Downtown General (DG) Zoning Regulations in Fayetteville

In the City of Fayetteville, the DG: Downtown General district is a flexible, mixed-use zone that permits a wide range of residential and commercial activities, including single-family dwellings, multi-family apartments, and neighborhood shopping goods. Most developments in this district are allowed by right up to five stories in height, provided they adhere to urban form standards such as a specific build-to zone located 10 to 25 feet from the front property line [Section 161.28].

Purpose of the Downtown General District

The Fayetteville DG: Downtown General district is designed to be a flexible zone that serves as a transition between the intense Downtown Core and lower-density residential areas like Neighborhood Conservation. Fayetteville intended this district to support a mixture of single-family homes, rowhouses, apartments, and live/work units, while encouraging a dynamic range of uses for both public open spaces and local businesses [Section 161.28(A)].

Allowed Uses in the DG District

Uses in the Fayetteville DG: Downtown General district are categorized into "Permitted Uses," which are allowed by right, and "Conditional Uses," which require specific approval.

Permitted Uses (By Right)

The following use units are permitted by right in the DG: Downtown General district:

Unit 1: City-wide uses by right (Public facilities, essential services, and agricultural uses) [Section 162.01(A)].
Unit 4: Cultural and recreational facilities (Museums, libraries, churches, etc.) [Section 162.01(D)].
Unit 5: Government facilities (Post offices, police stations, etc.) [Section 162.01(E)].
Unit 8: Single-family dwellings.
Unit 9: Two-family dwellings.
Unit 10: Three- and four-family dwellings.
Unit 13: Eating places (Restaurants and cafes).
Unit 15: Neighborhood shopping goods (Limited to buildings containing 25,000 square feet or less).
Unit 24: Home occupations.
Unit 25: Offices, studios, and related services.
Unit 26: Multi-family dwellings.
Unit 40: Sidewalk Cafes.
Unit 41: Accessory dwellings.
Unit 44: Cluster Housing Development.
Unit 45: Small scale production.
Unit 46: Short-term rentals.

Conditional Uses

The following uses may be permitted in the DG: Downtown General district only after receiving a conditional use permit:

Unit 2: City-wide uses by conditional use permit (Campgrounds, plant nurseries, etc.).
Unit 3: Public protection and utility facilities.
Unit 14: Hotel, motel, and amusement services.
Unit 16: Shopping goods (Retail goods with a city-wide or regional market).
Unit 17: Transportation trades and services.
Unit 19: Commercial recreation, small sites (Billiards, bowling alleys, theaters).
Unit 28: Center for collecting recyclable materials.
Unit 36: Wireless communication facilities.
Unit 48: Private dormitories.

Prohibited Uses and Materials

While the DG: Downtown General district is highly flexible, certain uses are restricted by omission (any use not explicitly listed as permitted or conditional is generally prohibited). Furthermore, Fayetteville prohibits specific materials and structures within this district to maintain urban character:

Signs: Pole signs are prohibited; only monument signs are permitted for freestanding signage [Section 174.08(M)].
Design Elements: Under nonresidential design standards applicable to the DG district, the following materials are prohibited: untreated concrete masonry units (CMU), wood fiber board, unfinished pressure-treated wood, vinyl siding, reflective glass, and Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) on the first floor [Section 166.24(D)(4)].

Technical Development Standards

Development in the DG: Downtown General district must meet the following bulk, area, and setback requirements:

Standard	Requirement
Maximum Density	None
Maximum Building Height	5 Stories
Min. Buildable Street Frontage	50% of the lot width
Lot Width Minimum (Dwelling)	18 feet
Lot Area Minimum	None
Front Setback (Build-to Zone)	10 to 25 feet from front property line
Side and Rear Setback	None
Setback (Contiguous to SF Res.)	15 feet
Rear Setback (from center of alley)	12 feet

[Section 161.28]

Sections Cited

Section 161.28 District DG, Downtown General
Section 162.01 Establishment/Listing of Use Units
Section 166.24 Nonresidential Design Standards
Section 174.08 Prohibited Signs