Measurement and Calculation of Building Heights in the City of Fort Worth
Building height in the City of Fort Worth is calculated based on the vertical distance from the curb level or average finished grade to the highest point of the roof surface or wall top plate, depending on the specific zoning district and roof type. For most basic residential and commercial districts, the City of Fort Worth establishes a standard maximum height of 35 to 45 feet, though developers may increase these limits in certain districts by one foot for every additional foot provided in yard setbacks [Section 6.100].
General Measurement Standards
Under the City of Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance, height measurements vary depending on the structural design and the location of the building on the lot:
- Standard Roofs: For gable, hip, or gambrel roofs, height is measured as the vertical distance from the curb level to the mean height between the eaves and the ridge. For flat roofs, it is measured to the highest point of the roof surface [Section 6.100(b)].
- Mansard Roofs: Height is measured to the deck line of the mansard roof [Section 6.100(b)].
- Setback Buildings: If a building is set back from the street line, the City of Fort Worth calculates height from the average elevation of the finished grade along the front of the building rather than the curb level [Section 6.100(b)].
- Through Lots: For through lots 150 feet or less in depth, height can be measured from the curb level on either street. For through lots exceeding 150 feet in depth, the height regulations apply to a depth of not more than 150 feet from the street that permits the greater height [Section 6.100(d)].
District-Specific Height Standards
The City of Fort Worth applies specific height limits and unique measurement methodologies to different zoning districts as outlined below:
Technical Height Standards Table
| District Class / Name | Maximum Height Limit | Measurement Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural (AG) | 3-1/2 stories or 45 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.200] |
| One-Family (A-2.5A to A-5) | 35 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.700-4.705] |
| One-Family Restricted (AR) | 35 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.706] |
| Two-Family (B) | 35 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.707] |
| Townhouse/Cluster (R1, R2) | 35 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.708-4.709] |
| Low Density Multifamily (CR) | 36 feet | Finished slab to top plate [Section 4.710] |
| Medium Density Multifamily (C) | 36 feet | Finished slab to top plate [Section 4.711] |
| High Density Multifamily (D) | 36 feet / 48 feet* | Finished slab to top plate [Section 4.712] |
| Urban Residential (UR) | 3 stories / 14ft per floor | Top of slab to highest wall top plate [Section 4.713] |
| Neighborhood Commercial (ER, E) | 3 stories or 45 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.900-4.901] |
| General Commercial (FR, F) | 3 stories or 45 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.902-4.903] |
| Intensive Commercial (G) | 12 stories or 120 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.904] |
| Light Industrial (I) | 3 stories or 55 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.1000] |
| Medium/Heavy Industrial (J, K) | 12 stories or 120 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.1003-4.1004] |
| Multifamily Highrise (D-HR1) | 144 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.1100] |
| Multifamily Highrise (D-HR2) | 240 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.1101] |
| Office Midrise (O-M) | 6 stories or 80 feet | Curb/Grade [Section 4.1102] |
*Note: In High Density Multifamily (D), a height of 48 feet is permitted if the building is beyond a 250-foot setback from one- and two-family districts [Section 4.712].
Multifamily and Mixed-Use Measurement
In the City of Fort Worth, multifamily residential developments in districts CR, C, and D are specifically measured from the top of the finished slab to the top of the highest wall top plate [Section 6.100(c)].
In Mixed-Use (MU-1 and MU-2) districts, the City of Fort Worth establishes minimum height requirements to encourage density. The Low Intensity Mixed-Use (MU-1) district requires at least one story with a minimum of 18 feet total measured from the finished slab to the top of the highest wall facade [Section 4.1300(d)(3)]. The High Intensity Mixed-Use (MU-2) district requires at least two stories with a minimum 18 feet of occupiable space [Section 4.1302(d)(3)].
Height Exemptions and Increases
Proportional Increases
In the City of Fort Worth districts "A" through "F" and the "I" Light Industrial district, the height of a building may be increased by one foot for each one foot that the building's front, side, and rear yards exceed the minimum required dimensions [Section 6.100(a)].
Structural Appurtenances
The following structures are generally exempt from height limitations in the City of Fort Worth, provided they are not prohibited by other regulations:
- Elevator penthouses or bulkheads.
- Cooling towers and tanks.
- Mechanical equipment rooms.
- Enclosed stairwells.
- Ornamental cupolas, domes, steeples, and spires [Section 6.100(e)].
Airport Overlays
Within any airport or airfield overlay district, the City of Fort Worth requires height to be measured in Mean Sea Level (MSL) elevation rather than relative to the ground or curb, in order to comply with airport height control maps and federal safety standards [Section 5.137; Section 9.101].
Sections Cited
- § 4.200 Agricultural District ("AG")
- § 4.700 - § 4.712 Residential Districts (A-2.5A to D)
- § 4.713 Urban Residential ("UR") District
- § 4.900 - § 4.904 Commercial Districts (ER to G)
- § 4.1000 - § 4.1004 Industrial Districts (I to K)
- § 4.1100 Multifamily Highrise ("D-HR1") District
- § 4.1101 Multifamily Highrise ("D-HR2") District
- § 4.1102 Office Midrise ("O-M") District
- § 4.1300 Low Intensity Mixed-Use ("MU-1") District
- § 4.1302 High Intensity Mixed-Use ("MU-2") District
- § 5.137 Telecommunications Tower and Stealth Telecommunication Tower
- § 6.100 Height
- § 9.101 Defined Terms