B: Two-Family District Regulations in Fort Worth

The B: Two-family district in Fort Worth is primarily designed to allow for the development of a maximum of two dwelling units on a single lot, alongside customary accessory uses. Within the City of Fort Worth, this district permits a variety of residential configurations including standard duplexes, zero lot line units, and detached units, provided they meet specific lot area requirements ranging from 2,500 to 7,500 square feet depending on the housing type.

Permitted Housing Types and Land Uses

The City of Fort Worth identifies specific uses that are allowed by right, allowed with supplemental standards, or allowed via special approval within the B: Two-family district.

Residential Uses Allowed by Right

In the B: Two-family district in Fort Worth, the following residential uses are permitted by right [Section 4.603]:

One-family detached dwellings.
One-family zero lot line detached dwellings.
One-family zero lot line attached (twin home) dwellings.
Two-family detached dwellings.
Duplex/two-family attached dwellings.
One-family attached (townhouse or rowhouse) dwellings.
Cluster housing.

Civic and Recreational Uses

The following non-residential uses are permitted by right in the B: Two-family district in Fort Worth [Section 4.603]:

Elementary or secondary schools (public or private).
Museums, libraries, or fine arts centers (government operated or controlled).
Places of worship.
Private country clubs and golf courses.
Neighborhood recreation centers.
Public and private parks or playgrounds.

Uses Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*)

The City of Fort Worth allows several uses in the B: Two-family district provided they adhere to the supplemental use standards found in Chapter 5 of the zoning ordinance [Section 4.603]:

Industrialized Housing: Must meet specific value and compatibility requirements [Section 5.116.B].
Community Homes: Subject to spacing requirements [Section 5.110].
Group Home I: Limited to family-based facilities with 15 or fewer residents [Section 5.115].
Home Occupations: Must be secondary to the residential use [Section 5.116.A].
Large Animals: Subject to pasture land minimums and distance from regulated structures [Section 5.307].
Accessory Buildings: Such as carports and storage sheds [Section 5.301].
Community Gardens: Subject to site plan approval [Section 5.146].

Prohibited Uses

The City of Fort Worth prohibits any use within the B: Two-family district that is not specifically designated as permitted (P), permitted with standards (P*), a special exception (SE), or a conditional use (CUP) in the official use table [Section 4.601]. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to:

Multifamily Apartments: These are restricted to higher-density districts such as CR, C, or D [Section 4.603].
Mobile Homes: Prohibited outside of the MH district [Section 4.603].
Commercial and Industrial Uses: Most retail, office, and manufacturing activities are excluded from the B: Two-family district in Fort Worth [Section 4.803].
Fraternities/Sororities and Halfway Houses: These are not permitted uses in this specific residential district [Section 4.603].

Technical Development Standards

The B: Two-family district in Fort Worth enforces strict dimensional requirements that vary based on the specific type of two-family housing being developed.

Standard	Two Attached Units (Single Lot)	Two Detached Units (Single Lot)	Attached Zero Lot Line Unit
Minimum Lot Area	5,000 sq. ft.	7,500 sq. ft.	2,500 sq. ft. (per unit)
Minimum Lot Width	50 feet	50 feet	25 feet
Maximum Lot Coverage	50%	50%	50%
Min. Front Yard	20 feet	20 feet	20 feet
Min. Rear Yard	5 feet	10 feet	5 feet
Min. Side Yard	5 feet	5 feet	0 feet (one side); 10 or 5 feet (other)
Max. Height	35 feet	35 feet	35 feet
Bldg. Separation	N/A	10 feet	N/A

Note: Setbacks may be subject to "setback averaging" or "projected front yard" requirements if neighboring houses are closer to the street [Section 4.707(c)].

Special Exceptions and Conditional Uses

Certain uses require specific discretionary approval from the City of Fort Worth:

Special Exceptions (SE): Stealth telecommunications towers and private carports/porte cocheres located in the front yard require approval from the Board of Adjustment [Section 4.603].
Conditional Use Permits (CUP): Day care centers (child or adult), bed and breakfast homes, and bed and breakfast inns require a CUP issued by the City Council [Section 4.603].

Sections Cited

§ 4.601 Key to Table Designations
§ 4.603 Residential District Use Table
§ 4.707 Two-Family ("B") District
§ 5.110 Community Home
§ 5.115 Group Home I or II
§ 5.116.A Home Occupations
§ 5.116.B Industrialized Housing
§ 5.146 Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens
§ 5.301 Accessory Uses on Residential Lots
§ 5.305 Fences
§ 5.307 Large Animals
§ 6.100 Height
§ 6.502 Two Detached Dwelling Units on One Lot
§ 6.503 Zero Lot Line Dwellings