Covered front porches and j-swing garages may encroach up to five feet into the 20-foot setback required for local streets, private access easements, or alleys. This reduction is not applicable to front-entry garages [Section 4.1.6.G.1].
- Townhouses and Duplexes: The minimum front setback for these uses may be reduced to 15 feet if vehicular access is provided by a private access easement at the rear of the structure, and the lot fronts a minor collector, local street, or private access easement [Section 4.1.6.G.2].
Special Boundary and Lot Conditions
- Attached Townhouses: The interior side setback for an attached townhouse may be reduced to zero feet, except for end units, which must maintain a minimum side setback of five feet [Section 4.1.6.G.3].
- Double-Frontage Lots: If a single-family or townhouse residence in the RM-12 district is developed on a double-frontage lot with a minor arterial or local street as the rear lot line (and a fence is installed per City of Arlington standards), the rear setback for the residence and accessory structures may be reduced to five feet [Section 4.1.6.G.4].
General Measurement Rules
Setbacks in the City of Arlington are measured from the property lines with specific exceptions for rights-of-way. For arterial and collector streets, street frontage setbacks are measured from the right-of-way line as shown on the Thoroughfare Development Plan [Section 4.1.6.C.1]. For all other streets, setbacks are measured from the existing right-of-way [Section 4.1.6.C.2].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.2.7: Residential Medium-Density | RM-12
- Section 4.1.6: Setbacks
- Section 5.3.4: Fences