Highlighted below: 1 of 10 extracted standards and 6 of 6 districts, chipped on their section headings. Sections and highlights carry their own anchors. The rest quote wording that differs from this rendering of the text.
Amherst County Unincorporated, VA Zoning Ordinance#
ARTICLE I — AUTHORITY AND ENACTMENT#
ARTICLE II — PURPOSE OF REGULATIONS#
ARTICLE III — DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN THIS ORDINANCE#
ARTICLE IV — APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS#
ARTICLE V — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS#
ARTICLE VI — GENERAL PROVISIONS#
ARTICLE VII — USE REQUIREMENTS BY ZONING DISTRICTS#
ARTICLE VIII — OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF ZONING DISTRICTS#
801. Minimum lot area and lot width.#
801.01. Residential Uses.#A-1R-1R-2V-1
Within districts permitting single-, two-family and multi-family residential uses, the following minimum lot areas and minimum lot widths shall apply:
| District | Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | Minimum Lot Frontage¹'² (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 (Agricultural Residential) | ||
| Single-family | 43,560 | 100 |
| Family divisions | 43,560 | None |
| R-1 (Limited Residential) | ||
| Single-family (with public water and public sewerage systems) | 15,000 | 75 |
| (with public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 22,500 | 75 |
| (with non-public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 25,000 | 75 |
| R-2 (General Residential) | ||
| Single-family (with public water and public sewerage systems) | 10,000 | 75 |
| (with public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 17,500 | 75 |
| (with non-public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 20,000 | 75 |
| Two-Family (with public water and public sewerage systems) | 12,000 | 80 |
| (with public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 27,000 | 80 |
| (with non-public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 32,000 | 80 |
| Three-family (with public water and public sewerage systems) | 16,000 | 90 |
| (with public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 38,500 | 90 |
| (with non-public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 46,000 | 90 |
| Four-family (with public water and public sewerage systems) | 20,000 | 100 |
| (with public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 50,000 | 100 |
| (with non-public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 60,000 | 100 |
| District | Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | Minimum Lot Area for Each Additional Multi-family Unit (sq. ft.) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-3 (Gen. Res.) | |||
| Multi-Family (1 thru 4 units—Same as R-2) | |||
| 5 Units (with public water and public sewerage systems) | 24,000 | 4,000 | 110 |
| (with public water and on-site sewerage systems) | 61,500 | 7,500 | 110 |
| V-1 (Village) | |||
| Single-family (regardless of the type of water and sewerage systems) | 43,560 | n/a | 100 |
| RMU-1 (Residential Mixed Use District) | Standards set forth in the R-2 District | Standards set forth in the R-2 District | Standards set forth in the R-2 District |
¹ In the measurement of lot width, the front shall be deemed to be the shorter of the sides of a corner lot facing streets.
² Minimum frontage may be reduced when the entire lot frontage is located on the arc of a cul-de-sac and shall be no less than fifty (50) feet. At the building setback line for the district the lot must meet the district frontage or width requirement.
801.02. Special exception permit for greater density in R-3 district.#R-3
The board may issue a special exception permit to increase the permitted density for multifamily development in the R-3 district as set forth in subsection 801.01 by up to fifty (50) percent. In issuing such a permit, the board shall take into account the nature of the use, the demands of the use on public facilities, availability of public water and sewer, additions to the tax base, addition of desirable living spaces to the county, the surrounding transportation network, the relative demands of the use, the recommendation, if any, of the Virginia Department of Transportation, and such other factors as may be reasonably related to the public health, safety, and general welfare.
801.03. Commercial, industrial and other uses.#
Within districts permitting commercial, industrial and other uses, there are no minimum lot area and lot width requirements except as provided herein in special circumstances and/or as may be required by the board of supervisors, commission and/or board of appeals.
801.04. Utility, Cemetery and Storm-Water Facility lots.#
Within districts permitting utility, cemetery and/or storm-water facility lots, there are no minimum lot area and lot width requirements except as provided herein in special circumstances and/or as may be required by the board of supervisors, planning commission and/or board of appeals.
801.05. Health department approval.#
Area requirements in paragraphs 801.01 and 801.02 are subject to the approval of the health department, and in special circumstances larger lot areas may be required due to health department regulations.
(Ord. of 7-21-09(1); Ord. No. 2012-0003, § 2, 7-17-12; Ord. No. 2018-0007, § 1, 3-19-19; Ord. No. 2022-0006, § 1, 8-16-22)
802. Maximum lot coverage.#
802.01. Residential uses.#
The maximum lot coverage for residential uses shall adhere to the following requirements:
| District | Maximum Lot Coverage (Percent) |
|---|---|
| A-1 Agricultural-Residential | 25 |
| R-1 Limited Residential | 25 |
| R-2 General Residential | |
| Single- and Two-Family | 35 |
| Multi-Family | 40 |
| R-3 Multi-Family | 40 |
| RMU-1 Residential Mixed Use | 40 |
802.02. Commercial, industrial and other uses.#
There is no maximum lot coverage for commercial, industrial and other uses, except as provided herein in special circumstances and/or as may be required by the board of supervisors, commission and/or board of appeals.
(Ord. No. 2012-0003, § 2, 7-17-12)
803. Maximum height restrictions.#
No building shall hereafter be erected, constructed or altered so as to exceed the height limit specified in the regulations herein for the district in which it is located.
803.01.#
Except as provided herein, the maximum height restrictions for residential and other uses within the districts shall be as follows:
| District | Single-Family | Two-Family | Other Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 Agricultural Residential | 35' | n/a | 65' |
| R-1 Limited Residential | 35' | n/a | 40' |
| R-2 General Residential | 35' | 40' | 40' |
| R-3 Multi-family Residential | 35' | 40' | 50' |
| RMU-1 Residential Mixed Use | 35' | 40' | 40' |
| V-1 Village Center | 35' | n/a | 35' |
| B-2 General Commercial | n/a | n/a | 50' |
| M-1 Light Industrial | n/a | n/a | 65' |
803.02.#
The method determining the height of a building or sign is described in section 302.§
(Ord. No. 2012-0003, § 2, 7-17-12; Ord. No. 2013-0012, § 1, 10-15-13; Ord. No. 2020-0002, § 1, 7-21-20)
804. Minimum yard requirements.#RMU-1
Within the district herein defined, the following minimum yard requirements shall apply:
| District | Front Yard Setback — Frontage Road Easement (Measured from Centerline) | Front Yard Setback — Front Property Line | Side-Yard Setback — Corner Lot | Side-Yard Setback — Other Lots | Rear Yard Setback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-1 Public Lands | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| A-1 Agricultural Residential | 75' | 50' | 50' | 25' | 25' |
| R-1 Limited Residential | 75' | 50' | 50' | 15' | 35' |
| R-2 General Residential | 65' | 40' | 40' | 10' | 25' |
| R-3 Multi-family Residential | 65' | 40' | 40' | 10' | 25' |
| RMU-1 Residential Mixed Use | 40' | 15' | 15'(d) | 7.5' (d) | 10'(d) |
| RMU-1 Residential Mixed Use (non-residential) | 40' | 15' | 15' | (b) | (b) |
| V-1 Village Center | 75' | 50' | 50' | 15' | 25' |
| B-2 General Commercial | 75' | 50' | (b) | (b) | (b) |
| M-1 Light Industrial | 75' | 50' | (b) | (b) | (b) |
(a) No building shall be permitted within two hundred (200) feet of the boundary line of land within the P-1 Public Lands District, owned in conjunction with any current or designated future site of a lake or reservoir by the County of Amherst or the Amherst County Service Authority.
(b) No minimum requirement except that no building or structure shall be erected within twenty-five (25) feet of a residential lot.
(c) Route 130 Corridor. See Section 913 for setback requirements.
(d) Building setbacks referenced in Section 901, Accessory structures and temporary buildings, of Appendix A, Zoning and Subdivisions, shall not apply to accessory structures in the RMU-1 Residential Mixed Use District. Accessory structures shall meet the prescribed setbacks for all principal buildings and shall not be closer than ten (10) feet to the main building or rear lot line. All other non-building setback requirements referenced in Section 901 shall apply in the RMU-1 Residential Mixed Use District.
(Ord. of 4-17-07(1); Ord. No. 2012-0003, § 2, 7-17-12; Ord. No. 2015-0011, § 2, 11-17-15)