Zoning Allowances for Bars, Taverns, and Nightclubs in the City of Fort Worth
In the City of Fort Worth, bars, taverns, and nightclubs are primarily permitted by right in General Commercial (F), Intensive Commercial (G), Central Business (H), and all Industrial (I, J, K) districts. While these uses are allowed in the High Intensity Mixed-Use (MU-2) district, the City of Fort Worth requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for any such establishment exceeding 2,000 square feet. Conversely, the City of Fort Worth explicitly prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (ER) and General Commercial Restricted (FR) districts.
Permitted Zoning Districts and Use Status
The City of Fort Worth classifies bars, taverns, cocktail lounges, and dance halls under a single category within its nonresidential use tables. Nightclubs are additionally categorized under "Amusement, indoor" for certain land-use interpretations [Appendix C: Use Index].
Standard Zoning Districts
The following table outlines the status of bars and taverns in the primary nonresidential districts of the City of Fort Worth:
| District Name | District Symbol | Use Status |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Commercial Restricted | ER | Prohibited [Section 4.900] |
| Neighborhood Commercial | E | Prohibited (Implicit) [Section 4.803] |
| General Commercial Restricted | FR | Prohibited [Section 4.902] |
| General Commercial | F | Permitted by Right [Section 4.803] |
| Intensive Commercial | G | Permitted by Right [Section 4.803] |
| Central Business | H | Permitted by Right [Section 4.803] |
| Light Industrial | I | Permitted by Right [Section 4.803] |
| Medium Industrial | J | Permitted by Right [Section 4.803] |
| Heavy Industrial | K | Permitted by Right [Section 4.803] |
Form-Based and Mixed-Use Districts
The City of Fort Worth utilizes several form-based districts where entertainment and alcohol-related uses are subject to specific character zone standards:
- High Intensity Mixed-Use (MU-2): Permitted by right if the establishment is 2,000 square feet or less. If the use exceeds 2,000 square feet, a Conditional Use Permit is required [Section 5.154].
- Camp Bowie (CB) District: Permitted by right in all sub-districts including Highway Commercial (HC), Ridglea Gateway (RG), and Urban Village (RUV) [Section 4.1203].
- Stockyards (SY) District: Permitted by right in all character zones, including Historic Stockyards Hub (HSH) and Evolution Core (ECC) [Section 4.1309].
- Trinity Lakes (TL) District: Permitted by right in Boulevard, Village, Highway, and Campus sub-districts [Section 4.1203].
- Berry/University (BU) District: Permitted by right in the BU-CX, BU-SH, BU-IX, and BU-CIV sub-districts [Section 4.1203].
Supplemental Standards and Restrictions
Alcohol Prohibitions in Restricted Districts
The City of Fort Worth maintains strict "dry" status for specific restricted districts to protect neighborhood integrity. The Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (ER) district and the General Commercial Restricted (FR) district both contain explicit textual prohibitions stating that "Alcoholic beverage sales are prohibited" and "The sale of alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted" [Section 4.900, Section 4.902].
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Requirements
For establishments in the MU-2 district of the City of Fort Worth, those requiring a CUP must satisfy the following conditions:
- The use must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
- The use must not be materially detrimental to public health, safety, or welfare.
- The occupancy and certificate of occupancy will determine the maximum allowed density where alcohol is served [Section 4.407, Section 5.154].
Parking Standards
The City of Fort Worth mandates specific off-street parking ratios for private clubs and cocktail lounges based on seating and facility size.
| Facility Component | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Guest Rooms/Suites | 1 space per room |
| Seating Area | 1 space per 4 seats |
| Ballroom Area | 5 spaces per 1,000 square feet |
| Employees | 1 space per 4 employees |
Note: No off-street parking is required for developments located within the Central Business (H) District of the City of Fort Worth [Section 6.200].
Sections Cited
- Section 4.407: Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) Overlay District
- Section 4.803: Non-Residential District Use Table
- Section 4.900: Neighborhood Commercial Restricted (“ER”) District
- Section 4.902: General Commercial Restricted (“FR”) District
- Section 4.1203: District Use Table (Form-Based Code)
- Section 4.1309: Stockyards (“SY”) District
- Section 5.154: Bars or Taverns
- Section 6.200: General Requirements (Parking)
- Section 6.201: Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 9.101: Defined Terms
- Appendix C: Use Index