Prince William County Unincorporated
Zoning districts
16 districts, grouped by category.
Commercial
3General Business District
- Max height
- 45 ft
- Front setback
- 20 ft
- Permitted uses
- 65
Neighborhood Business District
- Max height
- 45 ft
- Front setback
- 20 ft
- Permitted uses
- 50
Convenience Retail District
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Front setback
- 55 ft
- Permitted uses
- 26
Industrial
2Residential
8R-16 Suburban Residential District
- Max density
- 16 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 5
Residential District
- Min lot
- 15,000 sq ft (0.34 ac)
- Front setback
- 30 ft
- Permitted uses
- 1
R-30 Urban Residential District
- Max density
- 30 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 4
R-4 District
- Min lot
- 10,000 sq ft
- Front setback
- 30 ft
- Max density
- 4 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 4
R-6 District
- Max density
- 6 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 4
Semi-Rural Residential District
- Min lot
- 43,560 sq ft (1 ac)
- Front setback
- 35 ft
- Max density
- 1 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 6
Semi-Rural Residential District
- Min lot
- 130,680 sq ft (3 ac)
- Front setback
- 35 ft
- Max density
- 0.33 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 6
Semi-Rural Residential District
- Min lot
- 217,800 sq ft (5 ac)
- Front setback
- 50 ft
- Max density
- 0.2 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 6
General provisions
581 rules that bind every district rather than one — sign regulations, parking, floodplain and the rest of the code’s citywide chapters.
The use of a single-family dwelling to provide a recovery home, subject to a Special Use Permit and the following standards: (a) The outside of the dwelling shall not be structurally altered to appear as any use other than a single-family dwelling. (b) At least one adult supervisor shall be on the premises at all times. (c) No more than two adults (18 years old or older) per bedroom shall reside in the dwelling at any one time.
No more than two adults (18 years old or older) per bedroom shall reside in the dwelling at any one time.
No nonresidential principal use may be established on a lot on which a principal residential use is conducted.
No nonresidential principal use may be established on a lot on which a principal residential use is conducted. For purposes of this section, residential uses lawfully established on parcels principally used for bona fide agricultural purposes shall be deemed accessory thereto.
Unless otherwise permitted by this section, no more than one building used for residential purposes may be placed upon a lot.
Unless otherwise permitted by this section, no more than one building used for residential purposes may be placed upon a lot.
Temporary use of existing dwellings or modular or mobile homes shall only be permitted for a maximum of 18 months, subject to issuance of zoning approval and deposit of adequate bond or guarantee to ensure diligent construction or reconstruction of a principal dwelling and removal of the temporary dwelling or modular or mobile home.
Keeping or maintaining a dump heap, as defined herein, shall be prohibited on property in all agricultural or residential districts.
Keeping or maintaining a dump heap, as defined herein, shall be prohibited on property in all agricultural or residential districts.
A dwelling unit may be occupied by not more than one (1) of the following: (a) One person or two or more persons related by blood or marriage with any number of offspring, foster children, stepchildren or adopted children subject to the maximum occupancy limitations in subsection (2) and not to exceed two roomers or boarders as permitted by section 32-300.02.18, "Accessory Uses - Boarders/Lodgers". (b) Two single parents or guardians with their dependent children, including offspring, foster children, stepchildren, or adopted children, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit. (c) A group of not more than three persons not necessarily related by blood or marriage living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit; provided that the limitation on the number of unrelated persons shall not apply to residents in a housekeeping unit by individuals with disabilities within the meaning of Section 3602 of the Fair Housing Act (42 USC 3601, et seq., as amended). (d) Those groups identified in the Fair Housing Act, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2291, or like groups licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services which otherwise meet the criteria of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2291.
A dwelling unit may be occupied by not more than one (1) of the following: (a) One person or two or more persons related by blood or marriage with any number of offspring, foster children, stepchildren or adopted children subject to the maximum occupancy limitations in subsection (2) and not to exceed two roomers or boarders as permitted by section 32-300.02.18, "Accessory Uses - Boarders/Lodgers". (b) Two single parents or guardians with their dependent children, including offspring, foster children, stepchildren, or adopted children, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit. (c) A group of not more than three persons not necessarily related by blood or marriage living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit; provided that the limitation on the number of unrelated persons shall not apply to residents in a housekeeping unit by individuals with disabilities within the meaning of Section 3602 of the Fair Housing Act (42 USC 3601, et seq., as amended).
The maximum occupancy of a single-family dwelling unit is as follows: | Total Finished Area | Maximum Adult Occupants |
For dwelling units on private septic systems, the standards of the Virginia Department of Health relative to occupancy load supersede the dwelling unit standards of this section.
The lot on which such a business is conducted shall be at least five acres in size. Outside storage shall be set back at least 50 feet from all property lines...
The lot on which such a business is conducted shall be at least five acres in size.
Outside storage shall be set back at least 50 feet from all property lines, and blocked from view from adjacent properties and roadways by a board on board fence or a double row of evergreens.
Accessory buildings shall be set back at least 50 feet from all property lines.
The business shall be allowed one unlighted facade or freestanding sign not to exceed four square feet in area, nor five feet in height, and which must be set back at least five feet from all property lines. No other signs shall be permitted.
No more than two employees outside of family members residing in the dwelling unit shall be permitted, and employee parking shall be provided behind a screened area.
The area of the dwelling unit devoted to the business shall not exceed 25 percent of the dwelling's gross floor area; the area of the lot used for outside storage and parking shall not exceed 20,000 square feet; and the total gross area of accessory buildings shall not exceed 10,000 square feet.
Source documents
The chapters of the adopted code that were retrieved, read and extracted from. Everything above traces back to one of these.