Off-Street Parking Standards for the A(A) Agricultural District
In the City of Dallas A(A) Agricultural District, the majority of permitted agricultural and residential uses, including single-family dwellings and crop production, have no required minimum off-street parking. However, specific institutional and retail uses permitted within the A(A) Agricultural District, such as churches and secondary schools, must adhere to defined parking ratios based on square footage, seating capacity, or classroom count.
General Parking Framework for the A(A) District
The City of Dallas establishes the Agricultural [A(A)] District to accommodate farming, ranching, and gardening activities in fringe areas where urban services are not yet fully available [Section 51A-4.111(1)]. Because these areas are intended for eventual transition to urban zoning, the off-street parking requirements are generally minimal compared to higher-density districts.
Per the Dallas Development Code, "Commercial and business service uses" (as defined in Section 51A-4.202) are explicitly prohibited within the A(A) Agricultural District [Section 51A-4.111(2)(B)]. However, certain "Retail and personal service uses" and "Institutional and community service uses" are permitted by right or through a Specific Use Permit (SUP) and carry their own parking mandates.
Minimum Parking Requirements by Use Category
The following table outlines the specific off-street parking requirements for projects located within the A(A) Agricultural District in the City of Dallas.
| Use Category | Specific Use Type | Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural | All Agricultural Uses (e.g., Animal production, Crop production) | None [Table 1.0.1] |
| Residential | Single-Family Living | None (Required only in R, D, and TH districts) [Table 1.0.1] |
| Residential | College Dormitory, Fraternity, or Sorority House | None [Section 51A-4.209(1)(C)] |
| Residential | Handicapped Group Dwelling Unit | None [Section 51A-4.209(3.1)(C)] |
| Institutional | Church or Religious Institution | If > 20,000 SF: 1 space per 4 fixed seats or 1 space per 28 SF of seating area [Table 1.0.1] |
| Institutional | Public or Private School (9th-12th Grade) | 9.5 spaces per classroom [Table 1.0.1] |
| Institutional | Child or Adult Care Facility | None [Section 51A-4.204(3)(C)] |
| Institutional | Hospital | None [Section 51A-4.204(14)(C)] |
| Institutional | Cemetery or Mausoleum | None [Section 51A-4.204(2)(C)] |
| Retail/Service | Animal Shelter or Clinic | None [Section 51A-4.210(b)(2)(C)] |
| Retail/Service | Drive-In Theater | None [Section 51A-4.210(b)(10)(C)] |
| Industrial (SUP) | Gas Drilling and Production | None [Table 1.1] |
| Industrial (SUP) | Temporary Concrete or Asphalt Batching Plant | 2 spaces minimum [Table 1.1] |
Special Provisions and Exceptions
While many uses in the A(A) Agricultural District require no parking, the City of Dallas provides several cross-references for specific site conditions:
Proximity to Residential Districts
If a project in the A(A) Agricultural District involves an industrial use allowed by SUP (such as a temporary batching plant) and that site is contiguous to a residential district, the developer must consult Table 1.1 for specialized requirements [Section 51A-4.301(a)(2)(B)].
Handicapped Parking
Even when a use in the A(A) Agricultural District has no "general" minimum parking requirement, if the project voluntarily provides 10 or more spaces, or if it is an institutional use that serves the public, it must provide and maintain handicapped parking in compliance with all federal and state laws [Section 51A-4.305].
Stacking Requirements
For specific uses that involve drive-through services or high-volume entryways (such as a school or a drive-in theater if permitted via SUP), the City of Dallas requires a specific number of stacking spaces to prevent traffic congestion on public rights-of-way [Section 51A-4.304(c)].
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.111
- Section 51A-4.204
- Section 51A-4.209
- Section 51A-4.210
- Section 51A-4.301
- Section 51A-4.304
- Section 51A-4.305