LO-2: Limited Office District 2 | Dallas Zoning Guide

The LO-2: Limited Office District 2 in Dallas is a mid-intensity office classification designed to support neighborhood and community needs while allowing for structures up to 95 feet in height and 7 stories. Development in the LO-2 District is primarily restricted to office and professional uses, with strict limitations on retail and service activities to ensure they primarily serve the building's occupants rather than the general public.

Purpose and General Character of the LO-2 District

The primary purpose of the LO-2: Limited Office District 2 is to provide a location for office developments that serve the specific needs of the surrounding neighborhood or the broader Dallas community [Section 51A-4.121(b)(1)]. The character of the LO-2 District is defined by its compatibility with adjacent residential areas, including single-family and townhouse neighborhoods [Section 51A-4.121(b)(1)].

While the district allows for some limited service and retail uses, these must be contained within an office building and are restricted to serving the occupants of that building. To maintain the professional environment and minimize impact on nearby residents, the Dallas Development Code requires that most "Limited" [L] uses in this district have no separate exterior public entrance and no exterior advertising [Section 51A-4.218].

Technical Development Standards

The LO-2 District has specific "Yard, Lot, and Space" regulations that determine the scale and placement of buildings. These standards are more permissive than the LO-1 District but more restrictive than the LO-3 District regarding height and intensity.

Standard	Requirement
Minimum Front Yard	15 feet [Section 51A-4.121(b)(4)(A)]
Minimum Side/Rear Yard	20 feet if adjacent to or across an alley from a residential district*; otherwise no minimum [Section 51A-4.121(b)(4)(B)]
Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)	1.5 [Section 51A-4.121(b)(4)(D)]
Maximum Building Height	95 feet [Section 51A-4.121(b)(4)(E)]
Maximum Stories	7 stories (Parking garages are exempt from story count but must meet height limits) [Section 51A-4.121(b)(4)(H)]
Maximum Lot Coverage	80% [Section 51A-4.121(b)(4)(F)]

*Includes R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) districts.

Permitted Land Uses

Land uses in the LO-2 District of Dallas are categorized by their level of permission. Uses allowed "By Right" do not require special approval, while those marked "SUP" require a Specific Use Permit, and those marked "RAR" require a Residential Adjacency Review.

Office and Professional Uses

Office: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(G)].
Medical Clinic or Ambulatory Surgical Center: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(G)].
Financial Institution (without drive-in window): Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(G)].
Financial Institution (with drive-in window): Permitted by SUP only [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(G)].
Alternative Financial Establishment: Permitted by SUP only [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(G)].

Institutional and Community Service Uses

Child or Adult Care Facility: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(D)].
Church: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(D)].
Library, Art Gallery, or Museum: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(D)].
Public School: Permitted by right with Residential Adjacency Review (RAR) [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(D)].
College, University, or Seminary: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(D)].

Limited Service and Retail Uses

The following uses are permitted only as "Limited Uses" [L], meaning they must be located within a main building, occupy no more than 10% of the total floor area, and lack separate exterior entrances [Section 51A-4.218]:

Catering Service [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(B)].
Dry Cleaning or Laundry Store [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(J)].
General Merchandise or Food Store (under 3,500 sq. ft.) [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(J)].
Personal Service Uses [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(J)].
Restaurant (without drive-in or drive-through): Permitted as [L] and requires Residential Adjacency Review (RAR) [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(J)].

Residential and Other Uses

College Dormitory, Fraternity, or Sorority House: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(I)].
Crop Production: Permitted by right [Section 51A-4.121(b)(2)(A)].
Overnight General Purpose Shelter: Permitted by SUP only (restricted to 20 or fewer guests) [Section 51A-4.205(2.1)].

Specific Visual and Operational Restrictions

The Dallas Municipality imposes several strict design rules for the LO-2 District to protect neighboring residential properties:

Visual Intrusion: No portion of a balcony or opening that faces a residential district (R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A)) may penetrate or be located above a residential proximity slope [Section 51A-4.121(b)(8)(B)].
Screening: If a building or parking structure is erected in the LO-2 District and a side or rear yard abuts a residential district, it must be screened from that district [Section 51A-4.121(b)(8)(E)].
Mechanical Equipment: Garbage collection and mechanical equipment areas cannot be located closer than 20 feet to the nearest building site in a single-family, duplex, or townhouse district [Section 51A-4.121(b)(8)(C)].

Sections Cited

Section 51A-1.101
Section 51A-2.102
Section 51A-4.121
Section 51A-4.205
Section 51A-4.210
Section 51A-4.218