Walkable Urban Residential (WR) District Use Regulations

In the municipality of Dallas, the Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district is a pedestrian-oriented zoning designation designed to create residential neighborhoods with diverse housing options. While the district primarily supports residential and civic uses, limited commercial activity is restricted to specific intensities and locations, such as low-intensity sub-districts along major thoroughfares [Section 51A-13.301].

Permitted Development Types

In a Dallas Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district, land use is governed by the specific "Development Type" assigned to the building. The following table outlines which development types are established for the various WR intensity levels [Section 51A-13.304].

WR District Intensity	Permitted Development Types
Low (WR-3, WR-5)	Apartment, Townhouse Stacked, Townhouse, Manor House, Single-Family House, Civic Building, Open Space Lot, Single-Story Shopfront*
Medium (WR-8, WR-12)	Apartment, Townhouse Stacked, Townhouse, Manor House, Single-Family House, Civic Building, Open Space Lot
High (WR-20, WR-40)	Apartment, Townhouse Stacked, Townhouse, Manor House, Single-Family House, Civic Building, Open Space Lot

*Single-Story Shopfront and Mixed Use Shopfront types are only permitted in the Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district when a Shopfront (-SH) Overlay is applied and are limited to Office and Medical uses along thoroughfares [Section 51A-13.304(a)(1)].

Allowed Land Uses

The following uses are permitted by right (·) in the Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district of Dallas, provided they are housed within a permitted development type [Section 51A-13.306].

Residential Uses

Single-family living: Permitted in Apartment, Townhouse Stacked, Townhouse, Manor House, and Single-Family House types.
Multifamily living: Permitted only in Apartment and Townhouse Stacked types.
Group living: Permitted only in Apartment and Townhouse Stacked types (subject to 1,000-foot spacing requirements from similar facilities).

Civic and Public Uses

Transit station: Permitted in the Civic Building type.
Utilities (Minor): Permitted in the Civic Building type.
Place of Worship: Permitted in the Civic Building type.
Park or Open Space: Permitted in the Open Space Lot type.

Commercial Uses (Limited)

Office: Allowed only in WR-3 or WR-5 sub-districts with a Shopfront (-SH) overlay when located along a thoroughfare.
Medical: Allowed only in WR-3 or WR-5 sub-districts with a Shopfront (-SH) overlay when located along a thoroughfare.

Uses Permitted by Specific Use Permit (SUP)

Certain uses in the Dallas Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district require the approval of a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to ensure compatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhood [Section 51A-13.306(b)].

Community service (Museum, Library, Day care, Educational): Requires an SUP if located in an Apartment, Townhouse, or Civic Building type.
Government service: Requires an SUP if located in the Civic Building type.
Social service: Requires an SUP if located in the Civic Building type.
Detention center, jail, or prison: Requires an SUP if located in the Civic Building type.

Prohibited Uses

Any use not explicitly marked as permitted in the Dallas Use Chart for the development types allowed in the WR district is prohibited. Major prohibited categories include:

Retail and Bars: All retail sales, restaurants, and bars are prohibited in the Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district.
Fabrication and Industrial: Light manufacturing, research and development, and vehicle service are strictly prohibited.
Commerce and Storage: Commercial parking, self-service storage, and overnight lodging (hotels/motels) are not allowed.
Transportation: Passenger terminals and helistops are prohibited.
Skybridges: Pedestrian skybridges are expressly prohibited in all form districts, including the WR district [Section 51A-13.306(a)(5)(D)].

Specific Use Restrictions

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

A rentable additional dwelling unit (ADU) is permitted as an accessory use in the Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district. ADUs must be subordinate to the main unit, range between 200 and 700 square feet (or up to 25% of the main structure), and provide at least one off-street parking space [Section 51A-4.510].

Thoroughfare Requirement

In the Dallas Walkable Urban Residential (WR) district, nonresidential uses (such as office or medical) permitted via shopfront development types are strictly limited to building sites with frontage on a designated thoroughfare [Section 51A-13.304(a)(1)].

Sections Cited

Sec. 51A-2.102 (Definitions)
Sec. 51A-4.510 (Accessory Dwelling Unit Overlay)
Sec. 51A-13.301 (Districts Established)
Sec. 51A-13.304 (Development Types)
Sec. 51A-13.306 (Uses)