IR: Industrial / Research District Regulations in Dallas

The IR District in the municipality of Dallas is a specialized zoning designation designed primarily for research and development, light industrial, and office uses within an industrial research park environment. While the IR District permits a broad spectrum of commercial, transportation, and wholesale uses, it strictly prohibits all forms of permanent residential living. Developments within this Dallas district are subject to a 70-foot height limit and a maximum floor area ratio of 1.0, with specific requirements for Residential Adjacency Review (RAR) or Specific Use Permits (SUP) for more intensive operations.

Allowed Main Uses in the IR District

Main uses in the Dallas IR District are categorized by their function. Many uses are permitted "by right," while others require specific administrative or legislative oversight depending on their proximity to residential areas.

Permitted Agricultural and Commercial Service Uses

Agricultural: Crop production is permitted by right [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(A)].
Commercial & Business Service: Permitted uses include custom business services, woodworking or furniture repair, electronics service centers, technical schools, tool or equipment rental, and medical or scientific laboratories [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(B)].
Service with RAR: Residential Adjacency Review is required for building repair and maintenance shops, bus or rail transit vehicle maintenance, commercial cleaning/laundry plants, job or lithographic printing, machine or welding shops, and vehicle/engine repair [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(B)].

Permitted Industrial and Wholesale Uses

Industrial: Light manufacturing (inside) is permitted by right. Inside industrial processes that are not "potentially incompatible" are also allowed by right with RAR [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(C)].
Wholesale, Distribution, & Storage: Mini-warehouses and trade centers are permitted by right. Freight terminals, manufactured building sales lots, outside storage, and warehouses require RAR [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(M)].

Permitted Institutional and Office Uses

Institutional: Adult day care, child-care facilities, churches, community service centers, and colleges or universities are generally permitted. Hospitals require an RAR [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(D)].
Office: Medical clinics, offices, and financial institutions without drive-in windows are permitted by right. Financial institutions with drive-in windows require an RAR [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(G)].

Permitted Retail and Personal Service Uses

The IR District in Dallas allows various retail services, often with restrictions:

By Right: Personal service uses, furniture stores, and general merchandise or food stores under 100,000 square feet [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(J)].
With RAR: Ambulance services, animal shelters (no outside runs), auto service centers, car washes, home improvement centers, and restaurants without drive-in service [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(J)].
With DIR: Restaurants with drive-in or drive-through service require Development Impact Review [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(J)].

Uses Requiring a Specific Use Permit (SUP)

Certain uses are deemed potentially impactful to the Dallas community and require an SUP to operate within the IR District:

Industrial: Gas drilling and production, industrial (outside), medical/infectious waste incinerators, municipal waste incinerators, organic compost recycling facilities, and pathological waste incinerators [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(C)].
Institutional: Cemetery or mausoleums and public or private schools [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(D)].
Lodging: Extended stay hotels or motels [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(E)].
Retail: Convenience stores with drive-throughs, paraphernalia shops, and truck stops [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(J)].

Prohibited Uses in the IR District

The Dallas Development Code explicitly prohibits the following categories from the IR District:

Residential Uses: All forms of residential use, including single-family, multifamily, duplex, and retirement housing, are strictly forbidden [Section 51A-4.123(c)(2)(I)].
Intensive Agricultural: Animal production and commercial stables are not authorized for this district [Section 51A-4.201].

Technical Development Standards

The following table outlines the primary physical requirements for structures located in the IR District in the municipality of Dallas:

Standard	Requirement
Minimum Front Yard	15 feet [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(A)]
Minimum Side/Rear Yard	30 feet if adjacent to/across an alley from residential; otherwise no minimum [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(B)]
Maximum Building Height	70 feet [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(E)]
Maximum Number of Stories	5 stories [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(H)]
Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)	1.0 Total (0.5 for retail uses; 0.75 for combined lodging/office/retail) [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(D)]
Maximum Lot Coverage	80% [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(F)]
Dwelling Unit Density	Not Applicable (Residential prohibited) [Section 51A-4.123(c)(4)(C)]

Accessory Uses

In the Dallas IR District, an accessory use is generally permitted if it is customarily incidental to a permitted main use. Specific allowed accessory uses include:

Accessory community center (private)
Accessory pathological waste incinerator
Home occupation
Private stable [Section 51A-4.123(c)(3)]

Sections Cited

Sec. 51A-4.101
Sec. 51A-4.123(c)
Sec. 51A-4.201
Sec. 51A-4.202
Sec. 51A-4.203
Sec. 51A-4.204
Sec. 51A-4.205
Sec. 51A-4.207
Sec. 51A-4.209
Sec. 51A-4.210
Sec. 51A-4.211
Sec. 51A-4.212
Sec. 51A-4.213
Sec. 51A-4.217