Fort Worth A-43 One-Family District Setback and Yard Requirements
In the Fort Worth A-43 One-family district, primary residential structures are required to maintain a minimum front yard setback of 35 feet. Side and rear yards for the A-43 One-family district must be at least 25 feet, though the setback adjacent to a side street for interior lots increases to 35 feet.
Setback and Yard Standards for the A-43 District
The City of Fort Worth establishes specific dimensional standards for the A-43 One-family district to ensure rural-style development and maintain compatible lot sizes in residential areas [§ 4.701(a)]. These standards govern the placement of the primary dwelling and any allowed accessory structures on the lot.
| Requirement Type | Standard Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Front Yard Setback | 35 feet |
| Rear Yard Setback | 25 feet |
| Side Yard (Interior Lot Line) | 25 feet |
| Side Yard (Adjacent to Side Street) | 35 feet |
| Corner Lot (Interior Lot Line) | 25 feet |
Front Yard Setback Determinations
In the Fort Worth A-43 One-family district, the required front yard setback is not always a fixed number but is determined by the greatest of several possible measurements [§ 6.101(d)]:
- Platted Building Line: The building line as established on the recorded plat for the property.
- District Standard: The 35-foot minimum setback defined specifically for the A-43 district.
- Infill Setback: If at least 40% of the lots on a blockface have been developed, the setback may be required to match the setback of the nearest building on either side, up to a maximum of 50 feet.
Furthermore, if 60% of the existing blockface in the City of Fort Worth has been built with setbacks less than the minimum required, an infill structure may be constructed consistent with the existing setbacks of the neighbors [§ 6.101(d)(2)].
Yard Obstructions and Encroachments
The City of Fort Worth requires that every part of a required yard in the A-43 One-family district remain open and unobstructed from its lowest point to the sky, with specific exceptions [§ 6.101(a)]:
- Architectural Features: Cornices, sills, belt courses, and chimneys may project up to six inches into a required yard.
- Eaves: Roof eaves may project up to 36 inches into any required yard.
- Porches and Patios: An open porch or patio with a vertical roof support must be set back at least 15 feet from the front property line on local streets and 10 feet on limited local streets.
- Terrace Garages: A terrace garage may be located in a front or side yard if it is completely recessed into the terrace and does not project beyond the property line.
Special Provisions for Corner and Through Lots
For corner lots in the A-43 One-family district, the side yard regulations typically follow interior lot rules unless the lot has "reversed frontage." In cases where a corner lot abuts the side of a lot facing an intersecting street, the side yard on the corner must be at least 50% of the front yard required for the lot abutting the rear [§ 4.200(d)(4)].
On through lots (lots with frontage on two parallel or near-parallel streets), if the rear frontage is on an arterial or wider street, the rear yard setback standards for the A-43 One-family district apply [§ 6.101(e)].
Sections Cited
- § 4.701 ONE-FAMILY (“A-43”) DISTRICT
- § 6.101 YARDS
- § 4.200 AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT (“AG”) (Referenced for corner lot rules)