Neighborhood Service [NS(A)] District Setback Requirements in Dallas
Developments within the Dallas NS(A): Neighborhood service district are required to maintain a minimum front yard setback of 15 feet. Side and rear yard setbacks are only mandated when the lot is adjacent to or directly across an alley from a residential district, in which case a 20-foot buffer is required. In all other scenarios, the Dallas Development Code does not require a minimum side or rear yard setback for the NS(A): Neighborhood service district.
Yard and Setback Standards
The yard and setback requirements for the NS(A): Neighborhood service district are defined by the specific relationship of the property to surrounding residential zones. While the front yard is a fixed minimum, the side and rear yards are conditional based on adjacency [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)].
Technical Setback Requirements Table
| Setback Type | Minimum Requirement | Condition for Application |
|---|---|---|
| Front Yard | 15 Feet | Always required [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)(A)] |
| Side Yard | 20 Feet | If adjacent to or directly across an alley from a residential district [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)(B)(i)] |
| Side Yard | No Minimum | In all other cases [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)(B)(ii)] |
| Rear Yard | 20 Feet | If adjacent to or directly across an alley from a residential district [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)(B)(i)] |
| Rear Yard | No Minimum | In all other cases [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)(B)(ii)] |
Note on Adjacency: The 20-foot side and rear yard requirements apply if the Dallas NS(A) property abuts or is across an alley from the following residential districts: R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) [Section 51A-4.122(a)(4)(B)(i)].
General Provisions for Setbacks and Obstructions
In the City of Dallas, required yards must generally be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky. However, certain ordinary projections are permitted to encroach into the required setbacks for the NS(A): Neighborhood service district:
- Encroachments: Ordinary projections of window sills, belt courses, cornices, and other architectural features may project up to 12 inches into a required yard. Fireplace chimneys may project up to two feet into a required yard [Section 51A-4.401(a)(1)].
- Fencing: A person may not erect or maintain a fence in a required yard more than nine feet above grade [Section 51A-4.602(a)(2)].
- Loading Spaces: In the NS(A): Neighborhood service district, off-street loading spaces are strictly prohibited within the required front yard. However, loading spaces may be located in the front yard behind the setback line if they are properly screened from the street [Section 51A-4.122(a)(5)(B)].
- Mechanical Equipment: In this district, garbage collection and mechanical equipment areas must be located at least 20 feet away from the nearest building site in a residential district [Section 51A-4.122(a)(8)(C)].
Supplemental Standards
The Dallas Development Code provides a "Schedule of Yard, Lot, and Space Regulations" which serves as a guide for these requirements. For the NS(A): Neighborhood service district, this schedule reiterates the 15-foot front yard requirement and directs users to the specific district regulations for side and rear yards [Section 51A-4.410].
If a building or parking structure is erected on a site in the NS(A): Neighborhood service district and abuts a residential district, any portion of the building site directly across from that district must be screened [Section 51A-4.122(a)(8)(E)].
Sections Cited
- Sec. 51A-4.122. Retail Districts (Neighborhood Service [NS(A)] District)
- Sec. 51A-4.401. Minimum Front Yard
- Sec. 51A-4.410. Schedule of Yard, Lot, and Space Regulations
- Sec. 51A-4.602. Fence, Screening and Visual Obstruction Regulations