MF-1(SAH) Multifamily District 1 Affordable: Dallas Use Regulations

The MF-1(SAH) Multifamily District 1 (Affordable) in the City of Dallas is a medium-density residential zone primarily intended to facilitate the development of multifamily housing that includes affordable units. While the City of Dallas permits various residential and institutional uses by right in this district, it explicitly prohibits all standard commercial and office uses to protect the residential integrity of the neighborhood [Section 51A-4.116].

Allowed Main Uses in the City of Dallas MF-1(SAH) District

The City of Dallas permits the following uses in the MF-1(SAH) district, categorized by their classification. Uses marked with [SUP] require a Specific Use Permit, while those marked with [RAR] require Residential Adjacency Review [Section 51A-4.116].

Residential Uses

Multifamily (Primary use).
Single family.
Duplex.
Retirement housing.
College dormitory, fraternity, or sorority house.
Group residential facility (Subject to 1,000-foot spacing from similar facilities).
Handicapped group dwelling unit [Section 51A-4.209].

Institutional and Community Service Uses

Child or adult care facility.
Church.
Convent or monastery.
Foster home.
Convalescent and nursing homes, hospice care, and related institutions [RAR].
Cemetery or mausoleum [SUP].
College, university, or seminary [SUP].
Community service center [SUP].
Hospital [SUP].
Library, art gallery, or museum [SUP].
Open-enrollment charter school or private school [SUP].

Other Permitted Uses

Agricultural: Crop production.
Lodging: Short-term rental lodging.
Miscellaneous: Temporary construction or sales office; Carnival or circus (temporary) [Requires building official authorization].
Recreation: Public park, playground, or golf course; Country club with private membership [RAR]; Private recreation center, club, or area [SUP].
Transportation: Transit passenger shelter; Transit passenger station or transfer center [SUP].
Utility: Tower/antenna for cellular communication; Local utilities [May require SUP or RAR]; Police or fire station [SUP].

Prohibited Main Uses

Per the City of Dallas Development Code, the MF-1(SAH) district is strictly residential and institutional. The code states that all commercial and office uses are prohibited [Section 51A-4.116(a)(1)]. Specific prohibited categories include:

Commercial and Business Service Uses: Including catering, laundry plants, and repair shops.
Office Uses: Standard professional offices and medical clinics.
Retail and Personal Service Uses: Including grocery stores, restaurants, and salons.
Wholesale, Distribution, and Storage: Except for limited recycling drop-off containers.

Accessory Use Restrictions

In the City of Dallas MF-1(SAH) district, accessory uses are generally permitted if they are customarily incidental to the main use. However, the following accessory uses are not permitted [Section 51A-4.116(a)(3)]:

Accessory outside display of merchandise.
Accessory outside sales.
Accessory pathological waste incinerator.

A Specific Use Permit (SUP) is required for an Accessory Helistop or an Accessory Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerator [Section 51A-4.116(a)(3)].

Technical Standards for MF-1(SAH) Districts

The MF-1(SAH) district uses a density bonus system where developers can increase the number of units per acre by providing a higher percentage of Standard Affordable Housing (SAH) units.

Density and Placement Standards

Standard	Requirement
Primary Street Setback	15 Feet
Side Setback (Residential)	0 Feet
Side Setback (Other)	10 Feet
Rear Setback (Residential)	0 Feet
Rear Setback (Other)	15 Feet
Maximum Building Height	36 Feet (Subject to Proximity Slope)
Maximum Lot Coverage	60% (Residential); 25% (Nonresidential)

Maximum Dwelling Unit Density (Units Per Net Acre)

Percentage of SAH Units Provided	Units Permitted
0%	15
5%	16
10%	17
15%	20
20%	30

Off-Street Parking Requirements

The City of Dallas requires different parking ratios for multifamily developments within the MF-1(SAH) district based on the total number of units [Section 51A-4.301].

Number of Units	Parking Space Ratio
1 to 20 Units	No requirement
21 to 199 Units	0.5 spaces per dwelling unit
200+ Units	1 space per dwelling unit
Guest Parking (20-99 units)	10% of required parking spaces
Guest Parking (100+ units)	15% of required parking spaces

Sections Cited

Section 51A-4.116: Multifamily Districts
Section 51A-4.209: Residential Uses
Section 51A-4.212: Utility and Public Service Uses
Section 51A-4.213: Wholesale, Distribution, and Storage Uses
Section 51A-4.217: Accessory Uses
Section 51A-4.301: Off-Street Parking Regulations