zoneoptics
Essex County Unincorporated, Virginia · District

R-3

Medium Density Residential District
ResidentialMedium DensityAll Essex County Unincorporated districts0

Dimensional standards

R-3 lot requirementsSTREETFront 20 ftRear 20 ftSide 20 ftMin width 30 ftMIN LOT AREA2,000 sq ftMAX HEIGHT35 ftMAX LOT COVERAGE50%MAX DENSITY8 du/ac
Plan view of the district’s stated lot requirements. Solid line: the property line. Dashed: the setback lines the ordinance imposes; a building must stay inside the tinted envelope. Drawn from the figures extracted below — illustrative, not a survey.

Lot

Minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built.
2,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Minimum lot widthLot widthHow wide a lot must be, usually measured at the front setback line.
30 ft

Density

Maximum density
8 du/acredu/acreDwelling units per acre — the number of homes allowed on each acre of land.

SetbacksSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.

FrontSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
20 ft
RearSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
20 ft
SideSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
20 ft

Height & bulk

Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.
35 ft
Maximum lot coverageLot coverageThe share of a lot that buildings may cover, as a percentage.
50%

Housing

Single-familySingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours.
by_right

Uses

Permitted by right3

Extracted standards

13 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.

Design

Other

  • Common area ownership and maintenance

    Open space shall be owned and maintained by the developer and/or owner of the townhouse development, until such time as it is turned over to the ownership and maintenance of an approved homeowners' association...

  • Common area width5 ft

    Within required common area, except where lots abut a public street, a 5-foot-wide common area shall be provided around the perimeter of each group of attached lots.

  • Concrete curb and gutter required

    All roads and private pavement shall have concrete curb and gutter.

  • Landscaping required per Article VII

    Landscaping as required in Article VII shall be installed within the private pavement setback and the building setbacks.

  • Screening of mechanical equipment and refuse collection required

    Whether ground-level or rooftop, any refuse collection or mechanical equipment visible from adjacent property or roads shall either be integrated into the architectural treatment of the building or screened from view.

  • Pedestrian access required

    Pedestrian access shall be provided to all common area elements, including mail kiosks, parking lots, refuse collection areas, recreational amenities and to adjoining properties and along public roadways as required through plans review.

  • Phasing plan required for phased construction

    Unless a phasing plan is approved through preliminary plat review, construction shall be completed prior to issuance of building permits.

  • Public water and sewer required

    All developments shall be provided with public water and public sewer.

  • Road frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street. required

    All lots shall have frontage on a road.

Setback

From the ordinance

All developments shall be provided with public water and public sewer.
Section 36.225