Zoning Guide

Arlington County Setbacks & Height Limits — Residential Zones

Last updated: Verified:

Fact-checked against current Arlington County zoning and EHO guidance on September 21, 2026.

Arlington's low-density residential districts include R-5, R-6, R-8, R-10, R-20, and R2-7. Setbacks are more nuanced than the previous page's one-side-yard table because Arlington regulates both the minimum on one side and the aggregate side-yard width.

Current Interior-Lot Side-Yard Requirements

Arlington County's current residential setback handout lists:

Zone Aggregate Side Yard Minimum One Side Opposite-Side Difference
R2-7 18 ft 8 ft 10 ft
R-5 18 ft 8 ft 10 ft
R-6 18 ft 8 ft 10 ft
R-8 21 ft 8 ft 13 ft
R-10 24 ft 8 ft 16 ft
R-20 30 ft 8 ft 22 ft

The previous page described R-8/R-10/R-15/R-20 as having simple 10–15-ft individual side yards. That does not reflect the current aggregate-yard rule.

R-15 was also included in the old table even though Arlington's current EHO/lot-coverage materials focus on R-5, R-6, R-8, R-10, and R-20. Use the complete Zoning Ordinance for any parcel with another designation.

R-5 Example

Current County planning materials confirm that an R-5 residential project generally uses:

  • 5,000-sq-ft minimum lot area for a standard single-detached lot;
  • 25-ft required front-yard placement absent a permitted modification;
  • 35-ft maximum building height.

Side and rear placement must be checked under §3.2.6 and the current yard handout rather than reduced to one number.

EHO Is Currently Being Administered

The previous page described the Expanded Housing Option (EHO) litigation too ambiguously.

Current County guidance states:

  • the Virginia Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court judgment again on September 5, 2025;
  • EHO permit applications reopened October 1, 2025;
  • on May 20, 2026 the Virginia Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal concerning a developer's right to participate in the case;
  • that May 2026 order did not halt EHO development;
  • Arlington continues to administer the EHO ordinance while the litigation proceeds.

Current EHO can allow duplexes, semi-detached dwellings, sets of three townhouses, and small multifamily buildings with up to six units where the ordinance's conditions are met.

EHO Uses the Same Basic Building Envelope

County guidance states that EHO development is subject to the same basic height and setback framework as single-detached housing in the underlying district, together with EHO-specific GFA, footprint, coverage, unit-count, and permit-cap standards.

Do not assume that more dwelling units create a larger zoning envelope.

How to Check a Property

  1. Confirm the exact zoning district.
  2. Use current ACZO §3.2 for ordinary bulk/placement.
  3. Check aggregate side-yard requirements.
  4. If EHO is proposed, check current §10.4 and the live EHO permit-status page.
  5. Check historic, special planning area, airport, and other conditions.
  6. Confirm parcel-specific questions with Arlington Zoning.

Official Sources

This guide is informational only. The current ACZO, live EHO status, and parcel-specific conditions control.

More about Arlington Zoning

Building Permits — Cost & TimelineADU Rules in Arlington County, Virginia

Sources

  1. Arlington County Zoning Ordinance·library.municode.com·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link
  2. Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development (CPHD)·arlingtonva.us·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link
  3. Arlington Expanded Housing Options (Missing Middle) Program·arlingtonva.us·Accessed 2026-04-14·Direct link

FAQ

What are the setback requirements in Arlington's single-family zones?
Setbacks in Arlington County's single-family residential (R-district) zones are calibrated to lot size. For R-5 (5,000 sq ft minimum lots) expect a front setback around 25 ft, side setbacks of 8 ft, and a rear setback of 25 ft. Larger-lot zones (R-6, R-8, R-10, R-15, R-20) generally have front setbacks of 25 to 40 ft, side setbacks of 8 to 15 ft, and rear setbacks of 25 ft. Verify on the Arlington County zoning map.
What is the maximum building height in Arlington residential zones?
The by-right maximum height in Arlington County's R-5 through R-20 single-family residential districts is 35 ft, measured from average existing grade to the midpoint of the highest roof. Accessory structures are capped lower. Higher-density multifamily and commercial districts (RA, C-O) allow significantly greater heights, especially in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
What is Arlington's Missing Middle / EHO reform?
In March 2023, the Arlington County Board adopted the Expanded Housing Options (EHO) amendments, which permit 2- to 6-unit 'Missing Middle' dwellings on lots in R-5 through R-20 single-family residential districts, subject to an annual permit cap. EHO projects must still meet the base R-district setbacks, height limit of 35 ft, and lot coverage rules, but use types are expanded beyond single detached homes.
Is Arlington a city or a county?
Arlington is legally an urban county under Virginia law, governed by the Arlington County Board and the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance. It functions as an independent city-equivalent jurisdiction — there are no incorporated towns within it — and directly borders Washington, D.C.