Article 4B, Sec. 18-451
Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
Housing
- Two-family
- by_right
- Three-family
- by_right
- Four-plus family
- by_right
Uses
Permitted by right3
Extracted standards
54 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Lighting
- Maximum pedestrian bollard lamp heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft
Pedestrian bollard lamps shall be mounted no higher than four (4) feet above grade.
- Full cut-off or shielded lighting required
Exterior lighting must consist of full cut-off or directionally shielded lighting fixtures that are aimed and controlled so that the directed light is substantially confined to the object intended to be illuminated and not to exceed the boundary of the property.
- Maximum illumination at property boundary0.5 fc
Maximum luminance levels shall not exceed one-half (0.5) foot-candles at the property boundary.
- Maximum parking lot light heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.10 ft
Parking lot lights shall be a maximum height of 10 feet.
- Maximum pedestrian light illumination2 fc
Light fixtures for sidewalks, walkways, trails, and bicycle paths, shall provide at least 1.2 foot-candles of illumination, but not exceed 2.0 foot-candles.
- Minimum pedestrian light illumination1.2 fc
Light fixtures for sidewalks, walkways, trails, and bicycle paths, shall provide at least 1.2 foot-candles of illumination, but not exceed 2.0 foot-candles.
- ProhibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. outdoor lighting types
Lasers, searchlights, strobe lights, and blinking lights, excluding temporary holiday lighting; low-pressure sodium and mercury vapor light sources are prohibited.
Other
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure location
Accessory structures shall be located in the rear yard only.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure screening fence/wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
Accessory structures shall be screened from all adjacent properties by a solid ornamental screening type fence, solid brick wall, or ornamental masonry wall six (6) feet in height.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from rear or side lot lines1 ft
Accessory structures must meet the following setbacks in private yards: One (1) foot from the rear or side lot lines.
- AccessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from nearest structure5 ft
Accessory structures must meet the following setbacks in private yards: Five (5) feet from the nearest structure.
- Barbed wire prohibition
The use of barbed wire is not permitted.
- Common open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted. conveyance to non-profit
Common open space, including any required screening, shall be conveyed to a non-profit corporation, organized and operated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Patio setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. in common areas from property lines15 ft
Patios shall be set back at least fifteen (15) feet from all property lines.
- Maximum corner side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft
Corner Side Yard: Four (4) ft. max.
- Uncovered deck encroachment into other yards4 ft
Uncovered decks may encroach into the required rear yard by up to ten (10) feet and any other required yard by up to four (4) feet.
- Uncovered deck encroachment into rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.10 ft
Uncovered decks may encroach into the required rear yard by up to ten (10) feet and any other required yard by up to four (4) feet.
- Decorative wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. triggering building setbacksSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.4 ft
Decorative walls of four (4) feet or greater must meet requirements for building setbacks.
- Dumpster enclosure minimum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. above container1 ft
Enclosed by adequate walls or opaque fencing of a minimum of one foot taller than the container, and no taller than 8 feet.
- Maximum dumpster enclosure heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.8 ft
Enclosed by adequate walls or opaque fencing of a minimum of one foot taller than the container, and no taller than 8 feet.
- Dumpster concrete pad length20 ft
Each dumpster shall be located on a concrete pad with minimum dimensions of twenty (20) feet by twelve (12) feet.
- Dumpster concrete pad width12 ft
Each dumpster shall be located on a concrete pad with minimum dimensions of twenty (20) feet by twelve (12) feet.
- Fence finished side orientation
All fences or screens shall have the finished side facing the street and the adjoining properties.
- Maximum front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft
Front Yard: Four (4) ft. max.
- Maximum interior side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
Interior Side Yard: Six (6) ft. max.
- Minimum loading space depth25 ft
Minimum twenty-five (25) feet in depth.
- Minimum loading space heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. if inside building15 ft
Minimum fifteen (15) feet in height, if located within a building.
- Loading space requirement per dwelling unitsDwelling unitOne independent home: its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance.50 units
One (1) loading space per fifty (50) dwelling units for multi-unit residential developments.
- Minimum loading space width15 ft
Minimum fifteen (15) feet in width.
- Long-term bicycle parking requirement2 units
Long-term: One (1) space for every two (2) dwelling units.
- Maximum abutting dwelling unitsDwelling unitOne independent home: its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance. with same design2 units
Not more than two (2) abutting dwelling units and not more than one-third of any abutting series of dwelling units shall have the same architectural design or treatment of materials.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure area in private yards64 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Accessory structures in private yards shall be no greater than seven (7) feet in height and no greater than sixty-four (64) square feet in area.
- Maximum accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. structure heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in private yards7 ft
Accessory structures in private yards shall be no greater than seven (7) feet in height and no greater than sixty-four (64) square feet in area.
- Maximum building-mounted sign area24 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Building mounted signs: Twenty-four (24) square feet.
- Maximum ground-mounted sign area24 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Ground mounted signs: Twenty-four (24) square feet.
- Maximum ground-mounted sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft
The maximum height of ground-mounted signs in RMU zones is four (4) feet.
- Patio setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from required yards1 ft
Patios must be set back at least one (1) foot from all sides of required yards.
Prohibited signs include moving or rotating signs, electronic messages, portable signs, roof signs, and others as listed in Sec. 18-495.
- Maximum rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
Rear Yard: Six (6) ft. max.
- Retaining wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. triggering building setbacksSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.5 ft
Retaining walls of five (5) feet in height or greater must meet requirements for building setbacks.
- Retaining walls greater than 5 ft prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. in front/corner side yards5 ft
Retaining walls greater than five (5) feet in height are not permitted within front or corner side yards.
- Rooftop equipment screening required
All rooftop equipment on any building shall be fully screened from view from the right-of-way and adjacent properties by use of screening material that is consistent with the material found on the building façade.
- Short-term bicycle parking requirement10 units
Short-term: One (1) space per ten (10) dwelling units.
- Sight triangle distance from intersection25 ft
On any corner lot there shall be no fences, walls, structure, planting, shrubbery, or obstruction to vision more than three feet above the curb level within twenty-five (25) feet of the intersection of any two street lines.
- Maximum obstruction heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. in sight triangle3 ft
On any corner lot there shall be no fences, walls, structure, planting, shrubbery, or obstruction to vision more than three feet above the curb level within twenty-five (25) feet of the intersection of any two street lines.
- Sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from right-of-way
All ground-mounted sign structures must be set back from the right-of-way a distance that is at least equal to the sign height.
- Maximum fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. around outdoor recreation uses and sport courts12 ft
Fences surrounding outdoor recreation uses and sport courts may be a maximum of twelve (12) feet in height.
- Underground utility services required
All utility services including, but not limited to, all wires, cables, pipes, conduits, and appurtenant equipment carrying or used in connection with the furnishing of electric power, telephone, telegraph, cable television, petroleum, gas, steam, water or sewer systems shall be placed below the surface of the ground.
Parking
- Driveway width matching garage opening distance18 ft
The width of the driveway shall meet the width of the garage opening for a minimum of eighteen (18) feet from the garage.
- Minimum private driveway width12 ft
A width of at least twelve (12) feet shall be maintained for the length of any private driveway.
- Parking area setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. property lines5 ft
All automobile parking areas must be set back at least five (5) feet from side yard property lines.
- Maximum shared parking lot entrance width35 ft
Ingress and egress to a public street shall be provided by means of entrances and exits meeting these same specifications and maintaining a width of not less than twenty-five (25) feet nor more than thirty-five (35) feet at street right-of-way line.
- Minimum shared parking lot entrance width25 ft
Ingress and egress to a public street shall be provided by means of entrances and exits meeting these same specifications and maintaining a width of not less than twenty-five (25) feet nor more than thirty-five (35) feet at street right-of-way line.
- Permanent surface treatment required for parking
All driveway and parking areas shall be constructed of permanent materials, consisting of an asphalt, concrete, or grid paver surface which meets the specifications of the Town. Gravel or grass shall not be permitted surface treatments used for parking.
From the ordinance
The standards in this Article 4B apply generally to all new construction, additions, and alterations in the RMU zone.