Setback Requirements for the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 District in the City of Arlington
In the City of Arlington, primary residential structures in the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district must maintain a minimum front setback of 20 feet from local streets and 40 feet from arterial or collector streets. Standard interior side and rear setbacks are set at 10 feet, although specific provisions allow for a reduction of one side setback to 5 feet if the opposing side is increased to 15 feet [Section 2.2.4.D].
RS-15 Primary Structure Setback Standards
The following table outlines the minimum setback requirements for all primary structures within the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district in the City of Arlington.
| Setback Type | Condition | Requirement (Feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Street Front (min.) | Arterial or collector street | 40 |
| Local street, alley, or private access easement | 20 | |
| Street Side (min.) | All roadways | 15 |
| Private access easement or alley | 10 | |
| Street Rear (min.) | All roadways | 20 |
| Private access easement or alley | 5 | |
| Interior Side (min.) | Standard | 10* |
| Interior Rear (min.) | Standard | 10 |
| Adjacency | Non-residential adjacent to single-family (side/rear) | 20 |
*Note: In the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district, the interior side setback on one side may be reduced to 5 feet provided the setback on the other side of the structure is increased to 15 feet [Section 2.2.4.D].
Setback Reductions and Encroachments
The City of Arlington permits specific reductions to the standard RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district setbacks under certain design conditions:
Front Setback Reductions
In the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district, covered front porches and "j-swing" garages are permitted to encroach up to five feet into the 20-foot local street setback. This reduction is strictly prohibited for front-entry garages [Section 4.1.6.G.1].
Projections into Required Setbacks
Certain architectural and site features may project into the required setbacks of the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district as follows:
- Uncovered Patios: Paved terraces and patios not exceeding 12 inches in height may project into any required setback [Section 4.1.6.H.1].
- Cornices and Eaves: Architectural features like cornices, eaves, and sunshades may project up to two feet into a required yard, provided they do not occupy more than two percent of the setback area and remain at least five feet from the lot line [Section 4.1.6.H.3].
- Roof Overhangs: Roofs over porches or stairways may encroach up to five feet into a front setback, provided the area remains exterior to the building and is enclosed only by a railing [Section 4.1.6.H.4].
- Swimming Pools: A pool and its surrounding decking may project into the required side or rear setback, but the outside wall of the pool must remain at least five feet from the property line [Section 4.1.6.H.8].
Setback Measurement Rules
The City of Arlington measures setbacks from the property lines with the following clarifications:
- Thoroughfare Plan Streets: For properties fronting arterial or collector streets, setbacks are measured from the right-of-way line established by the Thoroughfare Development Plan [Section 4.1.6.C.1].
- Non-Thoroughfare Streets: For all other streets, setbacks are measured from the existing right-of-way [Section 4.1.6.C.2].
- Corner Lots: Only one lot line is designated as the front lot line for the purpose of measuring the front setback. The Zoning Administrator typically determines this based on the prevailing pattern of the street [Section 4.1.6.E].
Accessory Building Setbacks
Within the RS-15: Residential Single-Family 15 district, enclosed accessory buildings (such as storage sheds or detached garages) are subject to the following placement rules:
- Location: They may not be located between the front property line and an imaginary line drawn from the front corners of the main building to the side property lines [Section 3.3.6.A.3.a].
- Side and Rear: Generally, they must be located at least five feet from side and rear property lines [Section 3.3.6.A.3.b].
- Thoroughfare Adjacency: A minimum setback of 20 feet is required from a rear property line that is adjacent to an arterial or collector street [Section 3.3.6.A.3.b.ii].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.2.4: Residential Single-Family-15 | RS-15
- Section 3.3.6: Supplemental Accessory Use Standards
- Section 4.1.6: Setbacks