Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
28 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Fencing & walls
- Maximum fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. (general)3.5 ft
Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding 42 inches in height may be erected in the front yard of any lot.
- Maximum fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. (residential)6 ft
In no case shall a fence in the front yard of a residential district exceed six (6) feet in height.
- Maximum fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in side or rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. (nonresidential)8 ft
Fences in nonresidential districts, when located inside or rear yards shall be limited to eight (8) feet in height.
- Maximum fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in side or rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. (residential)7 ft
Fences in residential districts shall be limited to a maximum height of seven (7) feet when located in a side or rear yard; except when abutting a nonresidential district or use, in which case such fences may be eight (8) feet in height.
Frontage
- Minimum public street frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.
All dwelling units, except for farm dwellings and employee's quarters, shall be located on a lot with frontage on a public street or approved private accessway.
Height
- Structures excluded from heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. limits
Barns, silos, windmills and related agricultural structures; water towers, fire and observation towers, aircraft control towers, and navigational aids; chimneys, church spires, belfries, and governmental monuments; elevator towers, air-conditioning units and all rooftop HVAC and mechanical equipment shall be hidden from the view of public rights-of-way and adjoining properties.
- HeightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. measurement method
Building height shall be measured as the vertical distance to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deck line of mansard roofs, and to the average height between eaves and the ridge of the gable, hip and gambrel roofs measured from the average grade around the entire building.
Other
- Maximum gross floor area900 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Within residential zoning districts shall not exceed 900 gross square feet in area, or no more than fifty percent (50%) of the principal structure's footprint, whichever is less;
- Maximum diameter in nonresidential districts2 m
Satellite dish antennae with a diameter of up to two meters shall be allowed within all nonresidential zoning districts.
- Maximum diameter in residential districts1 m
Satellite dish antennae with a diameter of up to one meter shall be allowed within all residential zoning districts.
No new buildings shall be permitted to be erected which, either individually or in combination with other buildings, exceed the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) for the lot upon which such buildings are to be located.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in residential districts20 ft
Within residential zoning districts shall not exceed twenty feet (20') in height;
- Maximum projection of balconies, chimneys, porches, bay windows3 ft
Balconies, chimneys, porches, and bay windows, may project up to three feet into a required yard, but no closer than five (5) feet to any lot line.
- Maximum projection of HVAC equipment into required side or rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.3 ft
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and similar mechanical equipment may not project more than three (3) feet into any required side or rear yard but no closer than five (5) feet to any lot line.
- Maximum projection of cornices, awnings, eaves, gutters3 ft
Cornices, awnings, eaves, gutters or other similar structural overhangs at least eight (8) feet above grade may extend up to three feet into any required yard.
- Minimum distance to any structure on adjacent lot5 ft
Are located no closer than five feet (5') to any structure on an adjacent lot;
- Minimum distance from side or rear property line2 ft
Are located a minimum of two feet (2') from a side or rear property line;
- Minimum distance from property line6 ft
A private swimming pool, not exceeding three (3) feet above grade, is permitted in a required minimum side or rear yard to within six (6) feet of a property line, as measured perpendicular from said property line to the outermost edge of the pool coping.
- Minimum separation from principal structure10 ft
Are separated from the principal structure by a minimum of ten feet (10'); in the case of residential sheds, separation from the principal structure shall be a minimum of five feet (5');
- Swimming pools prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. in front yards
Swimming pools shall not be permitted in front yards.
Setback
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from Dulles Greenway Private Toll Road120 ft
Dulles Greenway Private Toll Road: 120 feet from the right-of-way line.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from limited access highway outside bypass100 ft
No building shall be located closer than 100 feet from the right-of-way of any limited access highway
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from major arterial road outside bypass80 ft
80 feet from a major arterial road
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from minor arterial road outside bypass50 ft
50 feet from a minor arterial road
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from Route 15 south of Route 7/15 Bypass100 ft
Route 15, South of the Route 7/15 Bypass: 100 feet from the right-of-way line.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from Route 7 east of Route 7/15 Bypass100 ft
Route 7, East of the Route 7/15 Bypass: 100 feet from the right-of-way line.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from through collector road outside bypass35 ft
35 feet from the right-of-way of a through collector road
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from West Market Street north side100 ft
West Market Street, north side only, between Ayr Street and the western corporate limits: 100 feet from the centerline of the right-of-way.
From the ordinance
Fences, walls and hedges may be located within required yards subject to the following limitations.