Setback and Yard Requirements for MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1 in Dallas

In the Dallas MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1, the minimum front yard setback is 15 feet, which must be increased by an additional 20-foot urban form setback for any portion of a building that exceeds 45 feet in height. Side and rear yard setbacks in the Dallas MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1 require a minimum of 20 feet if the lot is adjacent to or across an alley from specific residential districts; otherwise, no minimum side or rear yard is required.

Setback Standards for the Dallas MC-1 District

The following technical standards apply to all developments within the MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1 in the City of Dallas.

Setback Type	Minimum Requirement	Applicability and Conditions
Front Yard	15 feet	Mandatory base setback for all structures [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(A)(i)].
Urban Form Setback	20 feet additional	Required for any portion of a building taller than 45 feet in height [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(A)(ii)].
Side Yard	20 feet	Required if the lot is adjacent to or directly across an alley from an R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) district [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(B)(i)].
Side Yard	0 feet	No minimum requirement in all other cases [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(B)(ii)].
Rear Yard	20 feet	Required if the lot is adjacent to or directly across an alley from an R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) district [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(B)(i)].
Rear Yard	0 feet	No minimum requirement in all other cases [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(B)(ii)].

Front Yard Regulations in Dallas MC-1

In the MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1, the City of Dallas mandates a standard front yard of 15 feet [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(A)(i)]. However, for higher-density developments, the code introduces an "Urban Form Setback." This regulation requires that any part of a building structure rising above 45 feet in height must be set back an additional 20 feet from the standard front yard line [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(A)(ii)]. This results in a cumulative 35-foot setback for the upper stories of high-rise structures.

Side and Rear Yard Regulations in Dallas MC-1

The City of Dallas determines side and rear yard requirements in the MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1 based on the proximity of the development to residential areas.

Residential Adjacency Requirements

A minimum 20-foot side or rear yard is required whenever an MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1 lot is [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(B)(i)]:

Directly adjacent to a residential district.
Located directly across an alley from a residential district.

The residential districts that trigger this 20-foot setback requirement in Dallas include:

Single Family Districts [R, R(A)]
Duplex Districts [D, D(A)]
Townhouse Districts [TH, TH(A)]
Clustered Housing Districts [CH]
Multifamily Districts [MF, MF(A)]

Non-Residential Adjacency

If the MC-1: Multiple Commercial District 1 lot does not border the residential districts listed above, the City of Dallas does not enforce a minimum side or rear yard setback [Sec. 51A-4.126(d)(4)(B)(ii)].

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