Permitted Districts for Hotels, Motels, and Lodging in the City of Fort Worth
In the City of Fort Worth, traditional hotels and motels are primarily permitted in commercial and industrial districts, such as General Commercial (F) and Central Business (H), while residential-scale lodging like Bed and Breakfast homes are permitted as conditional uses in most residential districts. Major lodging developments located within 1,000 feet of a one- or two-family residential district in the City of Fort Worth are subject to more stringent requirements, including the mandatory creation of a Planned Development (PD) district [Section 5.116]. Parking requirements vary by the specific type of lodging, generally ranging from one space per guest room to complex ratios involving public seating and ballroom areas [Section 6.201].
Primary Zoning Permissions for Lodging
The City of Fort Worth categorizes lodging into several distinct types, each with its own set of permitted districts. The following table outlines where these uses are allowed by right (P), by special exception (SE), or by conditional use permit (CUP).
Table: Lodging Use Permissions by District
| Use Type | Permitted Districts (By Right or Suffix) | Conditional or Special Districts |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, Motel, or Inn | FR, F, G, H, I, J, K, MU-2, NS/T4, NS/T5, PI, CB (various), TL (all), BU (all) | Requires PD if within 1,000 ft of one-family or two-family residential [Section 5.116] |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn | E, FR, F, G, H, I, J, K, AG, MU-1, MU-2, NS, PI, CB, TL, BU | CR, C, D (CUP); D-HR1, D-HR2 (SE) |
| Bed and Breakfast Home | (None) | A-2.5A through UR (CUP); BU-RA through BU-IX (CUP); D-HR1, D-HR2 (SE) |
| Lodging House | (None listed as P in standard districts) | CR, C, D, UR (P* with supplemental standards) [Section 4.603] |
| Short Term Home Rental | ER, E, FR, F, G, H, I, J, K | (See Use Tables for specific form-based zones) |
Note: District abbreviations include FR (General Commercial Restricted), F (General Commercial), G (Intensive Commercial), H (Central Business), and various Mixed-Use (MU) or Form-Based (NS, PI, CB, TL, BU) designations [Section 4.803, 4.1203].
Supplemental Standards for Lodging Facilities
Hotels, Motels, and Inns
In the City of Fort Worth, any hotel, motel, or inn located within 1,000 feet of a one- or two-family residential district, or certain educational facilities, requires the establishment of a Planned Development district [Section 5.116]. This regulation ensures the development is compatible with neighboring homes. These facilities must also comply with the following standards:
- Ingress/Egress: Access should be taken from the major street furthest from the residential district [Section 5.116].
- Screening: No screening fence can be erected along the perimeter of the hotel property adjacent to a street or alley; however, screening is required between the hotel and other lots [Section 5.116].
- Incidental Businesses: Businesses within the hotel must have their principal entrance from the inside of the building [Section 5.116].
Bed and Breakfast Facilities
Bed and Breakfast homes and inns in the City of Fort Worth are subject to specific operational criteria to maintain neighborhood character:
- B&B Homes: Must be the primary residence or homestead of the owner-operator. No more than three guest rooms and nine total guests are allowed. The maximum length of stay is 14 consecutive days [Section 5.106].
- B&B Inns: These are commercial enterprises and must have a manager on-site at all times when occupied by guests [Section 5.107].
- Signage: Signage is strictly limited, typically to one square foot for homes and governed by standard sign codes for inns [Section 5.106, 5.107].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
The City of Fort Worth mandates specific parking ratios for lodging facilities to prevent overflow into surrounding neighborhoods.
Table: Parking Ratios for Lodging in the City of Fort Worth
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hotel | 1 space per bedroom unit + 1 space per 4 patron seats in public rooms + 5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of display/ballroom area |
| Bed and Breakfast Home | 2 spaces for owner/operator + 1 space per guest bedroom |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn | 2 spaces for owner/operator + 1 space per guest bedroom + 1 space per each 2 employees |
| Lodging House | 1 space for proprietor + 1 space per 2 sleeping rooms + 1 space per each 4 employees |
[Section 6.201]
Sections Cited
- Section 4.603 Residential District Use Table
- Section 4.803 Non-Residential District Use Table
- Section 4.1100 Multifamily Highrise (D-HR1) District
- Section 4.1101 Multifamily Highrise (D-HR2) District
- Section 4.1203 District Use Table (Form-Based)
- Section 5.106 Bed and Breakfast Home
- Section 5.107 Bed and Breakfast Inn
- Section 5.116 Hotel, Motel or Inn
- Section 6.201 Off-Street Parking Requirements