Setback Requirements for the MF-4(A): Multifamily District 4 in Dallas

In the MF-4(A): Multifamily district 4 in the city of Dallas, the minimum required front yard setback is 15 feet. For side and rear yards, the Dallas Development Code requires a minimum setback of 20 feet when the property is adjacent to or across an alley from most lower-density residential districts, and 10 feet in all other cases. Furthermore, buildings exceeding 45 feet in height must provide additional tower spacing setbacks of one foot for every two feet of height above that threshold, up to a maximum of 30 feet [Section 51A-4.116].

Front Yard Setback Requirements

In the Dallas MF-4(A): Multifamily district 4, all structures must maintain a minimum front yard depth of 15 feet [Section 51A-4.116]. Per the general provisions of the Dallas Development Code, the front yard must remain open and unobstructed, with specific exceptions for items such as fences (20 feet or less in height), light poles, and ordinary projections of window sills or cornices [Section 51A-4.401].

Side and Rear Yard Setbacks

The side and rear yard requirements for the MF-4(A): Multifamily district 4 in Dallas are determined by the zoning of the adjacent properties.

General Setback Standards

The Dallas Development Code establishes a tiered approach to side and rear setbacks to ensure adequate separation between high-density multifamily structures and lower-density neighborhoods.

Condition	Minimum Side Setback	Minimum Rear Setback
Adjacent to/across an alley from R, R(A), D, D(A), TH, TH(A), CH, MF-1, MF-1(A), MF-1(SAH), MF-2, MF-2(A), or MF-2(SAH) districts	20 feet	20 feet
All other cases	10 feet	10 feet

[Section 51A-4.116]

Tower Spacing Adjustments

Dallas regulations impose additional setback requirements on high-rise structures within the MF-4(A): Multifamily district 4 to mitigate the impact of building mass. For any portion of a structure that exceeds 45 feet in height, an additional side and rear yard setback is required.

The building must be set back one additional foot for every two feet of height above 45 feet. This cumulative additional setback requirement is capped at a total side or rear yard setback of 30 feet [Section 51A-4.116].

Summary Table of MF-4(A) Setbacks

The following table summarizes the standard yard requirements as established in the Dallas Development Code for the MF-4(A): Multifamily district 4.

Setback Type	Minimum Requirement
Front Yard	15 feet
Side Yard (General)	10 feet
Side Yard (Residential Adjacency)	20 feet
Rear Yard (General)	10 feet
Rear Yard (Residential Adjacency)	20 feet
Tower Spacing (Buildings > 45')	+1' for every 2' of height (Max 30' total)

[Section 51A-4.116, Section 51A-4.410]

Sections Cited