Dallas CA-1(A) Central Area District 1 Zoning Regulations and Use Guide
The CA-1(A) Central Area District 1 in the City of Dallas is a high-density urban designation that allows for a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 20.0 and 100% lot coverage. Uniquely, the City of Dallas requires no minimum off-street parking for any use within this district, which is specifically intended to accommodate existing development and historical importance while preventing street congestion [Section 51A-4.124].
Development Standards for CA-1(A)
The City of Dallas established the following dimensional requirements for the CA-1(A) district to encourage intensive land use in the central business area.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Yard Setback | 0 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(A)] |
| Side Yard Setback (General) | 0 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(B)(i)] |
| Side Yard (Duplex) | 5 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(B)(i)(aa)] |
| Side Yard (Multifamily $\le$ 36ft height) | 10 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(B)(i)(bb)] |
| Rear Yard Setback (General) | 0 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(B)(ii)] |
| Rear Yard (Duplex) | 10 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(B)(ii)(aa)] |
| Rear Yard (Multifamily $\le$ 36ft height) | 15 feet [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(B)(ii)(bb)] |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 20.0 [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(D)] |
| Maximum Height | Any legal height [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(E)] |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 100% [Section 51A-4.124(a)(4)(F)] |
| Minimum Off-Street Parking | None required for any use [Section 51A-4.124(a)(5)(A)] |
Main Uses Permitted by Right
The following uses are permitted "by right" in the CA-1(A) district of the Municipality of Dallas, meaning they do not typically require a special permit unless they trigger specific adjacency or environmental reviews.
Residential and Lodging
- Residential: Single family, duplex, multifamily, residential hotel, and retirement housing [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(I)].
- Lodging: Hotel or motel, lodging or boarding house, and short-term rental lodging [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(E)].
Office and Retail
- Office: Financial institution without drive-in window, medical clinic or ambulatory surgical center, and standard office [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(G)].
- Retail/Personal Service: Ambulance service, auto service center, business school, dry cleaning/laundry store, furniture store, general merchandise or food store (all sizes), liquor store, mortuary, motor vehicle fueling station, nursery/garden shop, outside sales, personal service use, restaurant without drive-in, and theater [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(J)].
Institutional and Utility
- Institutional: Child or adult care facility, church, college/university, convalescent and nursing homes, convent or monastery, hospital, and library/museum [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(D)].
- Utility: Electrical substation, local utilities, police or fire station, post office, and radio/television or microwave tower [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(L)].
Commercial and Wholesale
- Business Service: Building repair and maintenance shop, bus or rail transit vehicle maintenance/storage, catering service, custom business services, woodworking/furniture repair, electronics service center, and job or lithographic printing [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(B)].
- Wholesale/Distribution: Mini-warehouse, office showroom/warehouse, recycling buy-back center, recycling collection center, and warehouse [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(M)].
Main Uses Permitted with Special Authorization
The City of Dallas requires certain uses to undergo additional scrutiny via a Specific Use Permit (SUP) or Development Impact Review (DIR) before they can be established in the CA-1(A) district.
| Use Type | Authorization Required |
|---|---|
| Labor Hall | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(B)] |
| Vehicle Engine Repair/Maintenance | DIR [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(B)] |
| Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(C)] |
| Gas Drilling and Production | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(C)] |
| Temporary Concrete/Asphalt Batching | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(C)] |
| Cemetery or Mausoleum | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(D)] |
| Halfway House | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(D)] |
| Financial Institution with Drive-In | DIR [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(G)] |
| Alternative Financial Establishment | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(G)] |
| Restaurant with Drive-In/Drive-Thru | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(J)] |
| Vehicle Display, Sales, and Service | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(J)] |
| Heliport or Helistop | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(K)] |
| Sewage Treatment Plant | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(L)] |
| Outside Storage | SUP [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(M)] |
| Freight Terminal | DIR [Section 51A-4.124(a)(2)(M)] |
Prohibited Uses in CA-1(A)
The Dallas Development Code utilizes a permissive system; any main use not explicitly listed as permitted in the CA-1(A) regulations is prohibited. Furthermore, the Municipality specifically prohibits the following activities as accessory uses within this district [Section 51A-4.124(a)(3)]:
- Accessory community center (private)
- Accessory helistop
- Accessory medical/infectious waste incinerator
- Accessory outside display of merchandise
- Accessory outside sales
- Accessory pathological waste incinerator
- Amateur communication tower
- Home occupation
- Private stable
Sections Cited
- Sec. 51A-4.101 (New zoning districts established)
- Sec. 51A-4.124 (Central area districts)
- Sec. 51A-4.201 through 51A-4.213 (Use Regulations)
- Sec. 51A-4.217 (Accessory uses)
- Sec. 51A-4.301 (Off-street parking regulations)
- Sec. 51A-4.303 (Off-street loading regulations)
- Sec. 51A-4.306 (Off-street parking in the central business district)