Setback Requirements for the WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use District in Dallas
In the City of Dallas WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use district, most urban development types are subject to a required front street setback of 5 feet minimum and 15 feet maximum to encourage a pedestrian-friendly environment. Side and rear setbacks in the WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use district are highly dependent on the specific development type and adjacency to single-family residential districts, with rear setbacks ranging from 5 feet to as much as 24 feet [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)]. Additionally, the City of Dallas requires a 30-foot parking setback from the primary street for most residential and commercial structures within this district to keep vehicle use areas away from the sidewalk [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
General Setback Standards by Development Type
The City of Dallas defines setbacks in the WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use district based on the "Development Type" assigned to the project. While the primary and side street setbacks remain consistent (5 to 15 feet) for urban forms like Apartments or Mixed Use Shopfronts, more traditional forms like Single-Family Houses have larger requirements [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
| Development Type | Primary Street (min/max ft) | Side Street (min/max ft) | Side Setback (Abutting Single-Family) | Rear Setback (Abutting Single-Family) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Use Shopfront (Mu) | 5 / 15 | 5 / 15 | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| Single-Story Shopfront (Ss) | 5 / 15 | 5 / 15 | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| General Commercial (Gc) | 5 / 15 | 5 / 15 | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| Apartment (Apt) | 5 / 15 | 5 / 15 | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| Townhouse Stacked (Ts) | 5 / 15 | 5 / 15 | 10 ft | 24 ft |
| Townhouse (Th) | 5 / 15 | 5 / 15 | 10 ft | 24 ft |
| Manor House (Mh) | 15 / none | 10 / none | 10 ft | 15 ft |
| Single-Family House (Sf) | 15 / none | 10 / none | 5 ft | 15 ft |
| Civic Building (Civ) | 20 / none | 10 / none | 10 ft | 10 ft |
Parking Setbacks
The City of Dallas enforces specific parking setbacks within the WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use district to ensure that surface parking does not dominate the streetscape. For the Mixed Use Shopfront, Single-Story Shopfront, General Commercial, Apartment, Townhouse Stacked, and Townhouse development types, the following setbacks apply:
- From Primary Street: 30 feet minimum [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
- From Side Street: 5 feet minimum [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
- From Service Street: 5 feet minimum [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
- Abutting Single-Family District: 10 feet minimum [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
Adjacency and Special Conditions
Adjacency to Residential Districts
In the WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use district, side and rear setbacks are reduced if the lot abuts a multifamily or nonresidential district rather than a single-family district. For example, for a Mixed Use Shopfront (Mu), the side setback is 0 or 5 feet when abutting another mixed use or nonresidential area, but increases to 15 feet when abutting a single-family district [Section 51A-13.304(a)(4)].
Urban Form Setback
The City of Dallas requires an additional "Urban Form Setback" for taller structures. For buildings in the WMU: Walkable Urban Mixed Use district, an additional 20-foot front yard setback is required for any portion of a structure that exceeds 45 feet in height [Section 51A-13.304(b)(4)(A)(ii)].
Administrative Waivers
The Director of the City of Dallas may grant an administrative waiver for the front setback area if the required setback cannot be met due to street easements or interference with public utility services [Section 51A-13.304(a)(5)].
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.101
- Section 51A-13.101
- Section 51A-13.304