Craig County Unincorporated

Sign means any display of any letters, words, numerals, figures, devices, emblems, pictures, or any parts or combinations thereof by any means whereby the same are made visible for the purpose of making anything known... A display of less than one square foot in area is excluded from this definition.

Wind generator means wind-powered machines that deliver electricity for exclusive use for an individual structure. All such devices shall be approved by the zoning administrator before installation.

Guesthouse means dwelling or lodging units for temporary nonpaying guests in an accessory building. No such quarters shall be occupied by the same guests, exclusive of family members, for a period of more than three months in any 12-month period, and no such quarters shall be rented, leased, or otherwise made available for compensation of any kind.

Adult group home means a dwelling unit occupied by not more than eight physically handicapped, mentally ill, mentally retarded, and other developmentally disabled persons not related by blood or marriage. The operation of the group home shall conform to all state requirements for such residences.

Automobile graveyard means any lot or place which is exposed to the weather upon which more than one motor vehicle of any kind, incapable of being operated, and which it would not be economically practical to make operative, are placed, located, or found. Allowed only as a conditional use.

Hog farm means a farm where hogs are kept as the primary agricultural enterprise. A permit from the state department of environmental quality is required for farms with 300 or more animal units. Additional EPA and state DEQ requirements (confined animal feeding operation regulations) for farms with more than 750 swine must also be met.

Farm means a contiguous parcel or tract of land of five or more acres not separated by property owned by another person which produces an agricultural product providing an income of at least $1,000.00 annually to the owner and on which the owner has his principle place of residence.

General store, country, means a single store, the ground floor area of which is 4,000 square feet or less and which offers for sale primarily groceries and general hardware articles. Gasoline, diesel fuel, propane and kerosene may also be offered for sale but only as a secondary activity of a country general store.

Bed and breakfast means a residence occupied by an owner-operator providing accommodation for compensation with no more than five guest rooms. A bed-and-breakfast establishment may serve meals to its guests. Meals shall be served only to overnight guests of a bed-and-breakfast establishment.

Tourist home means a dwelling where only lodging is provided for compensation for up to 14 persons, in contradiction to hotels and boardinghouses, and open to transients.

Child care center means a private or public facility operated for the purpose of providing care, protection, and guidance to more than five children separated from their parents or guardians during a part of a day and which is licensed or approved to operate as a child care center.

Foundation, permanent, means a continuous permanent masonry, wood or metal skirting around the perimeter of the structure, unpierced except for required ventilation and access shall be installed under all elements of the building. Footings for walls shall be below the frost line. The ground surface below the home shall be protected with a poly-vapor barrier. Installation shall include a positive surface water drainage away from the home.

Solar agricultural generator means the use of solar equipment to generate electricity on a lot zoned for agricultural purposes such that the use is accessory to the primary agricultural use, pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 56-594.2.

Utility scale solar installation means a renewable energy project that generates electricity from sunlight, consisting of one or more photovoltaic systems and other appurtenant structures and facilities within the boundaries of the site, and is designed to interconnect with the electrical grid and/or serve facilities that are not adjacent or under common use, ownership, or control.

Variance means a relaxation of the terms of this chapter where such variance will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owing to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of the action of the applicant, a literal enforcement of this chapter would result in unnecessary and undue hardship. As used in this chapter, a variance is authorized only for height, area, and size of structure or size of yards and open spaces; establishment or expansion of a use otherwise prohibited shall not be allowed by variance nor shall a variance be granted because of the presence of nonconformity's in the zoning district or adjoining districts.

Automobile graveyard... Allowed only as a conditional use.

Natural growth shall be construed to mean coniferous trees, bushes, and shrubbery which shall be a minimum of four feet high when planted. Trees shall be planted every ten to 15 feet depending on the circumstances.

Sign means any display of any letters, words, numerals, figures, devices, emblems, pictures... A display of less than one square foot in area is excluded from this definition.

No such quarters shall be occupied by the same guests, exclusive of family members, for a period of more than three months in any 12-month period, and no such quarters shall be rented, leased, or otherwise made available for compensation of any kind.

not more than 25 percent of the floor area of the accessory building shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation.