LI: Light Industrial District Zoning in the Municipality of Dallas

The LI: Light Industrial District in the Municipality of Dallas is designed to accommodate light industrial, research and development, and office uses within an industrial park setting. This zoning classification is specifically intended for areas appropriate for industrial development that may be located adjacent to residential communities, maintaining a maximum height of 70 feet or 5 stories. The Municipality of Dallas prohibits residential uses within this district and limits lot coverage to 80 percent while applying a base floor area ratio of 0.75 for all combined uses.

Purpose and General Character

The primary intent of the LI: Light Industrial District in the Municipality of Dallas is to facilitate light industrial offices, research and development facilities, and commercial operations [Section 51A-4.123(b)(1)]. Because the LI: Light Industrial District is often situated near residential neighborhoods, the Municipality of Dallas establishes specific performance and setback standards to ensure compatibility between industrial activities and nearby homes [Section 51A-4.123(b)(4)]. Residential uses are strictly prohibited as main uses in this district [Section 51A-4.123(b)(2)(I)].

Permitted Land Uses

Land uses in the LI: Light Industrial District are categorized by their nature and may require Residential Adjacency Review (RAR), Development Impact Review (DIR), or a Specific Use Permit (SUP).

Industrial and Manufacturing Uses

• Alcoholic beverage manufacturing [RAR]
• Industrial (inside) for light manufacturing
• Inside industrial [RAR]
• Gas drilling and production [SUP]
• Temporary concrete or asphalt batching plant [SUP] [Section 51A-4.123(b)(2)(C)]

Commercial and Business Service Uses

• Building repair and maintenance shop [RAR]
• Bus or rail transit vehicle maintenance or storage facility [RAR]
• Catering service
• Commercial bus station and terminal
• Commercial cleaning or laundry plant [RAR]
• Custom business services, woodworking, or furniture repair
• Electronics service center
• Job or lithographic printing [RAR]
• Labor hall [SUP]
• Machine or welding shop [RAR]
• Machinery, heavy equipment, or truck sales and services [RAR]
• Medical or scientific laboratory
• Technical school
• Tool or equipment rental
• Vehicle or engine repair or maintenance [Section 51A-4.123(b)(2)(B)]

Wholesale, Distribution, and Storage Uses

• Freight terminal [RAR]
• Manufactured building sales lot [RAR]
• Mini-warehouse
• Office showroom/warehouse
• Outside storage [RAR]
• Recycling buy-back, collection, and drop-off centers
• Trade center
• Warehouse [RAR]
• Vehicle storage lot [SUP] [Section 51A-4.123(b)(2)(M)]

Office and Retail Uses

• Office
• Medical clinic or ambulatory surgical center
• Financial institutions (with or without drive-in windows)
• Alternative financial establishment [SUP]
• General merchandise or food stores
• Personal service uses
• Restaurants (with or without drive-in/drive-through service) [Section 51A-4.123(b)(2)(G) & (J)]

Technical Development Standards

The following table outlines the primary physical requirements for developments within the LI: Light Industrial District in the Municipality of Dallas.

Standard Category	LI: Light Industrial District Requirement
Minimum Front Yard	15 feet
Minimum Side/Rear Yard	30 feet (if adjacent to or across an alley from a residential district*)
Minimum Side/Rear Yard (Other)	No minimum
Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)	0.5 for retail/personal service; 0.75 for all uses combined
Maximum Height	70 feet / 5 stories
Maximum Lot Coverage	80 percent
Minimum Lot Size	No minimum

*Residential districts include R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) districts. [Section 51A-4.123(b)(4)]

Additional Regulatory Protections

1. Residential Proximity Slope: If a structure in the LI: Light Industrial District is near a protected residential district, its height may be further restricted by a residential proximity slope [Section 51A-4.123(b)(4)(E)(i)].
2. Visual Intrusion: The Municipality of Dallas prohibits any balcony or opening that faces a residential district from penetrating or being located above a residential proximity slope to protect the privacy of residential neighbors [Section 51A-4.123(b)(8)(B)].
3. Development Impact Review: In the LI: Light Industrial District, a site plan must be submitted and approved if the estimated trip generation for all uses on a lot exceeds 6,000 trips per day or 500 trips per acre per day [Section 51A-4.123(b)(8)(A)].

Sections Cited

• Section 51A-2.102
• Section 51A-4.123
• Section 51A-4.203
• Section 51A-4.205
• Section 51A-4.210
• Section 51A-4.212
• Section 51A-4.408
• Section 51A-4.410
• Section 51A-4.412
• Section 51A-4.602
• Section 51A-4.803