Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
16 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Corner lot front/side setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.10 ft
For corner lots, a detached accessory dwelling shall be set back no less than five feet from an abutting rear yard and no less than ten feet from an abutting front yard or side yard.
For corner lots, a detached accessory dwelling shall be set back no less than five feet from an abutting rear yard and no less than ten feet from an abutting front yard or side yard.
- ProhibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. in front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.
Detached accessory dwellings shall not be located in a front yard, nor closer to any street than the principal dwelling.
- Maximum gross floor area1,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
One thousand square feet or 50 percent of the principal dwelling gross floor area, whichever is less, when the principal dwelling gross floor area is over 1,400 square-feet.
- Maximum gross floor area700 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Seven hundred square feet when the principal dwelling gross floor area is 1,400 square-feet or less.
Maximum height shall not exceed any of the following: ... 2. Twenty feet.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in storiesStoreysHabitable floor levels. Whether a basement or attic counts is defined by the local code.1.5 storiesStoreysHabitable floor levels. Whether a basement or attic counts is defined by the local code.
Maximum height shall not exceed any of the following: ... 3. One and one-half stories.
- Maximum occupancy4 persons
No more than four persons shall occupy the accessory dwelling.
- Maximum building projection into setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.2.5 ft
No building projections shall be permitted in setback areas except for cornices and eaves, up to two feet and six inches.
- Minimum separation from principal dwelling5 ft
A detached accessory dwelling's nearest wall to the primary dwelling shall be no less than five feet away.
- Rear setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for detached ADUAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. up to 15 ft or 1 story8 ft
Detached accessory dwellings up to 15 feet or one story in height must be set back eight feet from rear and side lot lines unless the board of zoning appeals grants a special use permit that reduces the rear and side setbacks to no less than five feet each.
- Rear setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for detached ADUAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. over 15 ft or 1 story10 ft
All other detached accessory dwellings must be set back at least ten feet from rear and side lot lines.
- Short-term rentalShort-term rentalA dwelling let to guests for brief stays — the zoning category behind Airbnb rules. prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Accessory dwellings shall not be permitted to be used as short-term rentals, as defined in the Code of Virginia, § 15.2-983, as amended.
- Side setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for detached ADUAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. up to 15 ft or 1 story8 ft
Detached accessory dwellings up to 15 feet or one story in height must be set back eight feet from rear and side lot lines unless the board of zoning appeals grants a special use permit that reduces the rear and side setbacks to no less than five feet each.
- Side setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for detached ADUAccessory dwelling unit (ADU)A second, smaller home on a lot that already has one — a garage flat, basement flat or backyard cottage. over 15 ft or 1 story10 ft
All other detached accessory dwellings must be set back at least ten feet from rear and side lot lines.
- Window setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. above one story10 ft
Any portion of a detached accessory dwelling above one story that contains windows that are not clerestory must be set back at least ten feet from any property line.
From the ordinance
The following standards shall apply for all accessory dwelling uses: ... (6) Gross floor area: ... 1. One thousand square feet or 50 percent of the principal dwelling gross floor area, whichever is less, when the principal dwelling gross floor area is over 1,400 square-feet. 2. Seven hundred square feet when the principal dwelling gross floor area is 1,400 square-feet or less.