zoneoptics
Harrisonburg, Virginia · District

R-1

R-1 Single-Family Residential District
ResidentialSingle FamilyAll Harrisonburg districts0

Dimensional standards

Lot

Minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built.
10,000 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.
80 ft
Minimum frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.
60 ft
Minimum lot depth
100 ft
Minimum floor areaMinimum floor areaThe smallest dwelling the district permits, in square feet of living space.
1,200 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

Density

Maximum density
7.26 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.
30 ft
RearSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
25 ft
SideSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
10 ft
Street sideSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
15 ft
Side, combinedSetbackThe 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 storiesStoreysHabitable floor levels. Whether a basement or attic counts is defined by the local code.
3
Maximum lot coverageLot coverageThe share of a lot that buildings may cover, as a percentage.
30%
Maximum impervious coverageImpervious coverageThe share of a lot covered by anything water cannot soak through — roofs, drives, patios.
40%
Minimum open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted.
70%
Minimum landscaping
30%

Housing

Single-familySingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours.
by_right
Two-family
prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Three-family
prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Four-plus family
prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

Uses

Permitted by right10

  • Owner-occupied single-family dwellings (may include rental of space for occupancy by not more than two persons, providing such rental space does not include new kitchen facilities)
  • Nonowner-occupied single-family dwellings (may include rental of space for occupancy by not more than one person, providing such rental space does not include new kitchen facilities)
  • Home occupations
  • Churches or other places of worship (building located at least 50 feet from any adjoining property line, including right-of-way lines)
  • Public schools or private school having a function substantially the same as a public school (building located at least 50 feet from any adjoining property line, including right-of-way lines)
  • Other governmental uses, such as community centers, parks and playgrounds (new building located at least 50 feet from any adjoining property line, including right-of-way lines)
  • Accessory buildings and uses clearly incidental to the above
  • Public uses
  • Small cell facilities
  • Homestays

Conditional / special use12

  • Child day care centers
  • Adult day care centers
  • Home for the aged in which three persons not of the immediate family are provided with food, shelter and care for compensation
  • Private clubs and golf courses
  • Community buildings
  • Major family day home
  • Short-term rentals
  • Concealed wireless telecommunications facilities, industrial microcells, distributed antenna systems, and macrocells (telecommunications towers not permitted, except towers primarily erected for the use of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center up to 200 feet in height)
  • Walls and fences greater than the height otherwise permitted
  • Reducing required parking areas to permit fewer than the required number of vehicle parking spaces for any use
  • Public uses which deviate from the requirements of title 10, chapter 3
  • Recovery residence of more than eight adults and any number of minor dependents of those residents

Accessory1

  • Accessory buildings and uses clearly incidental to the above

Prohibited1

  • Telecommunications towers (except towers primarily erected for the use of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center up to 200 feet in height)

Extracted standards

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

Other

From the ordinance

The regulations set forth in this article... are the regulations for the 'R-1' single-family residential district. ... Except as provided in article T, and as required in article CC for wireless telecommunications facilities, the following area and dimensional regulations shall apply: ...
Sec. 10-3-31 through Sec. 10-3-36