Zoning › Texas › Tarrant County › Arlington

Arlington, TX Zoning

Euclidean-zoning. 22 districts · 11 overlays · 2 applicable state preemptions.

Overview

Code type
euclidean
Naming convention
mixed
Naming convention by category
res_sflot-size-encoded (RS-20, RS-15, RS-7.2, RS-5 — number = min lot size in 1000s sf; RS-7.2 = 7,200 sf)
res_mfdensity-encoded (RM-12 = 12 du/ac max; RMF-22 = 22 du/ac max pre-SB 840)
comletter-code (LO, OC, NC, CC, HC, BP, GC, DB)
indletter-code (LI, IM)
muletter-code (NMU, RMU)

Standard Euclidean UDC with 12 Articles; residential districts in Article 2 §2.2.x, non-residential §2.3.x, overlays §2.4.x. Adopted 1987, UDC codification effective 2014-07-10, annual amendments. SB 840 compliance via Ord. 25-059 (2025-08-26).

Worth knowing
  • Entertainment District Overlay (EDO) governs AT&T Stadium / Globe Life Field area — unique pro-sports venue planning challenge with shared parking, event-day traffic, and pedestrian connectivity requirements.
  • STR Zone inside/outside asymmetry: inside = max(25 DUs, 15%) eligible; outside = min(25 DUs, 15%) eligible — intentionally concentrates STR activity inside zone.
  • Village on the Green (VG) was formerly an overlay on Agricultural land; 2014 UDC converted to standalone base district. Front-facing, front-loading garages prohibited.

+ 7 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

res_sf 7com 5res_mf 2off 2ind 2mu 2res_th 1cbd 1
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
REResidential Estateres_sf43,560 sf[2]35 ft[3]———225[1] / — / —
RS-20Residential Single-Family 20res_sf20,000 sf[5]35 ft[6]———225[4] / — / —
RS-15Residential Single-Family 15res_sf15,000 sf[8]35 ft[9]———225[7] / — / —
RS-7.2Residential Single-Family 7.2res_sf7,200 sf[10]35 ft[11]———225 / 5 / 5
RS-5Residential Single-Family 5res_sf5,000 sf[15]35 ft[16]———225[12] / 5[13] / 5[14]
VGVillage on the Greenres_sf—35 ft———2— / — / —
RM-12Residential Medium Density 12res_mf—35 ft——122— / — / —
RMF-22Residential Multi-Family 22res_mf—35 ft——22[17]2— / — / —
THTownhouseres_th—35 ft———2— / — / —
MHManufactured Housingres_sf—35 ft———2— / — / —
LOLimited Officeoff——————— / — / —
OCOffice Commercialoff—45 ft——36125 / — / —
NCNeighborhood Commercialcom—45 ft——36125 / — / —
CCCommunity Commercialcom—45 ft——36125 / — / —
HCHighway Commercialcom—45 ft——36125 / — / —
BPBusiness Parkcom—45 ft——36125 / — / —
GCGeneral Commercialcom—45 ft——36125 / — / —
DBDowntown Businesscbd—45 ft[19]——36[20]10[18] / — / —
LILight Industrialind——————— / — / —
IMIndustrial Manufacturingind——————— / — / —
NMUNeighborhood Mixed Usemu—45 ft——36125 / — / —
RMURegional Mixed Usemu————100125 / — / —

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

EDO
Entertainment District Overlay
SPEC
UDC §2.4.5; Fig. 2.4.5-A

Area surrounding AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field (downtown entertainment venue district)

enhanced_design_standardsTrue
event_day_traffic_provisionsTrue
shared_parking_provisionsTrue
sup_required_for_entertainment_usesTrue
pedestrian_connectivity_requiredTrue
additional_design_review_materialsTrue
STR
Short-Term Rental Zone
SPEC
2025 UDC Annual Update

Designated STR Zone (shown on GIS at arlingtontx.gov/gis). Applies to residential parcels citywide with differential rules inside vs outside the zone.

inside_zone_cap_rulemax(25 DUs, 15% of total DUs on parcel) eligible for STR permit (greater of two)
outside_zone_cap_rulemin(25 DUs, 15% of total DUs) eligible for STR permit (lesser of two)
multifamily_zoned_propertyentire property may convert to STR use
hud_manufactured_homesnot eligible for STR permit
APO
Airport Overlay
AP
UDC §2.4.x (zoning district transition table confirms APO)

Near Arlington Municipal Airport (FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces apply)

use_restrictionsnoise-sensitive use restrictions near airport
height_restrictionsairport-surface height restrictions apply
CDO
Conservation District Overlay
CON
UDC §2.4.x

Designated conservation areas (environmental/character conservation)

development_restrictionsenvironmental conservation controls applied to designated parcels
DNO
Downtown Neighborhood Overlay
DT
UDC §2.4.x

Downtown neighborhood area (character preservation sub-area of downtown)

neighborhood_character_protectionTrue
coverage_adjustment_pct-10
density_multiplier-0.2
lot_size_multiplier0.15
LCMUO
Lamar Collins Mixed Use Overlay
COR
UDC §2.4.x

Lamar Blvd / Collins St mixed-use corridor

mixed_use_requirementscorridor mixed-use standards
height_multiplier-0.05
FAR_multiplier0.05
LPO
Landmark Preservation Overlay
HP
UDC §2.4.x

Locally-designated historic landmarks/districts

demolition_reviewTrue
exterior_alteration_reviewTrue
height_multiplier-0.15
FAR_multiplier-0.1
coverage_adjustment_pct-5
setback_addition_ft5
PD
Planned Development
PD
UDC §2.4.x (numbered PDs by ordinance)

Parcels rezoned to PD with a specific ordinance; each PD has custom standards

custom_standardseach PD has its own dimensional, use, and design standards adopted by ordinance
FP-NOT-FOUND
Floodplain (FEMA SFHA) — not found as a distinct named UDC overlay
FP
statusnot_found
search_performedReviewed UDC Article 2 overlay list (EDO/STR/APO/CDO/DNO/LCMUO/LPO/PD) and district transition table; floodplain development is regulated through separate Chapter of the city code (floodplain ordinance) rather than as a §2.4 UDC overlay. FEMA SFHA maps apply as a federal layer.
TOD-NOT-FOUND
TOD/Transit overlay — not found
TOD
statusnot_found
search_performedReviewed UDC Article 2 overlay list and zoning district transition table; Arlington has no passenger rail and no TOD overlay in the UDC. Entertainment District (EDO) is the closest functional analog but is not transit-oriented.
AH-NOT-FOUND
Affordable Housing Bonus — not found as a UDC overlay
AH
statusnot_found
search_performedReviewed UDC overlay list and 2025 UDC Annual Update; no dedicated affordable housing bonus overlay in the UDC. SB 840 by-right multifamily is the operative MF-enablement mechanism.

State preemptions

TX SB 840 (Multifamily By-Right on Commercial/Office/Retail/Warehouse/MU parcels)applies
Qualifying condition
City population 394,266 (2024 Census est.) >= 150,000 threshold AND Tarrant County population 2,140,629 (2024 Census est.) >= 300,000 threshold. Both gates satisfied. Arlington enacted Ord. 25-059 on 2025-08-26 to conform GC and DB district height/density to SB 840 minimums (>=45 ft height, >=36 du/ac, <=25 ft setback, <=1 parking space/unit).
Source
U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Population Estimates (PEP); City of Arlington Ord. 25-059 (2025-08-26)
Effect
MF by-right allowed in GC, DB, and other commercial/office/retail/warehouse/MU districts with >=36 du/ac, >=45 ft height, <=25 ft setback, <=1 parking space/unit; ministerial approval (no discretionary review).
TX SB 15 (Small Lot Deregulation, lots <=4,000 sf)applies
Qualifying condition
SB 15 applies statewide to any lot <=4,000 sf regardless of city size; applicable per-parcel. Arlington subject to this preemption on qualifying small lots. City retains use-restriction and life-safety authority.
Source
Texas SB 15 (88th Legislature, 2025)
Effect
On lots <=4,000 sf: city may not regulate setbacks, parking, height, or bulk (FAR) beyond state baseline.

Adopted building codes

Home rule; major cities on 2024 IBC

IBC
2024
IRC
2021
NEC
2023
IFC
Local adoption
IECC (Residential)
2015
IECC (Commercial)
2015

Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.

Amendment history

DateKindCitation
2026-04-19retrieved at
2025-08-26last amendedOrd. 25-059 (SB 840 compliance)
2014-07-10effectiveUDC original effective date

Quirks & notes

  • Entertainment District Overlay (EDO) governs AT&T Stadium / Globe Life Field area — unique pro-sports venue planning challenge with shared parking, event-day traffic, and pedestrian connectivity requirements.
  • STR Zone inside/outside asymmetry: inside = max(25 DUs, 15%) eligible; outside = min(25 DUs, 15%) eligible — intentionally concentrates STR activity inside zone.
  • Village on the Green (VG) was formerly an overlay on Agricultural land; 2014 UDC converted to standalone base district. Front-facing, front-loading garages prohibited.
  • Manufactured Housing (MH) is an obsolete district — may not be requested as new classification; existing MH properties governed by prior §9-400.
  • Regional Mixed Use (RMU) allows 100 du/ac — one of the highest density caps of any non-CA city in the study.
  • RMF-22 required 25-ft landscaped buffer (no parking/driveways) adjacent to SF or non-residential uses — wider than most TX cities.
  • Arlington tree protection threshold is 8-inch caliper — broader than Austin's 19-inch threshold.
  • SB 840 compliance enacted via Ord. 25-059 (2025-08-26): GC and DB district height/density floors raised to 45 ft / 36 du/ac for by-right MF on commercial parcels. Heavy industrial (IM) excluded from SB 840 per state law.
  • MF under TX LGC Chapter 218 (SB 840 implementation): where Ch. 218 is silent, RMF-22 district regulations apply as default.
  • Arlington has no passenger rail — no TOD overlay in UDC. EDO is closest functional analog.

Formulas

Definitions

height
Grade to highest point of structure.
lot_coverage
Building footprint / lot area.
far
Gross floor area / lot area.
du_ac
Dwelling units per gross acre.
setback_front
Front property line to nearest building face.
setback_side
Side property line to nearest building face.
setback_rear
Rear property line to nearest building face.
parking
Spaces per dwelling unit unless noted.

Capacity calculations

max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * lot_coverage
max_gfa_sf
lot_area_sf * far
buildable_width_ft
lot_width_ft - setback_side_ft * 2
buildable_depth_ft
lot_depth_ft - setback_front_ft - setback_rear_ft
max_stories_approx
max_height_ft / 10

Massing explorer

Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.

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Max height
— ft
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Lot coverage
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Setbacks (F / S / R)
— ft
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Parking
— /unit
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Max density
— du/ac
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Min lot size
— sf
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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Sources & references

Primary source
https://www.arlingtontx.gov/Business/Development-Resources/Land-Development/Zoning-Unified-Development-Code/Unified-Development-Code
Citations
  1. [1] §2.2.2
  2. [2] §2.2.2
  3. [3] §2.2.2
  4. [4] §2.2.3
  5. [5] §2.2.3
  6. [6] §2.2.3
  7. [7] §2.2.4
  8. [8] §2.2.4
  9. [9] §2.2.4
  10. [10] §2.2.5
  11. [11] §2.2.5
  12. [12] §2.2.6
  13. [13] §2.2.6
  14. [14] §2.2.6
  15. [15] §2.2.6
  16. [16] §2.2.6
  17. [17] §2.2.8
  18. [18] §2.3.8
  19. [19] §2.3.8
  20. [20] §2.3.8

Research status

Publication gates

primary url presentpassedhttps://www.arlingtontx.gov/Business/Development-Resources/Land-Development/Zoning-Unified-Development-Code/Unified-Development-Code — city-hosted, non-aggregator
no aggregator citedpassedScan clean: no zoneomics/steadily/siteplanguide/propwire/zonara/unzoned references
confidence tags full formpassedConfirmed fields carry §-citations (§2.2.3 RS-20, §2.2.4 RS-15, §2.2.5 RS-7.2, §2.2.6 RS-5, §2.2.8 RMF-22, §2.3.8 DB) or explicit ordinance refs (Ord. 25-059); partial fields carry search_performed
overlays have parameters trigger confidencepassedAll 8 present overlays (EDO, STR, APO, CDO, DNO, LCMUO, LPO, PD) have params, trigger, confidence, ordinance; 3 absent overlay types (FP, TOD, AH) documented with not_found + search_performed
preempt section city specificpassed2 TX laws evaluated with city-specific qualifying_condition_checked containing numeric inputs (pop 394,266; Tarrant 2,140,629) + vintage (2024 Census PEP) + threshold (>=150k / >=300k) — not link-stubs

Data quality

55%completeness68 confirmed90 partial3 not found
Documented gaps
  • Full UDC Article 2 dimensional table (§2.2.x / §2.3.x) not retrieved in-session — many district setback_side/rear, min_lot_sf, lot_coverage values remain partial
  • Floodplain regulation exists but is in a separate chapter, not a §2.4 UDC overlay — FP overlay slot flagged as not_found with search_performed

Known issues

data:gaps-present

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