Guide to the Commercial Service (CS) District in Dallas
The Commercial Service (CS) District in the City of Dallas is established to facilitate commercial and business-serving activities that require land for outside storage, service, or display. This district maintains a maximum building height of 45 feet and requires a 20-foot side or rear yard setback when the property is adjacent to residential zones [Section 51A-4.123; Section 51A-4.410].
Purpose and General Character
The City of Dallas established the Commercial Service (CS) District to accommodate a specific range of business and commercial uses that may not be suitable for lighter retail or office environments due to their need for outside storage or service areas [Section 51A-4.123(a)(1)]. The City of Dallas intentionally prohibits the placement of the Commercial Service (CS) District in areas designated for low or medium-density residential development to protect the integrity of those neighborhoods [Section 51A-4.123(a)(1)].
Permitted Land Uses
The Commercial Service (CS) District allows a wide variety of nonresidential uses, many of which are subject to Residential Adjacency Review (RAR) or require a Specific Use Permit (SUP).
Commercial and Business Service Uses
- Building repair and maintenance shop: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
- Bus or rail transit vehicle maintenance/storage: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
- Catering service: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
- Custom business services: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
- Electronics service center: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
- Machine or welding shop: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
- Tool or equipment rental: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(B)].
Retail and Personal Service Uses
- Ambulance service: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(J)].
- Auto service center: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(J)].
- Car wash: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(J)].
- Restaurant (with or without drive-in/drive-through): Permitted by right with RAR or DIR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(J)].
- Vehicle sales: Permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(J)].
Other Notable Permitted Uses
- Industrial: Light manufacturing (inside) is permitted by right; temporary batching plants require an SUP [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(C)].
- Institutional: Churches and colleges are permitted by right; community service centers require an SUP; hospitals require RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(D)].
- Lodging: Hotels and motels are permitted by right or with RAR depending on the number of rooms; overnight general purpose shelters require an SUP and DIR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(E)].
- Wholesale/Storage: Mini-warehouses require an SUP; standard warehouses are permitted by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(a)(2)(M)].
Technical Development Standards
The City of Dallas enforces the following dimensional and density standards within the Commercial Service (CS) District:
| Regulation | Standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum Front Yard | 15 feet |
| Minimum Side/Rear Yard | 20 feet if adjacent to residential; 0 feet otherwise |
| Maximum Height | 45 feet |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 80% |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (Office) | 0.5 |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (Total) | 0.75 |
[Source: Section 51A-4.410]
Off-Street Parking Requirements
Parking in the Commercial Service (CS) District is generally determined by the specific use. When a Commercial Service (CS) District use is contiguous to a residential district with single-family or handicapped group dwelling units, the City of Dallas requires specific minimum parking ratios:
| Use Type (Contiguous to Residential) | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Building repair and maintenance | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Catering service | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Custom business service | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Job or lithographic printing | 1 space per 600 square feet |
| Labor hall | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Machinery/heavy equipment sales | 1 space per 1,000 square feet |
[Source: Section 51A-4.301, Table 1.1]
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.101. New zoning districts established.
- Section 51A-4.123. Commercial service and industrial districts.
- Section 51A-4.202. Commercial and business service uses.
- Section 51A-4.301. Off-street parking regulations.
- Section 51A-4.410. Schedule of yard, lot, and space regulations.