Shenandoah County Unincorporated

Any lawfully existing use may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful. No nonconforming use may be reestablished where such use has been discontinued for a period of more than two years.

Where a lawfully existing nonconforming structure is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster or other act of God, the structure can be repaired, rebuilt, or replaced to its preexisting size if: 1. The structure is repaired, rebuilt, or replaced within two years of the disaster...

Any lawfully existing nonconforming structure not meeting setback requirements may be expanded so long as the expansion is not located any closer to the encroached property line than what currently exists and all other setback requirements are met.

Any television, radio or communications tower existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter, if repaired or replaced, shall not be increased in height unless a special use permit is approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Any lots recorded in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Shenandoah County prior to the adoption of this chapter or any amendment to this chapter which are less in area and/or frontage than required may be used for a permitted use in the district, sold, rented or leased if the other standards of this chapter or any amendment to this chapter are met.

Where a lot was recorded prior to October 1, 1978, and was subject to recorded restrictive covenants containing building setback lines, side and/or rear yard lines, or has such lines shown on the recorded plat, such lot shall be allowed to adhere to such lines. Waivers to restrictive covenants pertaining to building setback lines, side and/or rear yard lines, granted by Sky Bryce Association for Sections I through XII of the Bryce Mountain Development, shall be accepted by the Zoning Administrator.

Where a lot was recorded prior to June 24, 2003, and is nonconforming in frontage and/or minimum lot size requirements, the Zoning Administrator shall allow the County setbacks that were in place at that time to be used.

No nonconforming lot shall be subdivided or shall be part of a boundary line adjustment that makes the lot more nonconforming. This provision shall not apply to divisions for the dedication for widening or straightening of the right-of-way for roads within or eligible for inclusion within the state highway system or the division of land for dedication for public utilities.

Lots to be used solely for the location and operation of electric substations or booster, relay or pump stations for natural gas, telephone, water, sewer and similar public utilities shall not be required to comply with area, frontage and yard regulations except that they shall be required to maintain a minimum of 15 feet setback for front, side and rear yards.

The location of mobile home and manufactured housing parks shall require a special use permit issued by the governing body in appropriate districts where permitted.

Minimum lot size for townhouse construction shall be one acre. Minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall be 2,500 square feet. Front yard 40 feet, rear yard 40 feet, side yard 10 feet for end units. Max height 2.5 stories or 35 feet.

The number of dwelling units to be constructed shall be determined by providing 15,000 square feet of lot area for the first two dwelling units, and an additional 2,000 square feet of lot area for each additional unit above two.

An open space cluster development shall consist of at least 10.5 acres in the Rural-Residential Agriculture (RRA) District.

An open space cluster development shall consist of at least 30 acres in the Rural-Residential Conservation (RRC) District.

Intensive poultry facilities shall be constructed no closer than the following distances (setbacks) to the specified use or property line.

The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts: ... Billboards, animated signs, etc.

Signs allowed by permit in Agriculture (A-1), Conservation (C-1), Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3), and Rural Residential (RR-C, RR-A) Zoning Districts: ...

Signs allowed by permit in Agriculture (A-1), Conservation (C-1), Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3), and Rural Residential (RR-C, RR-A) Zoning Districts: ...

All telecommunications towers require a special use permit regardless of the zoning district in which they are located. ... they shall be less than 200 feet in height

These provisions shall apply to all lands within the jurisdiction of Shenandoah County and identified as areas of special flood hazard on the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) or included in the flood insurance study (FIS) that are provided to the County of Shenandoah by FEMA.