Sec. 83-531

Other

• Density calculation

  Density (expressed as dwelling units per acre) shall be determined by dividing the total number of dwelling units located or proposed on a lot by the lot area (in acres). For mixed-use development, density shall be determined by dividing the total number of dwelling units by that portion of the lot area allocated to the dwelling uses.

• Floor area ratioFloor area ratio (FAR)Total floor area divided by lot area — an FAR of 2.0 permits 20,000 sq ft of floor on a 10,000 sq ft lot. calculation

  Floor area ratio shall be determined by measuring the gross floor area (in square feet) devoted to nonresidential and non-dwelling uses on all floors of all buildings located or proposed on a lot by the lot area (in square feet).

• Front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth for corner lots

  On a corner lot (which is not a through lot), the front yard depth shall be measured from each of the street-fronting lot lines, unless the zoning district establishes a minimum corner lot yard depth, in which case the front yard depth shall be measured from the shorter lot line adjacent to a public street right-of-way or private road easement, and the corner lot yard depth from the longer lot line. If intersecting right-of-way boundaries are defined by a radius, measure from extended lot lines.

• Front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth for flag lots

  On a flag lot, the front yard depth shall be measured within the 'flag' portion of the lot, from the lot line delineating the base of that portion.

• Front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth from future right-of-way

  Where county-adopted plans call for future widening of the street right-of-way and identify the future right-of-way boundary, the front yard depth shall be measured from the future right-of-way boundary.

• Front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth for through lots

  On a through lot, the front yard depth shall be measured from each of the parallel or nearly parallel street-fronting lot lines.

• Exceptions to maximum structure heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.

  Maximum height limits shall not apply to monuments, water towers, silos, granaries, barns, utility transmission towers, derricks, cooling towers, fire towers, and similar structures not intended for human occupancy. Spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, chimneys, elevator shaft enclosures, ventilators, skylights, mechanical equipment and appurtenances, and similar rooftop structures are allowed if they cover not more than 25% of roof area, comply with screening requirements, and extend no more than 25% above the height limit. Ham radio antennas, roof-mounted satellite dishes, TV/radio antennas, roof-mounted solar, and small wind energy systems are also exempt per accessory use standards.

• Lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built. measurement

  Lot area shall be determined by measuring the total horizontal land area (in acres or square feet) within the lot lines of the lot—excluding any area within existing or proposed public street rights-of-way or private road easements and excluding any area within a Floodplain Overlay District.

• Lot coverageLot coverageThe share of a lot that buildings may cover, as a percentage. calculation

  Lot coverage (expressed as a percentage of lot area) shall be determined by measuring the total horizontal land area (in square feet) covered by all principal and accessory structures on the lot, dividing that coverage area by the lot area, and multiplying the result by 100.

• Lot widthLot widthHow wide a lot must be, usually measured at the front setback line. measurement

  Lot width shall be determined by measuring the horizontal distance along a line delineating the minimum front yard depth applicable to the lot, between its intersections with the side lot lines. For lots with more than one front yard, lot width is measured along the front yard that has the shorter street frontage.

• Reduction of minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built. or width to block face average

  If the average area or width of existing lots on the same block face and in the same zoning district is less than the minimum lot area or minimum lot width, the minimum applicable to the lot shall be reduced to such average.

• Reduction of minimum yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depths to block face average

  If the average front, side, or rear yard depth on improved lots on the same block face and in the same zoning district is less than the required depth, the minimum applicable to the lot shall be reduced to such average.

• Required yards open and unobstructed

  Every part of every required yard shall remain open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky except as otherwise allowed in table 83-531(b)(5) or other provisions in Article VII, VIII, or elsewhere in this Code.

• Road classification for front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth

  When front yard depth is determined by street classification, proposed and existing roadways shall be classified in accordance with the major thoroughfare plan adopted by the County of Powhatan.

• Structure heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. measurement

  The height of a structure shall be determined by measuring the vertical distance from the average elevation of the existing finished grade at the front of the structure to the top of the roof for a flat roof, to the deck line for a mansard roof, or to the mean height between eaves and ridge for a gable, hip, cone, gambrel, or shed roof.

• YardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth measurement

  Front, side, and rear yard depths on a lot shall be determined by measuring the horizontal distance along a straight line extending at a right angle from the lot's front, side, or rear lot line to the foundation of the nearest structure on the lot. Allowable encroachments shall be ignored when measuring yard depths.