Setback Standards for Dallas CA-2(A): Central Area District 2

The Dallas CA-2(A): Central area district 2 does not require a minimum front yard setback for any use, allowing development to occur up to the front property line. Side and rear yard setbacks in this Dallas district are also generally zero feet, except for duplexes and multifamily structures 36 feet or less in height, which must provide setbacks ranging from 5 to 15 feet [Section 51A-4.124(b)(4)].

Required Minimum Setbacks in the CA-2(A) District

The following technical standards apply to all properties within the CA-2(A): Central area district 2 in the city of Dallas. While most commercial and high-density residential uses have no yard requirements, specific residential structures are subject to the following minimums:

Use Category	Minimum Side Yard	Minimum Rear Yard
Duplex Structures	5 feet	10 feet
Multifamily (36' or less in height)	10 feet	15 feet
All Other Permitted Uses	0 feet	0 feet

[Section 51A-4.124(b)(4); Section 51A-4.410]

Supplemental Regulations for Dallas Central Area Districts

Front Yard Provisions

The Dallas CA-2(A): Central area district 2 is designed to accommodate existing high-density development and encourage the most appropriate future use of land while preventing street congestion [Section 51A-4.124(b)(1)]. Because the minimum front yard is zero feet, the Dallas Development Code general provisions regarding projections into the front yard (such as window sills or cornices) only apply if a developer chooses to provide a voluntary setback [Section 51A-4.401(a)(1)].

Side and Rear Yard Specifics

While high-rise multifamily structures and commercial buildings in the Dallas CA-2(A) district typically enjoy a zero-foot side and rear yard requirement, the code enforces stricter standards for lower-density or shorter residential structures to ensure adequate light and air:

Duplexes: Must maintain a 5-foot side yard and a 10-foot rear yard [Section 51A-4.124(b)(4)(B)].
Multifamily (Short): Multifamily buildings in CA-2(A) that are 36 feet or less in height are required to provide a 10-foot side yard and a 15-foot rear yard [Section 51A-4.124(b)(4)(B)].
High-Rise/Commercial: Any other use not specified above, including multifamily structures taller than 36 feet, has a zero-foot requirement for both side and rear yards [Section 51A-4.124(b)(4)(B)].

Visibility and Encroachments

Regardless of the zero-foot setback allowances, no structures or obstructions are permitted within a visibility triangle in the CA-2(A): Central area district 2. This includes the area at the intersection of two streets or the intersection of a driveway/alley with a street [Section 51A-4.602(d)]. Furthermore, any off-street loading spaces provided in this Dallas district must be designed so that they do not result in vehicles backing into or blocking public rights-of-way [Section 51A-4.303(b)].

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