LO-1: Limited Office District 1 Zoning in Dallas
The LO-1: Limited Office District 1 in the city of Dallas is established to accommodate office and limited service uses that serve the needs of the immediate neighborhood and community. Dallas developments in this district are restricted to a maximum floor area ratio of 1.0 and a maximum height of 70 feet or five stories.
Purpose and General Character
The LO-1: Limited Office District 1 is intended to provide a stable environment for office uses that are compatible with and located adjacent to single-family, duplex, and townhouse neighborhoods. The city of Dallas limits the character of this district by ensuring that service uses are primarily contained within the building and serve the building's occupants rather than the general public [Section 51A-4.121].
Permitted Land Uses
Land uses in the Dallas LO-1: Limited Office District 1 are categorized by their level of permission, which may include uses permitted by right, those requiring a Specific Use Permit [SUP], those subject to Residential Adjacency Review [RAR], or those designated as Limited [L] uses.
Office and Professional Uses
- Office: Permitted by right.
- Medical Clinic or Ambulatory Surgical Center: Permitted by right.
- Financial Institution (without drive-in window): Permitted by right.
- Financial Institution (with drive-in window): Permitted by SUP [Section 51A-4.121].
Institutional and Community Service Uses
- Child or Adult Care Facility: Permitted by right.
- Church: Permitted by right.
- Public or Private School: Public schools require RAR; others are permitted by right or may require SUP [Section 51A-4.121].
- Library, Art Gallery, or Museum: Permitted by right.
Retail and Personal Service Uses
- Personal Service Uses: Permitted as a Limited [L] use.
- Restaurant (without drive-in or drive-through): Permitted as a Limited [L] use and subject to RAR.
- Dry Cleaning or Laundry Store: Permitted as a Limited [L] use.
- Catering Service: Permitted as a Limited [L] use [Section 51A-4.121].
Residential and Other Uses
- College Dormitory, Fraternity, or Sorority House: Permitted by right.
- Crop Production: Permitted by right.
- Overnight General Purpose Shelter: Permitted as a Limited [L] use [Section 51A-4.121].
Yard, Lot, and Space Regulations
Developments within the Dallas LO-1: Limited Office District 1 must adhere to specific dimensional requirements regarding how structures are placed on the lot and their overall size.
| Regulatory Category | LO-1 District Standard |
|---|---|
| Front Yard Setback | 15 feet |
| Side Yard Setback | 20 feet if adjacent to or across an alley from a residential district; otherwise no minimum |
| Rear Yard Setback | 20 feet if adjacent to or across an alley from a residential district; otherwise no minimum |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 1.0 |
| Maximum Building Height | 70 feet |
| Maximum Number of Stories | 5 stories |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 80% |
| Minimum Lot Size | No minimum lot size |
[Section 51A-4.121 and Section 51A-4.410]
Height and Setback Exceptions
- Residential Proximity Slope: If a structure in the LO-1 district is over 26 feet in height, it may be restricted by a slope originating from adjacent residential districts [Section 51A-4.121].
- Urban Form Setback: An additional 20-foot front yard setback is required for portions of a structure exceeding 45 feet in height [Section 51A-4.121].
- Tower Spacing: An additional side and rear yard setback of one foot for every two feet in height above 45 feet is required (up to a total setback of 30 feet) [Section 51A-4.121].
Off-Street Parking and Loading
- Parking: Specific requirements are determined by the individual use as defined in Division 51A-4.200. In the Dallas LO-1 district, parking garages must comply with the height regulations of the district [Section 51A-4.121].
- Loading Spaces: Off-street loading spaces may not be located in the required front yard. However, they may be located in the front yard behind the setback line if they are screened from the street by a minimum six-foot-high barrier [Section 51A-4.121].
Additional Development Standards
- Visual Intrusion: No portion of a balcony or opening that faces a residential district may penetrate or be located above a residential proximity slope [Section 51A-4.121].
- Development Impact Review: A site plan must be submitted for work in the Dallas LO-1 district if the estimated trip generation for all uses on the lot is equal to or greater than 6,000 trips per day or 500 trips per acre per day [Section 51A-4.121].
- Mechanical Equipment/Garbage Areas: These areas cannot be located closer than 20 feet to a building site in most residential districts [Section 51A-4.121].
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.121
- Section 51A-4.200
- Section 51A-4.410
- Section 51A-4.602
- Section 51A-4.803