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Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the RSF-2 Zoning District of Fayetteville

Jurisdiction: FayettevilleCode Version: December 2025

In the City of Fayetteville, the RSF-2: Residential Single-family — Two (2) Units per Acre district serves as a transition zone between neighborhoods with large lots (one acre or more) and those with smaller standard lots. Land use in this Fayetteville district is primarily limited to low-density detached dwellings with a maximum height of three stories and a minimum lot size requirement of 17,860 square feet.

Allowed Uses in the RSF-2 District

The Fayetteville Unified Development Code (UDC) categorizes allowed uses into those permitted "by right" and those requiring a "conditional use permit" after review by the Planning Commission.

Permitted Uses (By Right)

These uses are allowed within the RSF-2 district without the need for a special discretionary hearing, provided they meet standard building and development requirements:

  • Unit 1: City-wide uses by right: Includes public facilities, field crop farms, forests, parks, and essential services like fire hydrants or utility mainlines [162.01].
  • Unit 8: Single-family dwellings: Standard detached residential homes [161.06].
  • Unit 41: Accessory dwellings: Secondary units on the same lot, such as an attached or detached guest cottage, provided they do not exceed 1,200 square feet [164.19].
  • Unit 46: Short-term rentals: Leasing a dwelling or bedroom for fewer than 30 consecutive days [164.26].

Conditional Uses

In Fayetteville, the following uses may be allowed in the RSF-2 district only if approved by the Planning Commission under specific conditions:

  • Unit 2: City-wide uses by conditional use permit: Includes airports, bed and breakfast facilities, campgrounds, and solid waste disposal facilities [162.01].
  • Unit 3: Public protection and utility facilities: Such as electric regulating stations and pressure control stations [162.01].
  • Unit 4: Cultural and recreational facilities: Includes auditoriums, churches, cemeteries, and schools [162.01].
  • Unit 5: Government facilities: Such as fire stations, libraries, and post offices [162.01].
  • Unit 24: Home occupations: Small-scale businesses operated out of a residence, limited to 30% or 300 square feet of the floor area (whichever is greater) [163.08].
  • Unit 36: Wireless communications facilities: Antennas and towers for telecommunications [161.06].
  • Unit 44: Cluster Housing Development: Innovative residential designs that allow for variety in housing while maintaining neighborhood compatibility [164.22].
  • Unit 46: Short-term rentals (Type 2): Specifically refers to rentals where the owner does not occupy the property as a primary residence [163.18].

Prohibited Uses in the RSF-2 District

The Fayetteville zoning code generally prohibits any use not explicitly listed as permitted or conditional in the RSF-2 district. Specific prohibitions noted in the UDC include:

  • Sexually Oriented Businesses: These are explicitly barred from all districts in Fayetteville except for the UC (Urban Corridor) and C-2 (Thoroughfare Commercial) zones [163.11].
  • Commercial and Industrial Uses: Any business not meeting the criteria of a "Home Occupation" or "Limited Business" is generally prohibited to maintain the residential character of the RSF-2 zone.
  • Manufactured/Mobile Homes: Manufactured homes in Fayetteville are restricted to designated parks or the R-A (Residential-Agricultural) district and are not permitted on standard RSF-2 lots [175.02].
  • Gated Streets: Most residential subdivisions in Fayetteville are prohibited from constructing gates across streets to ensure connectivity and openness [171.02].

Technical Development Standards

Developments in Fayetteville's RSF-2 district must adhere to the following dimensional and parking requirements:

Standard Requirement in RSF-2
Max Density 2 units per acre
Min Lot Width 100 feet
Min Lot Area 17,860 square feet
Front Setback 30 feet
Side Setback 15 feet
Rear Setback 30 feet
Max Building Height 3 stories

Residential Parking Requirements

Residential Use Type Minimum Parking Required Maximum Parking Allowed
Single-family 2 per dwelling unit None

Sections Cited

  • Chapter 161: Zoning Regulations (Section 161.06)
  • Chapter 162: Use Units (Section 162.01)
  • Chapter 163: Use Conditions (Sections 163.08, 163.11, 163.18)
  • Chapter 164: Supplemental Zoning Regulations (Sections 164.19, 164.22, 164.26)
  • Chapter 171: Streets and Sidewalks (Section 171.02)
  • Chapter 172: Parking and Loading (Table 3)
  • Chapter 175: Manufactured Homes (Section 175.02)

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