Guide to the A-43 One-Family Zoning District in Fort Worth
The A-43: One-family district in the City of Fort Worth is designed for rural-style residential development requiring a minimum lot size of one acre (43,560 square feet). This district primarily permits single-family detached dwellings and essential community facilities, enforcing 35-foot front yard setbacks and a maximum building height of 35 feet [Section 4.701]. Development in the A-43: One-family district is the second most restrictive tier within the City of Fort Worth residential hierarchy, sitting just below the A-2.5A district [Section 4.101].
Purpose and General Character
The primary purpose of the A-43: One-family district is to provide a zoning classification for rural-style development of one-family dwellings on large lots [Section 4.701]. The City of Fort Worth utilizes this district to maintain compatible lot sizes in semi-developed areas, ensuring low-density environments that are compatible with adjacent agricultural or large-lot residential uses [Section 4.701]. The general character is defined by significant open space, as the maximum lot coverage by structures is limited to 30% [Section 4.701].
Permitted Land Uses
Land uses in the A-43: One-family district are primarily restricted to residential and low-impact civic activities. According to the City of Fort Worth residential use table, the following permissions apply [Section 4.603]:
Residential and Group Living
- Permitted by Right: One-family detached dwellings and model homes.
- Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): Industrialized housing, boarding home facilities, and community homes.
- Conditional Use Permit (CUP): Bed and breakfast homes and bed and breakfast inns.
Civic, Religious, and Recreational
- Permitted by Right: Public or private elementary and secondary schools, government-operated museums or libraries, places of worship, private country clubs, golf courses, neighborhood recreation centers, and public or private parks and playgrounds.
- Health Services: Hospice facilities are permitted by right.
Utilities and Agriculture
- Permitted with Supplemental Standards (P*): Gas drilling and production, telecommunications antennas (on existing structures), utility transmission lines, and community gardens.
- Special Exception (SE): Stealth telecommunications towers.
- Large Animals: The keeping of large animals is permitted subject to supplemental standards, requiring a property owner to provide adequate pasture land [Section 4.603, Section 5.307].
Development Standards
Property owners in the A-43: One-family district must adhere to specific "lot and yard" dimensions to maintain the rural character of the neighborhood.
Technical Requirements Table
| Feature | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 1 acre (43,560 square feet) |
| Minimum Lot Width | 125 feet at building line |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 30% of total area |
| Minimum Front Yard Setback | 35 feet |
| Minimum Rear Yard Setback | 25 feet |
| Minimum Side Yard Setback | 25 feet |
| Side Yard (Interior Lot) | 35 feet adjacent to side street |
| Side Yard (Corner Lot) | 25 feet for interior lot line |
| Maximum Building Height | 35 feet |
[Source: Section 4.701]
Design and Articulation Standards
The City of Fort Worth imposes additional design requirements for new construction within the A-43: One-family district to prevent architectural repetition:
- Exterior Walls: Must consist of a minimum of 50% masonry construction [Section 4.701].
- Garages: Attached or detached garages facing a public or private street may not project more than eight feet in front of the front wall of the primary house [Section 4.701].
- Elevation Differentiations: New dwellings must be sufficiently differentiated from other units within a six-lot pattern (two lots on either side) through changes in rooflines, materials, or architectural features like dormers or porches [Section 6.507].
- Parking: The City of Fort Worth requires two parking spaces behind the front building wall for units with three or fewer bedrooms. Units with more than three bedrooms require one additional space [Section 4.701].
Sections Cited
- Section 4.101 District Hierarchy
- Section 4.603 Residential District Use Table
- Section 4.701 One-Family ("A-43") District
- Section 5.307 Large Animals
- Section 6.507 One-Family Dwelling Unit Design Standards