APPENDIX A: LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

HISTORICAL NOTE

   The first comprehensive zoning ordinance for the City of Fort Worth was adopted by the city council on September 6, 1940, effective October 1, 1940, and was numbered Ord. 2082. This ordinance was published in pamphlet form and included maps showing the various zoning districts.

   On September 1, 1947, the city council adopted a digest and codification of Ord. 2082, including all text amendments between the adoption date and October 1, 1940. This ordinance was published in pamphlet form, with new district maps, and was effective September 1, 1947.

   On November 26, 1952, the city council adopted a new comprehensive zoning ordinance numbered 3011, effective March 1, 1953, which was published in pamphlet form with all amendments up to date and new district maps.

   Since March 1, 1953, there have been several amendments to the text of Ord. 3011 and a large number of changes in the zoning districts. This pamphlet, which includes the text amendments adopted since March 1, 1953, does not include district maps; however, the maps are on file in the zoning office at the city hall, and are kept up to date by the zoning staff. Current information on the zoning classification of all land within the corporate limits is thereby available to the public.

   Following is a list of ordinances which are text amendments, with their effective dates and a brief clue to the subject matter:

Ordinance	Effective date	Subject
2082	October 1, 1940	Original comprehensive zoning ordinance
2110	May 14, 1941	Amended front yard requirements
2147	October 7, 1942	Permitted conversion of accessory buildings to separate dwellings
2429	July 16, 1947	Zoned area annexed December 17, 1946
2434	August 2, 1947	Extensive text amendments
2437	July 30, 1947	Repealed ordinance permitting conversion of accessory buildings to separate dwellings
2082	September 1, 1947	Digest and codification of Ord. 2082
2514	February 25, 1948	Amended accessory building regulations
2570	August 11, 1948	All previously unzoned property zoned “A”
2745	February 15, 1950	Amended height and area regulations
2754	March 22, 1950	Board authority to grant public garage in “E;” Auxiliary parking in “A” to “D;” amended light industrial uses
2777	June 21, 1950	Amended height regulations
2803	September 13, 1950	Added cleaning and dyeing works
3011	March 1, 1953	Digest and codification as new ordinance
3063	April 22, 1953	Amended regulations as to churches and nonconforming uses
3230	August 25, 1954	Amended definitions, “E-R” uses, “E” uses; created “F-R” district; amended “F,” “I,” “J” uses; amended height and area regulations
3340	May 18, 1955	Amended “H” height regulations
3409	December 14, 1955	Permitted advertising signs in required yards in “E” district
3534	September 19, 1956	Permitted drive-in business in “E” district with sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption
3709	September 13, 1957	Motor freight terminals in “I” district
3747	January 1, 1958	Fees adopted for zoning petitions and board of adjustment applications
3770	February 21, 1958	Open air swimming pools in “E” district
3795	April 11, 1958	Excluded sale of alcoholic beverages in “F-R” district
3939	September 12, 1958	Permitted bowling alleys in “F-R” district subject to restrictions
4086	May 1, 1959	Permitted auto laundry and steam cleaning in “F” district subject to restrictions
4087	May 1, 1959	Amended horsepower limitations in “I” and “J” districts
4160	July 17, 1959	Permitted small animal hospitals in “E” district subject to restrictions
4187	October 9, 1959	Provided for appointment of alternative members on board of adjustment
4368	September 16, 1960	Permitted casting of aluminum products and manufacture of die-casting molds, dies and cores in “J” districts
4635	May 21, 1962	Eliminated “cans” and “drums” under paragraph 18 in “K” districts
4751	October 29, 1962	Reduced to 4 the minimum number of members of zoning board of adjustment required to hold a public hearing
4792	January 7, 1963	Revised § 19, off-street parking and loading requirements
4793	January 7, 1963	Amended § 1, “definitions”
4794	January 7, 1963	Reduced required rear yards in “E,” “F-R” and “F” districts
4795	January 7, 1963	Added “E-P” planned commercial district to district listing
4796	January 7, 1963	Added “E-P” planned commercial district, use, height and area regulations
5062	November 27, 1963	Added casting of magnesium products in “J” light industrial districts
5127	March 9, 1964	Permitted self-service car wash in “E” district
5358	April 19, 1965	Amended § 25, “changes and amendments”
5572	May 16, 1966	Added “AG” agricultural district
5756	March 9, 1967	Amended §§ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9A, 10, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 25; added § 2B “CF” community facilities district
5996	September 9, 1968	Reworded regulation requiring a building to be located on a defined lot
6066	March 17, 1969	Established floor-area ratio option as a method of adjusting height limitation in multifamily, commercial and industrial districts
6081	April 14, 1969	Established new off-street parking for residential uses based upon both the number of dwelling units and number of bedrooms
6184	October 27, 1969	Amended § 1, § 2, § 3, § 4, § 5, § 17 and § 18
6197	November 17, 1969	Amended “C” and “D” rear yards; repealed item A.5.c. of § 18
6229	January 12, 1970	Repealed items 6,b) and 6,c) of subsection A, § 18
6311	June 8, 1970	Added § 2C, “MH” mobile home park district
6381	October 28, 1970	Amended auto parking area requirements in “E-R” and § 9
6404	December 14, 1970	Provided for recreational vehicle parks
6439	March 1, 1971	Provided for land use intensity ratio development
6527	August 9, 1971	Clarified alcoholic beverage sale in “E” district
6564	October 11, 1971	Permitted dancing in “E” district
6566	October 11, 1971	Added “IP” industrial park district
6567	October 18, 1971	Added floodplain zoning districts
6609	January 10, 1972	Amended regulations as to churches in “A” districts
6643	March 13, 1972	Established fence provisions; off-street parking for elderly housing
7022	June 17, 1974	Added electric power substation to § 2-C
7258	January 5, 1976	Amended rezoning fee schedule
7286	January 20, 1976	Added motor vehicle junk yard to §§ 2-A, 13, 14 and 15
7327	April 21, 1976	Established “HC” historic and cultural subdistrict
7343	May 10, 1976	Amended § 16A and § 19, off-street parking and loading regulations
7364	June 14, 1976	Amended § 2 to regulate spacing and size of commercial advertising signs along interstate and primary highways
7437	November 18, 1976	Amended § 2, establishment of districts
7469	January 10, 1977	Amended § 2B, § 5 and § 6 to add additional uses
7519	March 21, 1977	Define “garage sales”
7622	September 13, 1977	Amended application fees
7703	February 14, 1978	Added ambulance dispatch station to § 20
7786	August 24, 1978	Amended § 19 to revise minimum distance from street for location of loading docks
7805	September 24, 1978	Amended § 16 to provide for screening walls or fences on double-frontage lots along arterial streets
8290	March 21, 1981	Amended § 19 to revise head-in parking and loading dock provisions
8379	August 1, 1981	Amended § 2-G to fully revise the “HC” historic and cultural subdistrict
8410	September 18, 1981	Corrected Ord. 8379
8663	November 1, 1982	Comprehensive revisions of all the residential districts (including additions of “R-1,” “D-HR1" and “D-HR2") and § 16A, unified residential development provisions
8703	December 24, 1982	Amended § 9A “F-R” to add mini-warehouses
8743	February 26, 1983	Amended “D-HR1" and “D-HR2" districts regarding yard setbacks; the “ER” district to allow nonresidential “D-HR2" uses; and § 16A regarding height and yard regulations
8744	February 26,1983	Amended the “MH” mobile home district to add provisions for mobile home subdivisions
8785	April 22, 1983	Corrected Ord. 8663
8915	September 23, 1983	Provided for $1,000 fine for violations of zoning ordinance
8934	September 27, 1983	Provided for 9 members on the historic and cultural advisory board
8976	November 23, 1983	Added “A-R” residential district; revisions to other residential districts and unified residential regulations
9117	June 21, 1984	Created new § 17A, “off premises signs;” revised regulations regarding on-premises and off-premises signs
9121	June 21, 1984	Permitted automated recycling machines in “I” and as a special exception in other zones
9122	June 21, 1984	Regulated disk satellite antennas in “A”
9123	June 21, 1984	Revised height and area regulations for “D-HR1" and “D-HR2"
9124	June 21, 1984	Revised § 25, changes and amendments
9215	September 16, 1984	Permitted softball parks in “F-R” district
9234	October 17, 1984	Regulated temporary batch plants
9295	January 26, 1985	Created “R-2" residential district
9457	August 20, 1985	Permitted newspaper distribution centers not exceeding 12,000 square feet in “F-R” district
9500	December 1, 1985	Required erection of sign for special exception uses
9501	October 22, 1985	Allowed community homes in “A” and “CF;” care facilities in “CF” and “E-R;” redefined “family”
9508	November 5, 1985	Grandfathered existing off-premises signs with downward shielded lights
9537	January 4, 1986	Permitted newspaper distribution centers not exceeding 20,000 square feet in “F-R”
9538	January 4, 1986	Zoned all unzoned land “AG” Prohibited building permits on unzoned or unplatted land
9558	January 21, 1986	Exempted fire code signage from “UR” sign regulations
9602	March 29, 1986	Created “PD” planned development district
9705	August 23, 1986	Amended historic and cultural subdistrict to become a certified local government
9716	September 17, 1986	Created “O-M” office midrise district
9717	September 19, 1986	Created “CD” conservation district
9759	November 11, 1986	Amendments to § 17A “off-premises signs”
9760	November 11, 1986	Created § 17B “on-premises signs”
9780	December 14, 1986	1,000 foot spacing between sexually oriented businesses and churches, schools, parks and residential lots
9781	December 14, 1986	500 foot spacing between hotels and residential lots; “PD” zoning for hotels
9798	January 17, 1987	Regulation of pawn shops
9823	February 17, 1987	Regulation of temporary signs
9957	September 15, 1987	Amendments to § 18A “sexually oriented businesses”
9958	September 15, 1987	Location and regulation of motor vehicle storage yards, junk yards and repair garages
10095	April 12, 1988	Amendments to § 8, “E-R” restricted commercial district, § 9 “E” commercial district, § 9A “F-R” restricted commercial district, § 10 “F” commercial district, § 13 “I” light industrial district
10096	April 12, 1988	Additional setback requirements and screening of commercial properties
10097	April 12, 1988	Amends § 18 “modification to district regulations
10169	September 13, 1988	Provides for horse racing tracks to be permitted only in “PD” planned development and specifies additional development controls for horse racing tracks and allows for commercial stables under certain circumstances
10204	November 15, 1988	Amends § 21, certificate of occupancy, to clarify requirements for same
10222	December 13, 1988	Adds to § 2-G, “HC” historic and cultural subdistrict, paragraph d. to subsection B.4. pertaining to demolition of structures identified as primary resources
10273	March 14, 1989	Adds model homes and portable trailers to be used as temporary construction and/or sales offices or storage trailers as temporary permitted uses in “A” one- family district and amends § 19, off-street parking and loading in connection with model homes and portable trailers and changing sign restrictions
10334	June 27, 1989	Amends § 2-B, “CF” community facilities district providing development regulations
10335	June 27, 1989	Add group homes I to § 5, “C-R” multifamily; add group homes II to § 6, “C” multifamily; add halfway houses to § 9A, “F-R” restricted commercial; define group homes I, group homes II and halfway houses; amend § 20, board of adjustment, by adding group homes I, group homes II and halfway houses
10340	July 11, 1989	Amend § 18, modifications to district regulations regarding bufferyards and restrictions thereon; screening, irrigation, landscaping, point system, permit requirements
10362	August 15, 1989	Amend § 2G, historical and cultural subdistrict
10444	November 14, 1989	Changing name of historic and cultural subdistrict to the historic and cultural landmark subdistrict and name of historic and cultural advisory board to historic and cultural landmark commission
10445	November 14, 1989	Adding paragraph D to § 16, accessory uses, prohibiting accessory structures in front yards
10446	November 14, 1989	Permitting parole offices only in “FR” restricted commercial district or less restricted zoning districts
10447	November 14, 1989	Adding community home II for not more than 8 disabled persons in all residential zones and registration of community homes, group homes and halfway houses
10567	April 10, 1990	Increasing fine from $1,000 to $2,000
10658	August 14, 1990	Restricting location of new bars in the “F” and “G” commercial districts
10727	September 13, 1990	Adding location restrictions for existing bars in the “F” and “G” commercial districts
10750	December 12, 1990	Adding paragraph K to § 17, legal nonconforming uses, approving carports added to the front of single-family residences
10761	January 3, 1990	Correction to Ord. 10750
10788	February 21, 1991	Providing definition of “adult entertainment cabarets” and regulating location of adult entertainment cabarets
10842	May 17, 1991	Providing for required site plan review by the zoning commission
10876	July 17, 1991	Providing for appointment of four alternate members to board of adjustment and for election of officers at November meeting each year
10937	October 15, 1991	Providing for definition of “reclamation” and amending § 20.C.2 regulating quarries, mines, dredging operations, sand and gravel pits and excavation operations
10954	November 12, 1991	Amending § 18.D providing temporary relief from requirements for vacant nonresidential property
10973	December 10, 1991	Amending §§ 17 and 18 providing exception to bufferyard requirements for buildings destroyed by fire, etc.
11015	February 11, 1992	Amending “waiver” authority of board of adjustment for sand and gravel mining special exceptions as adopted under Ord. 10937
11016	February 11, 1992	Providing definition for “projected front yard” and adding projected front yard to requirements of §§ 16.C.1 and 3.d.4h)
11072	April 14, 1992	Adding “hospice” as a permitted use in “CF,” “C” and “E-R;” amending § 19, subsection B.2 to include hospices
11073	April 14, 1992	Amending § 2-B by removing items A, B and C from 2. special exception uses and placing them in 1. principal uses
11130	July 14, 1992	Amending § 20 C.13. to permit day care facilities in “A-R,” “R-1,” “R-2" and “D” districts as a special exception
11187	October 13, 1992	Providing that height and area regulations apply to both buildings and structures in: 2C, “H;” 2D, “IP;” 3, “A;” 3A, “A-R;” 4, “B;” 4A, “R-1;” 4B, “R-2;” 5, “C-R;” 6, “C;” 7, “D;” 7A, “D-HR1;” 7B, “D-HR2;” 8, “E-R;” 8B, “O-M;” 9, “E;” 9A, “F-R;” 10, “F;” 11, “G;” 12, “H;” 13, “I;” 14, “J;” 15, “K”
11188	October 13, 1992	Amending § 9, “E” commercial, by adding recording studios as a permitted use with certain restrictions
11256	February 2, 1993	Amending § 17-B, on-premises signs, to regulate the location of portable signs
11281	March 23, 1993	Correction to Ord. 11187
11293	April 13, 1993	Amending § 2-G providing definitions, appointing a preservation officer and designation of an “HC” historic and cultural overlay district
11425	October 12, 1993	Amending § 9, “E” commercial district; § 9A, “FR” commercial district; § 10, “F” commercial district; § 11, “G” commercial district and § 12, “H” business district, to permit outside storage and display of merchandise
11474	December 21, 1993	Amending § 18A, “sexually oriented business” providing a statement of purpose and intent, prohibited locations of sexually oriented business, for existing nonconforming uses
11475	December 21, 1993	Amending § 18B “adult entertainment cabarets” providing a statement of purpose and intent, prohibited locations of adult entertainment cabarets, that the regulations of § 18A and 18C are also applicable to adult entertainment cabarets
11476	December 21, 1993	Creating a new § 18C “specialized certificates of occupancy” for all sexually oriented business, providing for the requirements of specialized certificates of occupancy for all sexually oriented businesses
11478	December 21, 1993	Amending § 1 “definitions” to include definitions of “bed and breakfast home,” and “bed and breakfast inn,” amending § 19 “off-street parking and loading regulations,” amending § 20, “board of adjustment” to allow “bed and breakfast home” and “bed and breakfast inn” as a special exception in: 4, “B;” 5, “CR;” 6, “C;” 7, “D;” 7A, “D-HR1;” 7B, “D-HR2;” 8, “E-R;” 9, “E;” 9A, “F-R;” 10, “F;” 11;, “G;” 1; 2, “H;” 13, “I;” 14, “J;” 15, “K”
11707	October 11, 1994	Amending subsection A.18 to § 18, “modifications to district regulations,” to establish criteria for minimum front, side or rear yard setbacks in districts zoned “F-R” through “K” when they abut and are across the street from a residentially zoned district
11734	November 15, 1994	Repealing subsection 20.c.39 of § 20, “board of adjustment,” concerning, special exceptions for group home I and II
11769	December 13, 1994	Amending § 1 to add a definition of “commercial print center;” amending § 9 to permit commercial print centers in “E” commercial districts; and amending § 9A to delete the maximum floor area for small job printing shops
11843	February 14, 1995	Amending § 1 to change the definitions of “corner lot,” “through lot” and “front yard” and to add definitions of “one- and two-family zoning” and “residential zoning.”
11844	February 14, 1995	Amending § 15, “K” “heavy industrial district,” by repealing § 15.A and adding a new § 15.A; Amending § 2-H, “P-D” planned development district only; amending § 20, “board of adjustment,” by deleting certain special exception uses
11970	May 23, 1995	Amending § 2-G, “HC” historic and cultural landmark overlay district; to provide procedures and criteria for the designation of historic structures, restrictions on alteration and demolition of designated structures, requirements for certificates of appropriateness and tax incentives
12036	July 11, 1995	By amending § 3,”A” one-family district,” by amending § 3.C.
12087	August 15, 1995	By amending § 2-H, “P-D” planned development district, by repealing subsection 2-H.I(7) and adding a new sub§ 2-H.I(7) to add requirement for landfill, recycling and other materials recovery and processing facilities; amending § 9, “E” commercial district, to allow outside storage of certain containers for recycling; amending § 20, “board of adjustment,” by allowing a special exception for small collection facilities for recycling cans, glass and other material
12088	August 15, 1995	To amend § 17A, “off-premises signs,” by amending § 17A(H)(1)-(5) concerning the creation and duties of the scenic preservation commission; adding a new § 17A(H)(6) concerning the designation of areas of the city as scenic, cultural, architectural or historic areas wherein the location, erection and maintenance of off-premises signs are prohibited
12169	September 12, 1995	By amending § 25, “changes and amendments,” subsection B(3)(A) to require that written notice of all public hearings before the zoning commission be sent to owners of real property within 300 feet of the property proposed to be rezoned
12125	September 5, 1995	By repealing § 18.E, “location regulations applicable to bars in “F” and “G” commercial districts;” and § 20.C.41 concerning special exceptions for bars made nonconforming by such location requirements
12261	November 14, 1995	By amending § 18 to allow public utility towers, distribution lines and supporting structures in all zoning districts; to allow communication antennas to be mounted on public utility towers; and to provide that distance and height requirements do not apply to public utility towers, distribution lines and communication antennas constructed on public utility towers; amending § 20, “board of adjustment,” to allow the construction of communication towers on public utility towers; amending 2-B, “CF” community facilities district, and § 13, “I” light industrial district, to permit radio, television, microwave broadcast, relay and receiving towers, and transmission and retransmission facilities
12347	January 20, 1996	Amending § 1, “definitions” to add definitions of “shooting gallery” and “shooting range.”
12348	January 20, 1996	Amending § 2-H. “PD” planned development, subsection D(3) to require that written notice of public hearings before the zoning commission on-site plan approval be sent to owners of real property within 300 feet
12405	February 23, 1996	Amending § 1, “definitions,” 2-C, § “MH” mobile home district, § 9, “E” commercial district, § 20, “board of adjustment” and § 2-F, “O-2" floodplain district, concerning regulation of mobile home parks, mobile home subdivisions and recreational vehicle parks
12525	May 24, 1996	Amending § 1, “definitions,” § 2-B, “CF” community facilities district, § 8, “E-R” restricted commercial district and § 20, “board of adjustment” to amend the definition of “day care center” and to establish hours of operation for day care centers operated in residential districts with a special exception
12526	May 24, 1996	Amending § 4A, “R-1" residential district, and § 4B, “R-2" residential district to revise setback and platting requirements for zero lot line and cluster home developments, and to require submission of development plans for small lot and zero lot line developments and for townhouse and cluster home developments
12541	June 4, 1996	Amending § 1, “definitions,” and § 13, “I” light industrial to amend the definition of “kennel” to exclude residential premises at which the occupant keeps his or her own animals and to establish distance requirements for dog kennels from habitations on another person’s property
12610	August 6, 1996	Amending § 2-H, “PD” planned development district, § 1, “definitions,” § 9A, “FR” restricted commercial district, and § 20, “board of adjustment” to amend the definition of “halfway house” and to allow halfway houses only in planned development districts
12628	August 17, 1996	Amending §§ 1, 2-H, 8, 8A, 8B, 16, 16A, 17, 18 and 19 concerning zoning and design of multifamily dwellings; prohibiting multifamily dwellings in commercial districts; providing design regulations for multifamily dwellings, including number of units permitted per acre, building height and separation setback, parking and open space, and providing for expiration of unified residential development site plans
12665	September 14, 1996	Amending Ord. 12628 concerning multifamily dwellings by providing for “PD” planned development zoning for mixed residential and nonresidential uses and for multifamily uses in or adjacent to defined employment areas
12768	November 12, 1996	Amending § 2-G, “historically, culturally, architecturally and archaeologically significant properties,” § 2.C.3 to provide that a structure designated “highly significant endangered” is entitled to the maximum 15 year term for tax incentive if rehabilitation of structure is completed within two years after designation
12812	December 25, 1996	Amending § 1, “definitions,” and § 17B, “on-premises signs” to amend the definition of “accessory use,” add a definition of “premises” and provide for execution of a unified sign agreement whereby lots that are adjoining or separated only by right-of-way will be considered as a single premises for application of on-premises sign regulations
13038	June 17, 1997	Amended § 19, “off-street parking and loading regulations,” to update reference to building code
13092	July 22, 1997	Amended § 1, “definitions,” relating to signage, repealed §§ 17A and 17B concerning off-premises signs and on-premises signs, respectively, and enacted new § 17A concerning regulation of on-premises and off-premises signs
13286	February 2, 1998	Amended several sections of 3011 to make them consistent with Ord. 13092
13419	April 14, 1998	Amended § 19 to provide references for accessible parking spaces
13404	October 1, 1998	Enacted § 18E, “landscape requirements”
13657	December 5, 1998	Amended § 17A, “signs,” concerning permitted alteration of nonconforming signs

 

(Ord. 13896, passed 10-12-1999)

Editor’s note:

   For further amending zoning ordinances, see the Code Comparative Table.