Fort Worth, TX Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Specific Plans Overview (2026)
Key Facts
- Base ordinance
- Appendix A City Code
- State authority
- TX LGC Chapter 211
- Plan
- Comprehensive Plan annual update
- Notable overlays
- Stockyards Near Southside downtown
- Lead agency
- Planning and Data Analytics
Summary
Fort Worth land use is governed by the Zoning Ordinance in Appendix A of the City Code, paired with the annually updated Comprehensive Plan. Form-based districts and overlay zones tailor standards in places like the Stockyards, Near Southside, and downtown.
Sec. 232.001. PLAT REQUIRED. (a) The owner of a tract of land located outside the limits of a municipality must have a plat of the subdivision prepared if the owner divides the tract into two or more parts to lay out:(1) a subdivision of the tract, including an addition;(2) lots; or(3) streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts of the tract intended by the owner of the tract to be dedicated to public use. ... (b) To be recorded, the plat must:(1) describe the subdivision by metes and bounds;(2) locate the subdivision with respect to an original corner of the original survey of which it is a part;
Full Breakdown
Fort Worth's Zoning Ordinance, codified as Appendix A of the City Code and adopted under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211, establishes base districts for residential, commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and downtown areas. The Comprehensive Plan, updated annually by the Planning and Data Analytics Department and approved by Council, sets policy direction for growth, transportation, housing, and the urban village strategy. Specific overlay districts shape character in places like the Stockyards Historic Overlay, Near Southside form-based code, downtown, and Camp Bowie. Planned Development designations let Council tailor entitlements parcel by parcel. Major projects pass through the Zoning Commission and City Council with required public notice. Site plans and platting are administered by Development Services consistent with adopted overlays.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations carry citations from Code Compliance up to two thousand dollars per day per offense, plus possible Certificate-of-Occupancy denial and injunctive relief. Operating uses inconsistent with the assigned district can trigger immediate stop-use orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my Fort Worth zoning district?
Can my neighborhood change zoning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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