Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the RR: Regional Retail District in Dallas

The Regional Retail (RR) district in Dallas is a high-intensity land use category primarily intended for large-scale commercial centers and professional offices, allowing for a maximum building height of 70 feet and a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.75 for all combined uses. While the Dallas Regional Retail (RR) district permits an extensive array of commercial, retail, and institutional uses, it strictly limits residential options to college dormitories, effectively prohibiting single-family and multifamily residential developments. Development in this district often requires Residential Adjacency Review (RAR) when situated near residential zones to ensure compatibility with the surrounding Dallas community [Section 51A-4.122].

Development Standards for the Dallas Regional Retail (RR) District

The Dallas Development Code establishes specific physical constraints for the Regional Retail (RR) district to regulate density and urban form. These include requirements for setbacks, height, and lot coverage.

Standard Type	Requirement
Front Yard Setback	15 feet minimum [Section 51A-4.122(c)(4)(A)]
Side and Rear Yard Setback	20 feet if adjacent to or across an alley from a residential district; no minimum in all other cases [Section 51A-4.122(c)(4)(B)]
Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)	0.5 for office uses; 1.5 for all uses combined [Section 51A-4.122(c)(4)(D)]
Maximum Building Height	70 feet [Section 51A-4.122(c)(4)(E)]
Maximum Lot Coverage	80% [Section 51A-4.122(c)(4)(F)]
Maximum Stories	5 stories [Section 51A-4.122(c)(4)(H)]

Main Uses Permitted in the Regional Retail (RR) District

The Regional Retail (RR) district in Dallas allows for a wide variety of activities grouped by use category. Many uses are allowed "by right," while others require a Specific Use Permit (SUP), Residential Adjacency Review (RAR), or Development Impact Review (DIR).

Retail and Personal Service Uses

The Regional Retail (RR) district is dominated by retail and service-oriented permissions. Most standard retail uses are allowed by right.

Allowed by Right: Dry cleaning or laundry store, furniture store, general merchandise or food store, liquor store, mortuary, motor vehicle fueling station, nursery/garden shop, and personal service uses.
Allowed with RAR: Ambulance service, animal shelter or clinic (without outside runs), auto service center, car wash, and vehicle display/sales/service.
Allowed with SUP: Animal shelter or clinic (with outside runs), convenience store with drive-through, paraphernalia shop, and truck stop [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(J)].
Allowed with DIR: Restaurant with drive-in or drive-through service [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(J)].

Office and Business Service Uses

Dallas permits various professional and technical office uses within the Regional Retail (RR) district to support regional commerce.

Allowed by Right: Financial institution without drive-in window, medical clinic or ambulatory surgical center, and standard offices.
Allowed with DIR: Financial institution with drive-in window.
Allowed with SUP: Alternative financial establishment and medical/scientific laboratory [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(B), (G)].

Institutional and Community Service Uses

The Regional Retail (RR) district accommodates public and semi-public institutions that serve a broad region of Dallas.

Allowed by Right: Church, community service center, and library/museum.
Allowed with RAR: Hospital and public schools (other than open-enrollment charter schools).
Allowed with SUP: Cemetery or mausoleum, halfway house, and open-enrollment charter schools [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(D)].

Other Use Categories

Agricultural: Crop production is allowed by right.
Lodging: Lodging or boarding houses are allowed by right; hotels/motels require RAR or SUP depending on size and location.
Transportation: Transit passenger shelters are allowed by right; commercial bus stations and terminals require DIR [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)].
Wholesale/Distribution: Mini-warehouse uses are permitted with an SUP. Recycling buy-back and collection centers are allowed by right with certain conditions [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(M)].

Prohibited Uses in the Regional Retail (RR) District

Under the Dallas Development Code, any use not specifically listed as a "Main Use Permitted" is effectively prohibited within the Regional Retail (RR) district.

Residential Limitations: Standard residential living, such as single-family houses, duplexes, and multifamily apartments, are prohibited. The only residential use permitted in the Regional Retail (RR) district is the college dormitory, fraternity, or sorority house [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(I)].
Industrial Limitations: Most heavy industrial activities are prohibited. The Dallas Regional Retail (RR) district only allows gas drilling/production and temporary concrete/asphalt batching plants by SUP [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(C)].
Wholesale Limitations: Large-scale trade centers and vehicle storage lots are generally prohibited, as the district focus is on consumer-facing retail [Section 51A-4.122(c)(2)(M)].

Sections Cited

Section 51A-4.122: Retail Districts
Section 51A-4.205: Lodging Uses
Section 51A-4.210: Retail and Personal Service Uses
Section 51A-4.212: Utility and Public Service Uses
Section 51A-4.301: Off-Street Parking Regulations
Section 51A-4.602: Fence, Screening and Visual Obstruction Regulations