Permitted Zoning Districts and Standards for Drive-Through Businesses in Fort Worth
In the City of Fort Worth, drive-through and drive-in businesses are primarily permitted in commercial, industrial, and specific mixed-use districts, often subject to supplemental development standards (P*). The Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (ER) district requires discretionary approval via a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), while standard commercial districts like E, FR, F, and G allow them by right provided specific site design and traffic management criteria are met. The City of Fort Worth defines these uses as providing car service and/or a drive-through window, and they are strictly prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption in mixed-use districts.
Permitted Districts for Drive-Through Businesses
The City of Fort Worth regulates drive-through and drive-in businesses across residential, commercial, industrial, and form-based districts. These uses are generally prohibited in standard residential districts (A, B, R1, R2, CR, C, and D) and agricultural (AG) areas.
| District Category | Specific Zoning Districts | Permission Level |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Commercial | Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (ER) | CUP (Conditional Use Permit) |
| Commercial | Neighborhood Commercial (E), General Commercial Restricted (FR), General Commercial (F), Intensive Commercial (G), Central Business (H) | P* (Permitted with Supplemental Standards) |
| Industrial | Light Industrial (I), Medium Industrial (J), Heavy Industrial (K) | P* (Permitted with Supplemental Standards) |
| Mixed-Use | Low Intensity Mixed-Use (MU-1), High Intensity Mixed-Use (MU-2) | P* (Permitted with Supplemental Standards) |
| Form-Based | Near Southside (NS-T4, NS-T4N, NS/T5), Camp Bowie (CB/HC, CB/RG, CB/RUV, CB/GC-MU, CB/IA, CB/WB, CB/T), Trinity Lakes (TL-BM, TL-CC), Berry/University (BU-RX) | P or P* |
[Sections 4.803, 4.1203, 4.900]
Supplemental Development Standards
Any drive-through business established in the City of Fort Worth under a "P*" designation must comply with the specific requirements of Section 5.112. These standards focus on minimizing the impact of vehicle idling and queuing on the surrounding public realm.
Site Design and Stacking
The City of Fort Worth requires specific site configurations for drive-in and drive-through facilities:
- Window Placement: Drive-through windows and associated stacking lanes must not be located along building facades that face a street. Where possible, they must be situated at the rear of the building [§ 5.112].
- Driveway Locations: Driveways for these businesses are prohibited from being located within the front yard setback between the building front and the street [§ 5.112].
- Traffic Impediment: The design and location of the facility must not impede vehicular traffic flow or interfere with pedestrian movement and safety [§ 5.112].
- Shared Access: In the MU-1 and MU-2 districts, the City of Fort Worth encourages the use of shared driveways or driveways located off non-arterial streets to minimize traffic conflicts [§ 4.1300, 4.1302].
Screening and Appearance
- Visual Impacts: Architectural elements, landscaping, or other screening must be provided to minimize the visual impact of the drive-through facility [§ 5.112].
- Alcohol Restrictions: In the City of Fort Worth mixed-use districts (MU-1 and MU-2), drive-in businesses are permitted provided they do not sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises [§ 4.1300, 4.1302].
Technical Requirements
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Parking Ratio | 1 space per 100 square feet of gross floor area |
| Parking Reduction | 25% reduction available for conversion from a more restricted use |
| Front Yard Setback | No driveways permitted between building front and street |
| Site Plan Approval | Required by the Development Services Director or designee |
[Sections 5.112, 6.201]
Definitions
In the City of Fort Worth zoning code, a DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT OR BUSINESS is defined as an establishment that provides car service and/or a drive-through window, either exclusively or in conjunction with traditional walk-in service [§ 9.101].
Sections Cited
- § 4.603 Residential District Use Table
- § 4.803 Nonresidential District Use Table
- § 4.900 Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (“ER”) District
- § 4.1203 Form-Based Code District Use Table
- § 4.1300 Low Intensity Mixed-Use (“MU-1”) District
- § 4.1302 High Intensity Mixed-Use (“MU-2”) District
- § 5.112 Drive-In Business
- § 6.201 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- § 9.101 Defined Terms