Self-Storage and Warehousing Regulations in the City of Fort Worth
In the City of Fort Worth, warehousing and storage services are primarily permitted in commercial and industrial districts, including General Commercial (F), Intensive Commercial (G), and all Industrial districts (I, J, K). Specific self-storage facilities, defined as "mini-warehouses," are more restricted, being allowed by right in the Light Industrial (I) district and specific character zones of the Camp Bowie form-based district. All warehousing activities must comply with the City of Fort Worth fire code and may be subject to additional conditional use permits if they involve non-accessory outside storage.
Permitted Districts for Warehousing and Self-Storage
The City of Fort Worth distinguishes between general "Warehousing and Storage Services" (classified under NAICS 493) and "Mini-warehouses." General warehousing is widely available in more intensive districts, whereas mini-warehouses (self-storage) are limited to industrial and specific form-based areas.
Warehousing and Storage Services (NAICS 493)
This use refers to facilities greater than 500 square feet used for the inside storage of commodities [Section 9.101].
| District Type | District Name | Permission Status |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | General Commercial (F) | Permitted (P) |
| Commercial | Intensive Commercial (G) | Permitted (P) |
| Commercial | Central Business (H) | Permitted (P) |
| Industrial | Light Industrial (I) | Permitted (P) |
| Industrial | Medium Industrial (J) | Permitted (P) |
| Industrial | Heavy Industrial (K) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Mixed-Use (MU-1, MU-2) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Near Southside (NS) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Panther Island (PI) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Camp Bowie (CB) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Trinity Lakes (TL) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Berry/University (BU) | Permitted (P) |
Mini-Warehouses (Self-Storage)
Fort Worth defines a mini-warehouse as a building or group of buildings containing individual units for customer use, where no single unit exceeds 1,000 square feet [Section 9.101].
| District Type | District Name | Permission Status |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial | Light Industrial (I) | Permitted (P) |
| Industrial | Industrial Park (IP) | Planned Development (PD) |
| Form-Based | Camp Bowie Industrial Arts (CB/IA) | Permitted (P) |
| Form-Based | Camp Bowie Western Business (CB/WB) | Permitted (P) |
Supplemental Development Standards
The City of Fort Worth imposes specific operational and site standards on storage and warehousing facilities to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses.
Bulk Storage and Fire Safety
In the City of Fort Worth Light Industrial (I) district, the storage of commodities in bulk or within a warehouse is explicitly permitted provided the facility adheres to all requirements of the City of Fort Worth fire code [Section 5.143].
Outside Storage Restrictions
The storage of articles, materials, or merchandise that is not customarily incidental to the primary use of a property is generally restricted. Under the City of Fort Worth regulations:
- Conditional Use Permit: A property owner may be granted a conditional use permit for non-accessory outside storage for a maximum of five years [Section 5.133].
- Screening: Outside storage must be secured from vandalism and theft and must be completely surrounded by a screen fence at least six feet high so that no material is visible from public view [Section 5.133].
- Prohibited Items: The storage of unregistered motor vehicles or wrecked/dismantled vehicles is prohibited under these specific storage provisions [Section 5.133].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
Warehousing and self-storage facilities must provide permanent off-street parking based on their floor area or number of employees [Section 6.201].
| Use Category | City of Fort Worth Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Warehouse Building | 1 space per 4 employees (minimum 4 spaces) |
| Industrial Uses (General) | 1 space per 500 sq. ft. of floor area in the industrial operating area |
| Office/Sales Area | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. within the warehouse building |
Definitions
- Mini-Warehouse: A building or group of buildings containing individual compartmentalized storage units for the inside storage of a customer’s goods or wares, where no unit exceeds 1,000 square feet in floor area [Section 9.101].
- Warehouse: A facility greater than 500 square feet in floor area for the inside storage of commodities [Section 9.101].
- Outside Storage: Outdoor storage of any inert material or goods that would not be a nuisance or offensive due to odor, fire, or health [Section 9.101].
Sections Cited
- Section 4.803 (Non-Residential District Use Table)
- Section 4.1203 (Form-Based Code District Use Table)
- Section 5.133 (Storage, Non Accessory Outside)
- Section 5.143 (Warehouse or Bulk Storage)
- Section 6.201 (Off-Street Parking Requirements)
- Section 9.101 (Defined Terms)