Fort Worth B: Two-Family District Setback Regulations
In the City of Fort Worth B: Two-family district, primary setback requirements for a standard duplex include a 20-foot minimum front yard, a 5-foot minimum rear yard, and 5-foot minimum side yards. These requirements fluctuate based on specific housing configurations, such as detached units on a single lot which require a 10-foot rear yard, or zero lot line developments that utilize specialized side-yard offsets of 0 and 10 feet.
Primary Setback Requirements by Housing Type
The City of Fort Worth B: Two-family district allows for four distinct housing types, each governed by specific dimensional standards [Section 4.707]. Property owners must identify their specific housing configuration to determine the applicable minimum setbacks.
| Housing Configuration | Front Yard (Min.) | Rear Yard (Min.) | Side Yard (Min. / Standard) | Side Yard (Adjacent to Side Street) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Attached Units (Single Lot) | 20 feet | 5 feet | 5 feet | 10 feet |
| Two Detached Units (Single Lot) | 20 feet | 10 feet | 5 feet | 10 feet |
| Attached Zero Lot Line (Type A) | 20 feet | 5 feet | 1 side 10'; 1 side 0' | 10 feet |
| Attached Zero Lot Line (Type B) | 20 feet | 5 feet | 1 side 5'; 1 side 0' | 10 feet |
Supplemental Yard and Setback Regulations
In addition to the base requirements listed above, the City of Fort Worth applies several general standards to all residential districts, including the B: Two-family district, to ensure neighborhood consistency and safety.
Front Yard Determination
The minimum front yard in the City of Fort Worth B: Two-family district must be the greatest of the following three measurements [Section 6.101]:
- The building line established on the recorded plat;
- The 20-foot minimum setback required by the B: Two-family district standards; or
- The setback of the nearest building on either side that is closest to the street (up to a maximum of 50 feet), provided that at least 40% of the lots on the block face have already been developed.
Corner Lot Provisions
For corner lots in the City of Fort Worth B: Two-family district, the interior lot line side yard remains 5 feet [Section 4.707]. However, the side yard adjacent to a side street must be a minimum of 10 feet to provide adequate visibility and space [Section 4.707]. Additionally, if a corner lot in a nonresidential district abuts the front yard of a lot in the B: Two-family district, the exterior side yard of that nonresidential lot must match the front yard requirements of the B: Two-family district [Section 6.101].
Projections and Obstructions
Every part of a required yard in the City of Fort Worth B: Two-family district must remain open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky, with the following exceptions [Section 6.101]:
- Architectural Features: Sills, belt courses, cornices, and chimneys may project up to six inches into a required yard.
- Eaves: Roof eaves may project up to 36 inches into a required yard.
- Porches and Patios: Open porches or patios with vertical roof supports are prohibited within 15 feet of the front property line on local streets.
Rear Yard Exceptions
In the City of Fort Worth B: Two-family district, no rear yard is required for any lot used for business or industrial purposes if the rear property line directly adjoins a railway right-of-way or has a rear railway track connection [Section 6.101].
Sections Cited
- Section 4.707 TWO-FAMILY (“B”) DISTRICT
- Section 6.101 YARDS
- Section 6.503 Zero Lot Line Dwellings