Setback and Yard Requirements for the A(A) Agricultural District in Dallas

In the City of Dallas, the A(A) Agricultural District requires a minimum front yard setback of 50 feet and a side yard setback of 20 feet. The rear yard requirement for the A(A) Agricultural District is split, necessitating a 50-foot setback for single-family structures and a 10-foot setback for all other permitted uses.

Primary Setback Standards for the A(A) Agricultural District

According to the Dallas Development Code, the A(A) Agricultural District is intended for areas on the city's fringe that are currently used for farming or ranching until urban services become available [SEC. 51A-4.111(1)]. The following table outlines the specific yard, lot, and space requirements for this district.

Regulation Type	Minimum Requirement in A(A) District
Front Yard Setback	50 feet
Side Yard Setback	20 feet
Rear Yard Setback (Single-Family Structures)	50 feet
Rear Yard Setback (Other Permitted Structures)	10 feet

[SEC. 51A-4.111(4); SEC. 51A-4.410]

General Provisions for Dallas Setbacks

The Dallas Development Code provides standard rules for how these setbacks are measured and what may occupy the resulting yard areas.

Measurement and Projections

The front yard setback in the City of Dallas is measured from the front lot line of the building site or the required right-of-way as determined by the municipality's thoroughfare plan [SEC. 51A-4.401(a)(2)].

Required yards must generally remain open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky. However, the Dallas Development Code allows for minor architectural projections. For example, window sills, belt courses, and cornices may project up to 12 inches into a required yard. Additionally, a fireplace chimney may project up to two feet into a required front yard, provided the area of the projection does not exceed 12 square feet [SEC. 51A-4.401(a)(1)].

Special Exceptions for Carports

The Dallas Board of Adjustment may grant a special exception to the minimum front or side yard requirements to allow a carport for a single-family or duplex use. To qualify, the Board must find that there is no adequate vehicular access to an area behind the required front building line and that the carport will not have a detrimental impact on the surrounding neighborhood [SEC. 51A-4.401(c); SEC. 51A-4.402(c)].

Fences and Walls

In most residential contexts within Dallas, a person may not erect or maintain a fence in a required yard that exceeds nine feet in height. Furthermore, if a fence is located in a required front yard, it generally cannot exceed four feet in height [SEC. 51A-4.602(a)(2)].

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