Zoning

What is Zoning?

Zoning is the city's tool to implement the Land Use component of the city's Comprehensive Plan. Through the use of the district classifications, zoning helps to regulate land use, promote orderly growth, and protect existing property owners by ensuring a convenient, attractive and functional community. The City Council along with several city boards and commissions, especially the Zoning Commission, make decisions on land users, compatibility and other zoning matters.

The purpose of zoning land in the City of fort Worth is to promote the health, safety

The Zoning regulations and districts have been adopted in accordance with a comprehensive plan and have been designed to:

• Lessen traffic congestion
• Provide safety from fire, panic, and other dangers
• Provide adequate light and air
• Prevent the overcrowding of land
• Avoid the undue concentration of population
• Provide and facilitate adequate provisions for transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public requirements.

The "zoning" as defined by the Tarrant Appraisal District is not the same as the city's land use zoning. The appraisal district's zoning corresponds to their land use valuation system and has nothing to do with Fort Worth zoning districts or those adopted by any other incorporated city within Tarrant County.

Who is the Zoning Section?

The Zoning Section is part of the Planning and Development Department, Planning Division. Staff works directly with other departments such as Building, Transportation/Public Works (TPW), Water, and Code Enforcement. Staff responsibilities include:

• Continually review and amend the Zoning Ordinance regulations to ensure consistency with other city codes and to reflect the changing needs of the city;
• Reviewing zoning change requests for compatibility with existing land uses and the Future Land Use Plan;
• Reviewing site plan content for conformance with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance;
• Coordinating site plan review with other city staff; and
• Review site plans for building permits; including Multi-Family Development(MFD) Site Plan Review, MFD Application.

Staff also works with boards and local representatives to develop plans that directly affect the future growth and development of the City, such as the land use plan, transportation plan, and annexation plans.

Zoning Changes and Application Process

• Board of Adjustment (BOA)
• Board of Adjustment Cases
• Zoning Variances

Requests for both rezoning and PD Planned Developments with site plans use the same Zoning Application Form(PDF, 262KB). A complete application includes a metes and bounds description, or lot and block description if platted, the proper fee based on acreage (available on the application) and a site plan/map of the property. When the applicant is not the owner, or there is more than one owner, a “Letter of Authorization” from each owner is required and must contain original signatures. If a PD rezoning has already been approved, but you are submitting a required site plan or requesting only an amendment to the site plan, a separate site plan application(PDF, 118KB) is provided.

Applications for Planned Development Districts must include all items on site plans as required by Section 3.5 of the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant is required to provide all copies as necessary for initial distribution for review by the departments, revisions for the Zoning Commission and City Council approval, and for final signature. Revisions must be provided a minimum of 10 days before the Zoning Commission meeting for review and distribution.

To initiate the site plan review process, please provide:

• 13 copies – 18" x 24" Blue or Black Line prints – (All Site Plans shall be Accordion Folded);
• 1 copy – 8 ½" x 11" Black Line Print

After staff review and 15 days prior to the Zoning hearing, provide:

• For Zoning Commission hearing: 15 copies of revisions to site plan, as requested by staff – 18” x 24” Blue or Black Line prints. (All Site Plans shall be Accordion Folded);

If revisions are not received a minimum of one week before the scheduled hearing, the application will be incomplete and the case may be delayed until the revisions are received.

• For City Council hearing: 15 copies of revisions to site plan, if requested by the Zoning Commission – 18” x 24” Blue or Black Line prints. (All Site Plans shall be Accordion Folded);

If revisions are not received a minimum of one week before the scheduled hearing, the application will be incomplete and the case may be delayed until the revisions are received.

Where To Apply

Zoning applications can be submitted through the city’s online permitting system.

Paper copies may be submitted by mail or in person to:

Planning & Development Department
Zoning Applications Section
200 Texas St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102

Paper applications carry an additional $50 processing fee.

Meeting Calendar

2021 Zoning Commission Schedule(PDF, 269KB)

The list of cases below is for information only and is not the official Commission agenda. See the city calendar for posted agendas.

For information on the location of a zoning case, enter the address below into the Zoning Map.

For Council-initiated cases, click on the case number for the property list and proposed districts. Please email zoninglanduse@fortworthtexas.gov or call 817-392-8028 if further information is needed on any case.

Meeting Information

Need to speak at the Zoning Commission Hearing? Download a speaker card(PDF, 48KB), fill it out and bring it to the meeting.

Get the meeting procedures. Download a copy(PDF, 23KB).

Upcoming Cases

Past Decisions

• March 4, 2020(PDF, 70KB)
• Feb. 12, 2020(PDF, 75KB)
• Jan. 8, 2020(PDF, 79KB)
• Dec. 11, 2019(PDF, 100KB)
• Nov. 13, 2019(PDF, 111KB)

Estimated dates are subject to change.

•  MU 1 & 2 Ordinance Amendments 

An ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth, being ordinance no. 21563, as amended, codified as Appendix "A" of the code of the City of Fort Worth, by amending Article 13 “Form Based Districts”, of Chapter 4, “District Regulations” to amend sections 4.1300 “Low Intensity Mixed-Use (“MU-1”) District” and 4.1302 High Intensity Mixed-Use (“MU-2”) District in their entirety to revise certain development standards; to amend Section 4.1203 “Form Based Districts Code Use Table” to revise certain uses for MU-1 and MU-2; providing that this ordinance shall be cumulative; providing a severability clause; providing a penalty clause; providing for publication in the official newspaper; and providing an effective date.

• MU- Text Amendments(PDF, 5MB)
• MU-2 Text Amendments(PDF, 4MB)
• Summary of Proposed Changes(PDF, 152KB)
• Staff Reports(PDF, 145KB)
• MU-1 Text Amendments (Tracked Changes)(PDF, 2MB)
• MU-2 Text Amendments (Track Changes)(PDF, 2MB)
• UDC Presentation(PDF, 828KB)

• UR Ordinance Amendment

An ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth, being ordinance no. 21563, as amended, codified as Appendix "A" of the code of the City of Fort Worth, by amending section 4.713, “Urban Residential "UR" District of Article 7 “Residential Districts”, of Chapter 4, “District Regulations” to revise in its entirety to revise certain development standards for the district; providing that this ordinance shall be cumulative; providing a severability clause; providing a penalty clause; providing for publication in the official newspaper; and providing an effective date.

• UDC Presentation(PDF, 504KB)
• Staff Report(PDF, 145KB)
• Text Amendments(PDF, 4MB)
• Summary of Proposed Changes(PDF, 150KB)
• UR Text Amendments (Tracked Changes)(PDF, 2MB)

• Create Residential Attached District
  Zoning Commission date: Date to be determined
  Create new zoning district to provide for "missing middle" type housing which adds units compatible with single and two family neighborhoods, but not to include large multifamily construction.
• Update Berry/University Form Based Code(PDF, 48MB)
  Zoning Commission date: April 10, 2019
  Update form based code development standards
• Amend Mixed Use Districts(PDF, 134KB)
  Zoning Commission date: April 10, 2019
  Amend MU-1 and MU-2 districts to clarify applicable regulations for changes of use, clarify required parking for multifamily; amend MU-2 district to allow 10 story hotel and office and allow microbreweries
• Amend AR, B, and R1 districts
  Zoning Commission date: June 12, 2019
  Amend AR, B, and R1 districts to add and edit standards for zero lotline development
• Update Use Index
  Zoning Commission date: June 12, 2019
  Update Use Index to remove obsolete uses, add new uses and technologies, and revise certain categories
• Create Detached Multifamily Standards
  Zoning Commission date: July 10, 2019
  Create requirements for detached multifamily, also referred to as cottage communities.
• Subdivision Fencing Material(PDF, 20KB)
  Zoning Commission date: July 10, 2019
  Amending Section 5.305 fence material standards along arterials for durability
• Chisholm Trail Parkway(PDF, 73KB)
  Zoning Commission date: July 10, 2019
  Amend Article 4 Signs to provide for regulations along the Chisholm Trail Parkway Scenic Corridor
• Stop Six Overlay(PDF, 116KB)
  Zoning Commission date: July 10, 2019
  Amend District Regulations for Stop Six Overlay for residential design standards

Final approved ordinances for text amendments may be found in the Zoning Ordinance. Visit the Ordinances page for copies of individual ordinances.

Sign Zoning

• MFD Site Plan Application(PDF, 39KB)
• MFD Site Checklist(PDF, 152KB)

Urban Forestry Website