Regulations for Places of Worship and Religious Assembly in the City of Fort Worth

In the City of Fort Worth, a "Place of Worship" is permitted by right in nearly every zoning classification, including all Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Form-Based districts. These facilities must adhere to specific parking requirements, generally calculated at one space per four or five seats in the main sanctuary depending on whether the property is located in a residential or nonresidential district [Section 6.201].

Permitted Districts for Religious Assembly

The City of Fort Worth defines a "Place of Worship" as any building where persons regularly assemble for religious worship, encompassing churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and chapels [Section 9.101, Appendix C].

Residential Districts

Places of worship are allowed by right (designated as "P" in the use tables) in the following City of Fort Worth residential zones:

One-Family Districts: A-2.5A, A-43, A-21, A-10, A-7.5, A-5, and One-Family Restricted (AR).
Two-Family and Cluster Districts: Two-Family (B), Zero Lot Line/Cluster (R1), and Townhouse/Cluster (R2).
Multifamily Districts: Low Density (CR), Medium Density (C), and High Density (D).
Special Residential Districts: Urban Residential (UR) and Manufactured Housing (MH).

[Section 4.603]

Commercial and Industrial Districts

The City of Fort Worth permits religious assembly by right in the following nonresidential zones:

Commercial Districts: Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (ER), Neighborhood Commercial (E), General Commercial Restricted (FR), General Commercial (F), Intensive Commercial (G), and Central Business (H).
Industrial Districts: Light Industrial (I), Medium Industrial (J), and Heavy Industrial (K).

[Section 4.803]

Form-Based and Mixed-Use Districts

Places of worship are permitted by right in all Character Zones of the following districts:

Mixed-Use Districts: MU-1 and MU-2.
Near Southside District (NS): All T-zones and categories.
Panther Island District (PI): All zones.
Camp Bowie District (CB): All zones.
Trinity Lakes District (TL): All zones.
Berry/University District (BU): All zones.
Stockyards District (SY): All zones including SY-HSH, SY-HCO, SY-TMC, SY-TNF, SY-TNX, SY-TNE, SY-TSA, SY-ENX, and SY-ECC.

[Section 4.1203]

Technical Development Standards

While allowed in most areas of the City of Fort Worth, religious institutions must comply with specific development standards regarding parking and auxiliary uses.

Off-Street Parking Requirements

The City of Fort Worth mandates the following minimum parking ratios for religious assembly based on the seat count in the main sanctuary:

Location of Place of Worship	Minimum Parking Requirement
Residential Districts	1 space per 4 seats in sanctuary
Nonresidential and Mixed-Use Districts	1 space per 5 seats in sanctuary

[Section 6.201]

Auxiliary Uses and Kindergartens

If a Place of Worship in the City of Fort Worth intends to operate a kindergarten as an auxiliary use, it must meet the standards applicable to a Day Care Center [Section 5.118]. In the MU-1 (Low Intensity Mixed-Use) district, a Place of Worship Auxiliary Use requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), whereas the primary Place of Worship is permitted by right [Section 4.1203].

Signage in Residential Districts

Places of worship located in City of Fort Worth residential districts are subject to the following on-premise sign regulations:

Identification Signs: Permitted to identify the use of the property.
Area Limits: A maximum of one square foot of sign area is allowed for every ten linear feet of street frontage, with a minimum allowed size of 12 square feet.
Placement: No more than 50% of the total allowable sign area may be located in the required yard space along a dedicated street.
Illumination: Signs located across the street from a one-family or two-family district shall not be illuminated [Section 6.407].

Sections Cited

Section 4.603 Residential District Use Table
Section 4.803 Nonresidential District Use Table
Section 4.1203 Form-Based Code District Use Table
Section 5.111 Day Care Center
Section 5.118 Kindergarten
Section 6.201 Off-Street Parking Requirements
Section 6.407 Relation to Zoning Districts (Signs)
Section 9.101 Defined Terms
Appendix C Use Index