Stafford County Unincorporated

Any lot which by reason of a realignment of a federal or state highway or by reason of condemnation proceedings, has been reduced in size to an area less than that required by law or ordinance, shall be considered a lawful nonconforming lot of record subject to the provisions set forth in county Code section 28-275.

Each violation of this chapter may result in a civil fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day during which the violation is found to have existed.

Any person, whether as owner, lessee, principal, agent, employee, or otherwise, who violates any provision of this chapter which causes physical injury to any person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

General performance regulations and special regulations applicable to all districts.

Residential corner lots shall be considered to have one front where the front yard shall be determined to be the shortest street facing side. All other street facing sides shall have a yard of twenty-five (25) feet or the minimum front yard requirement, whichever is less.

No accessory building or structure shall be located within ten (10) feet of any property line on any lot greater than one acre; no accessory building or structure shall be located within five (5) feet of any property line on any lot of one acre or less; no accessory building and/or structure, except for walls, fences and signs shall be located in any front yard or street-facing side yard.

No permanent cut or fill slope greater than eight (8) feet in height with a grade differential of steeper than fifty (50) percent ... shall be established without the implementation of structural or nonstructural measures specifically designed to ensure the stability of the slope.

No outdoor display or storage area shall be permitted to obstruct any public access or fire exit to a building. No travel lanes or required parking shall be obstructed. Outdoor storage areas shall be screened from all public streets and adjacent properties if the adjacent property does not have outdoor display or storage areas. Outdoor storage areas shall not be permitted in any front yard.

The maximum net density for all land use districts shall be calculated as follows: Subtract the areas of all wetlands, floodplains and slopes greater than thirty-five (35) percent from the gross area of the site to obtain the net area. Multiply the net area of the site by the allocated density to obtain the maximum net density permitted for the site.

Residential densities per gross acre of developable land (excluding open space) demonstrate at least: A. Three (3) single-family units; B. Five (5) townhouse units; and C. Eleven (11) multifamily units.

Commercial districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, RC and SC). Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height within any side or rear yard nor four (4) feet in height within any front yard or within that portion of the side yard in front of the front setback line. Barbed wire not allowed except at height >=7 ft.

Commercial districts (B-1, B-2, B-3, RC and SC). Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height within any side or rear yard nor four (4) feet in height within any front yard or within that portion of the side yard in front of the front setback line. Barbed wire not allowed except at height >=7 ft.

Agricultural district (A-1). Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height along any rear or side yard within the required setbacks, nor shall they exceed five (5) feet in height along any front yard or within that portion of the side yard in front of the front setback line.

The keeping of honeybees in four (4) hives or less shall be permitted as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling subject to the issuance of a zoning permit. Hives shall be located in the rear yard and shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from all property lines.

A manufactured home park or subdivision shall have a minimum of fifteen (15) contiguous acres, not divided by a state maintained road, and shall contain no less than fifty (50) manufactured home lots.

The raising or keeping of horses or ponies for noncommercial purposes on lots of more than three (3) acres may be permitted by special exception, provided that: (1) Any structure for the housing of said animals shall be at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from any property line; (2) Such lots shall be properly fenced to contain said animals; (3) No more than one animal shall be allowed for each two (2) acres of rangeable land.

A commercial kennel shall only be located on a lot five (5) acres or larger in size, which is not located within a major platted subdivision. The commercial kennel shall be located a minimum of two hundred (200) feet from the property lines. The commercial kennel shall be completely fenced in. The commercial kennel shall be completely screened from adjacent properties. No more than fifty (50) animals may be kept at the commercial kennel at any time.

Performance standards in RBC districts. Stormwater BMP, architectural design, sidewalks, lighting, drive-through orientation, retail max 10% of gross area, retirement housing max 30%, multifamily max 2.1%, phasing, etc.

Planned-Traditional Neighborhood Development (P-TND) regulations. Streets, pedestrian sheds, transect zones, parking, bicycle parking, architectural standards, encroachments.

A porch must be at least six (6) feet deep (not including the steps).