Fayetteville Residential Maximum Lot Coverage Standards
In Fayetteville, maximum lot coverage—officially termed "Building Area"—is determined by the specific residential zoning district, ranging from as low as 5% in conservation areas to a maximum of 60% in high-density or urban intermediate districts. While several low-density districts such as R-A and RSF-1 do not impose a maximum percentage, most standard single-family and multi-family districts in Fayetteville restrict building footprints to 40% or 50% of the total lot area.
Maximum Building Area by Zoning District
The City of Fayetteville defines "Building Area" as the portion of a lot occupied by all buildings. Under Fayetteville's regulations, accessory ground-mounted solar energy systems are explicitly excluded from these calculations and are not considered buildings for the purpose of determining lot coverage [Section 161.07].
The following table outlines the maximum allowable building area for residential districts in Fayetteville:
| Fayetteville Zoning District | Maximum Building Area (Lot Coverage) |
|---|---|
| R-A (Residential-Agricultural) | None [Section 161.03] |
| RSF-.5 (Single-family, 0.5 Units/Acre) | None [Section 161.04] |
| RSF-1 (Single-family, 1 Unit/Acre) | None [Section 161.05] |
| RSF-2 (Single-family, 2 Units/Acre) | None [Section 161.06] |
| RSF-4 (Single-family, 4 Units/Acre) | 40% [Section 161.07] |
| RSF-7 (Single-family, 7 Units/Acre) | 50% [Section 161.08] |
| RSF-8 (Single-family, 8 Units/Acre) | 50% (Increases to 60% if a detached garage exists or is proposed) [Section 161.09] |
| RSF-18 (Single-family, 18 Units/Acre) | 60% [Section 161.10] |
| RI-12 (Residential Intermediate) | 50% [Section 161.11] |
| RI-U (Residential Intermediate - Urban) | 60% [Section 161.12] |
| RMF-6 (Multi-family, 6 Units/Acre) | 50% [Section 161.13] |
| RMF-12 (Multi-family, 12 Units/Acre) | 50% [Section 161.14] |
| RMF-18 (Multi-family, 18 Units/Acre) | 50% [Section 161.15] |
| RMF-24 (Multi-family, 24 Units/Acre) | 50% [Section 161.16] |
| RMF-40 (Multi-family, 40 Units/Acre) | 50% [Section 161.17] |
| CCR (Conservation, Cultural, and Recreation) | 5% [Section 161.38] |
Special District Considerations
Planned Zoning Districts (PZD)
In a Fayetteville Planned Zoning District (PZD), there is no pre-set maximum building area. Instead, the Fayetteville Planning Commission and City Council review specific proposed lot coverages during the zoning plan review. These coverages are expected to generally correspond to the guidelines of the standard Fayetteville residential district that most closely depicts the proposed development scheme [Section 161.35].
Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District
For developments within Fayetteville’s Hillside/Hilltop Overlay District, the allowable land disturbance percentage is tied directly to the percent minimum canopy required for that specific site, as dictated by Fayetteville's tree preservation regulations [Section 169.06].
Sections Cited
- Section 161.03 District R-A, Residential-Agricultural
- Section 161.04 District RSF-.5, Residential Single-Family — One-Half (½) Unit Per Acre
- Section 161.05 District RSF-1, Residential Single-Family — One (1) Unit Per Acre
- Section 161.06 District RSF-2, Residential Single-Family — Two (2) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.07 District RSF-4, Residential Single-Family — Four (4) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.08 District RSF-7, Residential Single-Family — Seven (7) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.09 District RSF-8, Residential Single-Family — Eight (8) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.10 District RSF-18, Residential Single-Family — Eighteen (18) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.11 District RI-12, Residential Intermediate, Twelve (12) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.12 District RI-U, Residential Intermediate — Urban
- Section 161.13 District RMF-6, Residential Multi-Family — Six (6) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.14 District RMF-12, Residential Multi-Family — Twelve (12) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.15 District RMF-18, Residential Multi-Family — Eighteen (18) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.16 District RMF-24, Residential Multi-Family — Twenty-Four (24) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.17 District RMF-40, Residential Multi-Family — Forty (40) Units Per Acre
- Section 161.35 Planned Zoning District
- Section 161.38 District CCR, Conservation, Cultural, And Recreation
- Section 169.06 Land Alteration Requirements