Rockingham County Unincorporated
Zoning districts
15 districts, grouped by category.
Agricultural
2Commercial
4- Max height
- 15 ft
- Permitted uses
- 12
- Max height
- 15 ft
- Permitted uses
- 10
Limited Commercial District
- Min lot
- 43,560 sq ft (1 ac)
- Max height
- 40 ft
- Front setback
- 30 ft
- Permitted uses
- 2
General Commercial District
- Min lot
- 43,560 sq ft (1 ac)
- Max height
- 50 ft
- Front setback
- 30 ft
Other
2Residential
6Single-Family Residential District
- Min lot
- 20,000 sq ft (0.46 ac)
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Front setback
- 30 ft
- Max density
- 2 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 70
Single-Family Residential District
- Min lot
- 10,000 sq ft
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Front setback
- 25 ft
- Max density
- 4 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 66
Residential District
- Min lot
- 7,500 sq ft
- Max height
- 40 ft
- Front setback
- 20 ft
- Max density
- 8 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 55
Multi-Family Residential District
- Min lot
- 43,560 sq ft (1 ac)
- Max height
- 50 ft
- Front setback
- 25 ft
- Max density
- 16 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 30
- Max height
- 75 ft
- Permitted uses
- 26
- Max height
- 15 ft
- Permitted uses
- 78
General provisions
300 rules that bind every district rather than one — sign regulations, parking, floodplain and the rest of the code’s citywide chapters.
The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts: (a) Abandoned signs... (b) Banners, except as allowed in section 17-707.02, pennants, or inflatables. (c) Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals.
All signs and sign structures shall be maintained.
In the A-1, A-2, and RV zoning districts ... where a lot does not achieve the minimum lot width at the road frontage, the setback shall be measured at a right angle from the point where the minimum lot width is achieved. In the A-1, A-2, and RV zoning districts, accessory structures may be taller than the primary structure.
A valid nonconforming use, building, structure, or lot may be continued only so long as the then existing or a more restricted use continues, and such use is not discontinued for more than two (2) years...
Upon approval of a rezoning for property located in the county, any legal use that was occurring on the subject property at the time of the approval may continue in operation until such time as development of the property commences.
An owner of a residential or commercial building damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster or other act of God may repair, rebuild, or replace such building to eliminate or reduce the nonconforming features to the extent possible, without the need to obtain a zoning variance.
Where a lot of record existing prior to October 1, 2014, does not contain land of sufficient area or width to permit conformity with the dimensional requirements of this chapter, the following provisions shall apply:
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the landowner or homeowner from removing a valid nonconforming manufactured home from a manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision and replacing that home with another comparable manufactured home that meets the current HUD manufactured housing code.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent Rockingham County, after making a reasonable attempt to notify a property owner, from ordering the removal of a nonconforming sign that has been abandoned.
In the B-1 and B-2 zoning districts within the Urban Development Area shown on the comprehensive plan, 'Service business, not otherwise listed' shall be by special use permit.
An indoor shooting range shall be constructed so that gunshots cannot be heard outside the building.
The site plan submitted with the special use permit shall be approved by the sheriff's department or their designee.
No appliances or equipment shall be stored outdoors.
In the B-1 and B-2 zoning districts within the Urban Development Area shown on the comprehensive plan, 'Small appliance or small engine repair shop' shall be by special use permit.
Ground-mounted: (1) Aggregate cap: Commencing on November 17, 2021, and continuing until amended by the board of supervisors, no more than one thousand eight hundred (1,800) acres, in aggregate, may be approved for large solar energy facilities by special use permit.
Separate flush or frame-mounted solar energy facilities installed on the roof or structure shall not: (2) Project vertically more than one (1) foot above the peak of the sloped roof to which it is attached; or (3) Project vertically more than five (5) feet above a flat roof installation.
Ground-Mounted: (1) Setbacks for Small Solar Energy Facility, occupying between a half-acre and two (2) acres: a. A Small Solar Energy Facility shall be located at least one hundred (100) feet from existing dwellings not on the same parcel as the facility.
In the B-1 and B-2 zoning districts within the Urban Development Area shown on the comprehensive plan, ground-mounted 'Solar Energy Facility, Small' shall be by special use permit.
Roof-Mounted: (1) Separate flush or frame-mounted solar energy facilities installed on the roof or structure shall not: a. Project vertically more than one (1) foot above the peak of the sloped roof to which it is attached; or b. Project vertically more than five (5) feet above a flat roof installation.
All outdoor events shall be scheduled so as to complete all activity by 11:00 p.m.
Source documents
The chapters of the adopted code that were retrieved, read and extracted from. Everything above traces back to one of these.
- Chapter 131.9K charsRead →
- Chapter 10121.3K charsRead →
- Chapter 112.8K charsRead →
- Chapter 128.2K charsRead →
- Chapter 1323.2K charsRead →
- Chapter 1426.7K charsRead →
- Chapter 2168.8K charsRead →
- Chapter 380.1K charsRead →
- Chapter 471.9K charsRead →
- Chapter 5120.7K charsRead →
- Chapter 6264.8K charsRead →
- Chapter 7188.8K charsRead →
- Chapter 843.3K charsRead →
- Chapter 917.7K charsRead →