Fort Worth, TX Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Fort Worth zoning is organized into districts in Appendix A (Zoning Ordinance). The most common residential setbacks are:

A-43 (One-Family, 43,560 sq ft min lot): Front 30 ft, side 15 ft, rear 20 ft. A-21 (One-Family, 21,780 sq ft): Front 25 ft, side 10 ft, rear 15 ft. A-10 (One-Family, 10,000 sq ft): Front 25 ft, side 6 ft, rear 10 ft. A-7.5 (One-Family, 7,500 sq ft): Front 20 ft, side 5 ft, rear 5 ft. A-5 (One-Family, 5,000 sq ft): Front 20 ft, side 5 ft, rear 5 ft. AR (One-Family Restricted): Per neighborhood standards, often 20 ft front. B (Two-Family): Front 20 ft, side 5 ft, rear 5 ft.

LOT COVERAGE: Maximum lot coverage in A-5 and A-7.5 is typically 40% (all buildings combined). The rooftop area of all structures, including accessory buildings, may not exceed the district maximum under §5.301.

HEIGHT LIMITS: One-family districts cap residential structures at 35 ft. Accessory buildings cannot exceed the height of the primary residence.

CORNER LOTS: Side yards adjacent to a street are typically increased to 15 ft to preserve visibility (sight triangles under §6.301).

PERMITS: A building permit from Fort Worth Development Services is required for new construction, additions, decks, garages, sheds over 200 sq ft, fences over 6 ft, swimming pools, and most exterior structural work. Permit applications go through residential plan review, which checks zoning compliance (setbacks, lot coverage, height), International Residential Code compliance, and energy code. Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits are issued separately.

TEXAS HB 14 (2023) AND HB 24 (2025): Texas state law caps municipal residential plan-review timelines and limits certain discretionary review for code-compliant projects. Fort Worth has aligned its review process accordingly.

SPECIFIC-USE PERMITS: Some uses (large additions in historic districts, accessory structures over the district size limit, second kitchens) may require a Specific Use Permit (SUP) under §6.301 with City Council approval after Planning & Zoning Commission review.