Fort Worth Zoning Ordinance

6 Development Standards

6.300 Bufferyard and Supplemental Building Setback

1. When Required
   A bufferyard consisting of an open space of grass and other landscaping and a masonry wall or wood fence in combination with design features that screen or block vision, noise pollutants, and other negative by-products shall be provided and maintained along the entire length of the boundary line between any one- or two-family district, and adjacent nonresidential districts.  A bufferyard shall be required even when an alley is located between a nonresidential district and an adjacent one- or two-family district.  Temporary buildings, utility facilities, and additions to primary structures placed on the site that are less than 30% and under 3,000 square feet are excepted from the bufferyard requirements of this subsection.
   
2. Restrictions of the Use of Bufferyard and Building Setback Areas
   These areas are intended to serve as a buffer between potentially incompatible uses. Structures are not permitted to be located in these areas, nor can such areas be used for signs, dumpsters or other garbage containers, any type of storage, or any nonresidential activity.  Passenger car parking, automobile and truck access and loading or unloading of goods during the daylight hours shall be permitted within the building setback areas exclusive of the landscaped areas.
   
3. Area Requirements
   1. Except as noted in Paragraph 3 below, when a nonresidential use is initially established, a residential use is converted to a nonresidential use, or when the zoning district classification of property is changed to a less restrictive nonresidential district after April 12, 1988, then in each instance where the nonresidential use is located on a lot or premises adjacent to a one- or two-family district, a bufferyard and supplemental building setback shall be provided and maintained by the owner and/or occupant of the nonresidential use in accordance with the following standards.

2. When there is an expansion of any parking area or the square footage of a nonresidential use that is located on a lot or a premises that is adjacent to a one- or two-family district, then the development shall be subject to the supplemental bufferyard and building setback requirements, as set forth in this Section.
3. When the zoning district classification of vacant property is initially established as a nonresidential use or changed to a less restrictive nonresidential district, the required screen fence and bufferyard shall not be required until such time as the property is actually used as a nonresidential use.

4. Screening Requirements
   The owner and/or occupant of the use shall also erect and maintain a solid masonry wall, wood fence, or combination thereof, to a height that is a minimum of six feet above the grade of adjacent property along the entire adjacent property line except for minimum required front yards and visibility triangles.  For construction standards, see ‘5.304 Satellite Antenna (Dish)’ C.
   

5. Irrigation Requirements
   All bufferyards required under this Section must be irrigated by an underground automatic irrigation system. Provided, however, that, when the total area of the bufferyard is less than 1,000 square feet, an irrigation system shall not be required if there is a working water faucet located no more than 100 feet from every part of the bufferyard.
   

6. Landscaping Requirements
   The bufferyard shall be sodded with turf grass or ground cover that will provide the appearance of a finished planting.  Minimum landscaping and buffering must be provided as outlined in Paragraph G. The landscaping in the bufferyard shall be protected from vehicular encroachment by curbs, railroad ties, concrete retainers or other permanent barriers.
   

7. Point System Requirements
   Bufferyards must earn a minimum of 25 points that are awarded for providing and maintaining specific landscaping and design features.  The points are accumulated as follows:

8. Permit Requirements
   In order to determine compliance with this Section, an application for a building permit for property that abuts a one- or two-family district shall include a landscaping plan with a planting schedule and a written statement indicating the options that were selected in order to meet the minimum “point” requirements.
9. Installation and Maintenance
   The owner and/or occupant shall be jointly and severally liable for installing and maintaining all masonry walls, fences and landscaping in a healthy, neat, orderly and physically sound condition and replacing it when deemed necessary by the Planning and Development Department.
10. Bonus Provisions
    The minimum building setback in rear yards can be reduced by 5 feet in “ER”, “E”, and “O-M” Districts and ten feet in all other commercial and industrial districts provided that a minimum ten-foot landscaped front yard is provided on the site in accordance with the standards specified in Paragraphs E and F.
11. Exemptions and Exceptions
    1. Remodeling work that does not increase the existing floor area or the restoration of a building that has been involuntarily damaged or destroyed shall be exempt from the supplemental bufferyard and building setback requirements.
    2. When a legal use exists on property and subsequent to establishing such legal use, adjacent property or property across an alley is rezoned to a one- or two-family district, the construction of new buildings and the addition, remodeling, alteration, or total restoration due to involuntary destruction of existing buildings on the property are exempt from the requirements of a bufferyard, screening fence, and supplemental building setback.
    3. When a residence is converted to a nonresidential use or when an existing nonresidential use expands the building square footage and/or parking area, then the minimum required bufferyard points shall be reduced to 15 points.  If a masonry wall is used to satisfy the minimum point requirements, there shall be no minimum bufferyard width requirement.
    4. Nothing herein shall require a bufferyard to be placed on a nonresidential use site where such nonresidential use site is immediately adjacent to a railroad right-of-way, power transmission or other easement where such right-of-way or easements are at least 50 feet in width.
    5. Any area located within an airport operating area, defined as those areas associated with aircraft movement, shall be exempt from the supplemental bufferyard and supplemental building setback requirements.