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Setback Requirements for MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 in Dallas

Jurisdiction: DallasCode Version: March 2025

In the MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 in Dallas, the minimum front yard setback is 15 feet, with an additional 20-foot urban form setback required for building portions exceeding 45 feet in height. While there is generally no minimum requirement for side and rear yards, a 20-foot setback must be maintained when the property is adjacent to or across an alley from specific residential districts. Furthermore, tower spacing requirements in the Dallas MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 may necessitate additional side and rear setbacks for high-rise structures.

Setback Category MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 Requirement
Front Yard (Minimum) 15 feet
Urban Form Setback (Front) Additional 20 feet for any portion of a structure above 45 feet in height
Side Yard (General) No minimum required
Side Yard (Residential Adjacency) 20 feet if adjacent to or across an alley from R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) districts
Rear Yard (General) No minimum required
Rear Yard (Residential Adjacency) 20 feet if adjacent to or across an alley from R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF, or MF(A) districts
Tower Spacing (Side/Rear) 1 additional foot of setback for every 2 feet of height above 45 feet (maximum 30 feet total)

Front Yard Regulations

The Dallas MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 requires a standard minimum front yard setback of 15 feet [Section 51A-4.125(f)(4)(A)(i)]. To ensure proper urban form and prevent a "canyon effect" on the street, Dallas mandates an "urban form setback." Any portion of a building in the MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 that exceeds 45 feet in height must be set back an additional 20 feet from the front yard line [Section 51A-4.125(f)(4)(A)(ii)].

Side and Rear Yard Regulations

Under general conditions, the MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 in Dallas does not require a minimum side or rear yard setback [Section 51A-4.125(f)(4)(B)(ii)]. However, if the MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 lot is located directly adjacent to or across an alley from a single-family, duplex, townhouse, clustered housing, or multifamily district, a minimum side and rear yard of 20 feet is required [Section 51A-4.125(f)(4)(B)(i)].

Tower Spacing Requirements

For taller structures in the MU-3: Mixed Use District 3, Dallas enforces tower spacing through incremental setbacks. For building portions above 45 feet in height, the owner must provide one additional foot of side and rear yard setback for every two feet of height above that 45-foot mark. This cumulative side or rear setback is capped at a total of 30 feet [Section 51A-4.125(f)(4)(B)(ii)].

Sections Cited

  • Section 51A-4.125. Mixed Use Districts.

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Setback Requirements for MU-3: Mixed Use District 3 in Dallas | Dallas Zoning Guide