Arlington, Texas: which zones SB 840 and SB 15 may open
Two Texas laws from 1 Sep 2025 make cities like Arlington allow more homes. This page lists every Arlington zone we read, by our check's answer.
Not legal advice; confirm with the city.
Run the free check
It reads the city's zoning map at the site and the distance rules. You get both laws' answers, each with its sources. The best answer is Likely. It is a screen, not a promise.
SB 840: homes in commercial zones
SB 840 makes a covered city allow apartments or mixed use where offices or shops are allowed. These are Arlington's zones, from the City's code.
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Arlington's own code permits multi-family and mixed-use residential here under Chapter 218 (UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; Sections 5.12, 5.13; Ord. 25-059).
Check the airport, military base and heavy-industry distances (Planner check needed).
Likely 10 zones
The zoning test points to yes. The free check still reads the site itself and the distance rules.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LO | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.2 | SB 840 opens LO to homes. LO has a 45 ft height limit in Arlington's code (Section 2.3.2): a design-side note. |
| OC | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.3 | SB 840 opens OC to homes. |
| NC | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.4 | SB 840 opens NC to homes. |
| CC | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.5 | SB 840 opens CC to homes. |
| GC | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.6 | SB 840 opens GC to homes. |
| HC | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.7 | SB 840 opens HC to homes. |
| DB | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.8 | SB 840 opens DB to homes. |
| LI | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.10 | SB 840 opens LI to homes. |
| RMU | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.13 | SB 840 opens RMU to homes. |
| FH | UDC Table 3.1-2, P*; §2.3.14 | SB 840 opens FH to homes. |
Planner check needed 12 zones
A planner must read more before you rely on it.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| BP | UDC Table 3.1-2 | BP (Business Park) is on Arlington's SB 840 listing, but we've only seen it inside planned developments. Read the zoning for this site. |
| NMU | UDC Table 3.1-2 | NMU (Neighborhood Mixed Use) is on Arlington's SB 840 listing, but we've only seen it inside planned developments. Read the zoning for this site. |
| DT-C | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| DT-G | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| CMU-4 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| CMU-6 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| TN | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| UN-3 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| UN-5 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| UTA | UTA isn't in Arlington's published code (UDC Table 2.1-1), so we haven't read its rules. Read the zoning for this site. | |
| ETJ | This land is in Arlington's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), outside city zoning. | |
| PD | UDC §3.1.2.F | PD is a planned development (PD). Its uses follow its own ordinance and may carry its base district's (UDC Section 3.1.2.F). Read it. |
Not covered 1 zone
SB 840 doesn't apply in these zones.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IM | Ord. 25-059; UDC §3.2.3.K.2 | Arlington's code leaves multi-family and mixed-use residential out of IM, its heavy-industry district (Ord. 25-059; UDC Section 3.2.3.K.2). |
No verdict 9 zones
SB 840 doesn't open these zones, so there's no verdict.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| RE | RE allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RS-20 | RS-20 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RS-15 | RS-15 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RS-7.2 | RS-7.2 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RS-5 | RS-5 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RM-12 | RM-12 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| RMF-22 | RMF-22 allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| VG | VG allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. | |
| MH | MH allows homes but no offices or shops, so SB 840 doesn't open it. |
- Arlington's UDC as published by the City (amended through Ord. 25-059, 26 Aug 2025). The April 2026 form-based ordinances are not in it.
- Gas wells can be approved by special permit in every Arlington zoning district; that doesn't change this verdict.
- The 1,000 ft rule is about an existing heavy industrial use or site, not zoning. A heavy-industry zone nearby is only a hint.
- Arlington's own 1,000 ft rule names only High Impact Uses with a special permit. State law's wider rule governs here.
- City limits come from the address. Check the site is inside Arlington's city limits.
SB 15: small lots on 5-acre tracts
SB 15 caps lot size on new single-family tracts of 5 acres or more. This is the zoning test only.
Find 5-acre tracts in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso: 1 credit a tract checked. The finder covers those four cities, not Arlington.
Sign in, then run the SB 15 check on an address in one of those cities. The finder opens under its answer. New here? Create a free account.
We don't read Tarrant Appraisal District parcels for Arlington yet, so the tract's size isn't checked. SB 15 needs 5 acres or more (Planner check needed).
Likely 6 zones
The zoning test points to yes. A site still needs 5 acres or more, no recorded plat and the distance checks.
| Zone | City's code |
|---|---|
| RE | UDC §2.2.2; §10.4.5D.A.2.a |
| RS-20 | UDC §2.2.3; §10.4.5D.A.2.a |
| RS-15 | UDC §2.2.4; §10.4.5D.A.2.a |
| RS-7.2 | UDC §2.2.5; §10.4.5D.A.2.a |
| RS-5 | UDC §2.2.6; §10.4.5D.A.2.a |
| RM-12 | UDC §2.2.7; §10.4.5D.A.2.a |
Planner check needed 11 zones
A planner must read more before you rely on it.
| Zone | City's code | Why |
|---|---|---|
| VG | UDC §5.8.7 | This land is zoned VG (Village on the Green at Tierra Verde). Arlington lists it for small lots, but calls it 'a city-designated area with historical, cultural, or architectural importance' (Section 5.8.7). Planner check needed. |
| DT-C | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| DT-G | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| CMU-4 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| CMU-6 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| TN | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| UN-3 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| UN-5 | Arlington's April 2026 form-based code for this district hasn't been read: planner check. | |
| UTA | This land is zoned UTA, which isn't in Arlington's published code (UDC Table 2.1-1). Planner check needed. | |
| ETJ | This land is in Arlington's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), outside city zoning. Planner check needed. | |
| PD | This land is in a planned development (PD), which sets its own uses by ordinance. Read it (Planner check needed). |
Doesn't fit 15 zones
SB 15 covers only areas zoned for single-family homes.
| Zone | City's code |
|---|---|
| LO | |
| OC | |
| NC | |
| CC | |
| GC | |
| HC | |
| DB | |
| LI | |
| RMU | |
| FH | |
| BP | |
| NMU | |
| IM | |
| RMF-22 | |
| MH |
- Arlington's small-lot table prints a 50 ft side setback; state law caps it at 5 ft (§211.055): planner check.
- Arlington's small-lot rules ask for 35% common open space; state law caps it at 30% (§211.055): planner check.
- Arlington's small-lot rules require alley-only access and alley-loaded garages (Section 5.5.6): planner check.
- Arlington's own small-lot rule names only Arlington Municipal Airport. The state's airport and military base check is used here.
Sources
The City's code and zoning map, as our check reads them:
- Arlington Unified Development Code, amended through Ord. 25-059 (City PDF), read 3 Nov 2026
- City of Arlington, Zoning (City open data), read 3 Nov 2026
- Tarrant County Clerk, official public records
The state laws: Local Government Code Chapter 218 and Chapter 211, on statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
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Not legal advice; confirm with the city.