Dallas MH(A) Manufactured Home District Use and Development Guide

The Dallas MH(A) District is a residential zoning designation primarily intended for the development and spacing of manufactured home parks, subdivisions, and single-family dwellings. Within this Dallas district, the maximum structure height is limited to 24 feet, and main commercial, office, and retail uses are strictly prohibited. While residential and certain agricultural uses are allowed by right, many institutional and utility services require a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for operation within the City of Dallas.

Main Uses Permitted in the MH(A) District

The City of Dallas categorizes main uses within the MH(A) District into several groups. Uses not explicitly listed as permitted in these categories are considered prohibited.

Residential and Recreational Uses

Residential occupancy is the primary function of the Dallas MH(A) District. Recreational uses are permitted to support the community character.

• Residential (Permitted by Right):
  • Manufactured home park or subdivision [Section 51A-4.117(2)(I)].
  • Single-family living [Section 51A-4.117(2)(I)].
  • College dormitory, fraternity, or sorority house [Section 51A-4.117(2)(I)].
  • Handicapped group dwelling unit [Section 51A-4.117(2)(I)].
• Recreation:
  • Public park, playground, or golf course (Permitted by right) [Section 51A-4.117(2)(H)].
  • Country club with private membership (Requires Residential Adjacency Review/RAR) [Section 51A-4.117(2)(H)].

Institutional and Community Service Uses

Various community-oriented services are permitted in the Dallas MH(A) District, though many are subject to additional oversight.

• Permitted by Right:
  • Church [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].
  • Child or adult care facility [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].
• Permitted by Specific Use Permit (SUP) Only:
  • Cemetery or mausoleum [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].
  • Community service center [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].
  • Foster home [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].
  • Library, art gallery, or museum [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].
  • Public or private school [Section 51A-4.117(2)(D)].

Other Permitted Main Uses

• Agricultural: Crop production (Permitted by right) [Section 51A-4.117(2)(A)].
• Industrial (SUP Required): Gas drilling and production; Temporary concrete or asphalt batching plant [Section 51A-4.117(2)(C)].
• Miscellaneous: Temporary construction or sales office (By right); Carnival or circus (Requires special authorization from the Dallas building official) [Section 51A-4.117(2)(F)].
• Wholesale/Storage: Recycling drop-off container [Section 51A-4.117(2)(M)].
• Utility (SUP Required): Electrical substation; Police or fire station; Radio, television, or microwave tower; Tower/antenna for cellular communication [Section 51A-4.117(2)(L)].

Prohibited Uses in the MH(A) District

The City of Dallas explicitly prohibits several broad categories of land use within the MH(A) District to preserve its residential integrity [Section 51A-4.117(2)]:

• Commercial and Business Service Uses: No uses permitted.
• Lodging Uses: No uses permitted.
• Office Uses: No uses permitted.
• Retail and Personal Service Uses: No uses permitted.
• Transportation Uses: No uses permitted.

Accessory Use Restrictions

While the City of Dallas generally allows accessory uses that are customarily incidental to a main use, the following specific accessory uses are expressly prohibited in the MH(A) District [Section 51A-4.117(3)(A)]:

1. Accessory helistop.
2. Accessory medical/infectious waste incinerator.
3. Accessory outside display of merchandise.
4. Accessory outside sales.
5. Accessory pathological waste incinerator.

Technical Development Standards

The Dallas MH(A) District is governed by specific yard, lot, and space regulations to ensure proper density and safety.

Standard Type	Requirement for Dallas MH(A) District
Minimum Front Yard	20 feet [Section 51A-4.117(4)(A)(i)]
Minimum Side/Rear Yard	10 feet [Section 51A-4.117(4)(B)]
Max. Structure Height	24 feet [Section 51A-4.117(4)(E)]
Max. Lot Coverage (Res)	20% for residential structures [Section 51A-4.117(4)(F)(i)]
Max. Lot Coverage (Non-Res)	25% for nonresidential structures [Section 51A-4.117(4)(F)(i)]
Min. Lot Area (Transient)	1,500 sq. ft. per home on a transient stand [Section 51A-4.117(4)(G)(i)]
Min. Lot Area (Subdivided)	4,000 sq. ft. per home on a subdivided lot [Section 51A-4.117(4)(G)(i)]
Proximity to Street	20 feet minimum distance from a public street [Section 51A-4.117(4)(A)(ii)]
Spacing between Homes	20 feet minimum between adjacent units [Section 51A-4.117(8)(A)]

Sections Cited

• SEC. 51A-4.117. AGRICULTURAL [A(A)] DISTRICT (Regulations applicable to MH(A))
• SEC. 51A-4.204. Institutional and Community Service Uses
• SEC. 51A-4.209. Residential Uses
• SEC. 51A-4.212. Utility and Public Service Uses
• SEC. 51A-4.213. Wholesale, Distribution, and Storage Uses
• SEC. 51A-4.217. Accessory Uses