GO(A) General Office District Setback Requirements in Dallas
In the Dallas GO(A) General Office District, the minimum front yard setback is 15 feet for all uses. Side and rear yard setbacks are 20 feet when the building site is adjacent to or directly across an alley from specific residential districts, while no minimum setback is required in any other circumstance [Section 51A-4.121(d)(4)].
Technical Setback Standards for the GO(A) District
The following table outlines the specific yard requirements for the General Office [GO(A)] district as established in the Dallas Development Code.
| Setback Category | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Yard | 15 feet |
| Side Yard (Adjacent to or across an alley from Residential*) | 20 feet |
| Side Yard (All other cases) | No minimum |
| Rear Yard (Adjacent to or across an alley from Residential*) | 20 feet |
| Rear Yard (All other cases) | No minimum |
*Note: Residential adjacency for these specific setbacks applies to R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) districts [Section 51A-4.121(d)(4)(B)].
Front Yard Regulations
In the Dallas GO(A) General Office District, the minimum front yard must be at least 15 feet [Section 51A-4.121(d)(4)(A)]. While the front yard must generally be open and unobstructed, certain ordinary projections like window sills, belt courses, and cornices may project up to 12 inches into the required yard. Additionally, a fireplace chimney may project up to two feet into the front yard if its area of projection does not exceed 12 square feet [Section 51A-4.401(a)(1)].
Off-Street Loading Prohibitions
The Dallas Development Code prohibits off-street loading spaces from being located within the required front yard of the GO(A) district. However, loading spaces may be placed in the front yard area behind the 15-foot setback line if they are screened from the street by a minimum six-foot-high wall or fence [Section 51A-4.121(d)(5)(B)].
Side and Rear Yard Regulations
The side and rear yard requirements in the General Office district are determined by the classification of neighboring properties.
Residential Adjacency
A 20-foot minimum setback for both the side and rear yards is mandatory if the site is adjacent to or directly across an alley from any of the following residential districts:
- Single Family [R, R(A)]
- Duplex [D, D(A)]
- Townhouse [TH, TH(A)]
- Clustered Housing (CH)
- Multifamily [MF, MF(A)]
Standard Side and Rear Yards
In all other instances—such as when the Dallas GO(A) property is adjacent to other office, retail, or industrial districts—there is no minimum side or rear yard requirement [Section 51A-4.121(d)(4)(B)].
Visual Intrusion and Residential Proximity
To protect the privacy of neighboring residential areas, the Dallas Development Code includes specific "Visual Intrusion" regulations for the GO(A) district. No portion of any balcony or opening that faces one of the residential districts listed above may penetrate or be located above the "residential proximity slope" originating in that district [Section 51A-4.121(d)(8)(B)].
Furthermore, if the General Office building exceeds 26 feet in height, it is subject to the residential proximity slope, which further restricts the building envelope based on its distance from residential properties [Section 51A-4.412].
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.121. OFFICE DISTRICTS.
- Section 51A-4.401. MINIMUM FRONT YARD.
- Section 51A-4.412. RESIDENTIAL PROXIMITY SLOPE.
- Section 51A-4.301. OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS.