A-21 One-Family District Regulations in the City of Fort Worth

The A-21 One-family district in the City of Fort Worth is a residential designation requiring a minimum lot area of 21,780 square feet (one-half acre) for semi-rural development. The primary permitted use is detached single-family dwellings, with a maximum building height limited to 35 feet and specific requirements for front, side, and rear yard setbacks.

Purpose of the A-21 One-Family District

The City of Fort Worth established the A-21 One-family district to provide a zone for semi-rural development of one-family dwellings on individual lots. This designation is intended to maintain compatible lot sizes in developed areas and ensure compatibility with adjacent uses while promoting the general welfare of the community [§ 4.702(a)].

Property Development Standards

Development within the A-21 One-family district of the City of Fort Worth must adhere to the following dimensional and coverage requirements:

Standard	Requirement
Minimum Lot Area	1/2 acre (21,780 square feet)
Minimum Lot Width	85 feet at building line
Maximum Lot Coverage	30%
Minimum Front Yard Setback	30 feet
Minimum Rear Yard Setback	10 feet
Minimum Side Yard Setback	10 feet
Maximum Height	35 feet

Note: For sloped sites, average grade is determined by calculating the average of the highest and lowest elevation along the front of the building parallel to the primary street setback line [§ 4.702(c)].

Allowed Uses in the A-21 District

Uses in the City of Fort Worth A-21 One-family district are classified as Permitted (P), Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*), or requiring a Special Exception (SE).

Residential and Group Living

One-family detached dwellings: Permitted by right [§ 4.603].
Industrialized housing: Permitted subject to supplemental standards [§ 4.603].
Boarding home facilities: Permitted for a maximum of six residents [§ 4.603, § 5.153].
Community homes: Permitted subject to spacing requirements (no less than one-half mile from existing homes) [§ 4.603, § 5.110].
Group home I: Permitted subject to supplemental standards [§ 4.603].

Civic, Educational, and Religious

Schools (Elementary or Secondary): Permitted [§ 4.603].
Museums, libraries, or fine arts centers: Permitted if government-operated or controlled [§ 4.603].
Places of worship: Permitted by right [§ 4.603].

Recreation

Parks and playgrounds (Public or Private): Permitted [§ 4.603].
Neighborhood recreation centers: Permitted [§ 4.603].
Country clubs (Private): Permitted [§ 4.603].
Golf courses: Permitted [§ 4.603].

Utilities and Energy

Stealth telecommunications towers: Requires a Special Exception [§ 4.603].
Telecommunications antenna (on structure): Permitted subject to supplemental standards [§ 4.603].
Utility transmission towers or distribution lines: Permitted subject to standards [§ 4.603].

Agricultural and Other

Community gardens: Permitted subject to standards including size limits for accessory structures [§ 4.603, § 5.146].
Large animals: Permitted by right, requiring 10,000 square feet of pasture land per animal and a 50-foot separation from regulated structures [§ 5.307].
Gas drilling and production: Permitted subject to supplemental standards and City Code Chapter 15 [§ 4.603].

Accessory and Temporary Uses

The A-21 One-family district allows for several accessory and temporary uses, often requiring specific conditions:

Home Occupations: Permitted as an incidental use; no more than four pupils for lessons and must not change the residential character [§ 5.116A].
Accessory Buildings: Must be located behind the rear wall of the primary residence and satisfy height-to-setback ratios [§ 5.301].
Private Carports/Porte Cocheres: Allowed in the front yard only by Special Exception from the Board of Adjustment [§ 5.301(b)(1)].
Garage or Occasional Sales: Permitted up to two times per calendar year, lasting no more than three consecutive days [§ 5.402].
Model Homes: Permitted with a five-year time limit [§ 5.403].

Prohibited Uses

In accordance with the City of Fort Worth Residential District Use Table, any use not explicitly marked with a "P" or "SE" is prohibited. Notable prohibited uses in the A-21 One-family district include:

Two-family (Duplex) dwellings [§ 4.603].
Multifamily dwelling apartments [§ 4.603].
Manufactured home parks or subdivisions [§ 4.603].
Zero lot line dwellings [§ 4.603].
Commercial retail sales and service [§ 4.803].
Industrial and manufacturing uses [§ 4.803].
Vehicle junkyards or storage yards [§ 4.803].

Sections Cited

Section 4.100 Districts Established
Section 4.601 Key to Table Designations
Section 4.603 Residential District Use Table
Section 4.702 One-Family ("A-21") District
Section 4.803 Non-Residential District Use Table
Section 5.110 Community Home
Section 5.116A Home Occupations
Section 5.153 Boarding Home Facilities
Section 5.301 Accessory Uses on Residential Lots
Section 5.307 Large Animals
Section 5.402 Garage or Other Occasional Sale
Section 5.403 Model Home
Section 6.100 Height
Section 6.201 Off-Street Parking Requirements