Dimensional standards
Lot
Density
Height & bulk
Housing
- Two-family
- by_right
- Three-family
- by_right
- Four-plus family
- by_right
Uses
Permitted by right7
Conditional / special use4
Prohibited1
Extracted standards
24 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Density
- Maximum multifamilyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive. units per acreacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.16 du/acredu/acreDwelling units per acre — the number of homes allowed on each acre of land.
Not more than 16 multifamily units may be established per acre.
Frontage
- Front of corner lot is shorter street sideSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line.
The front of a corner lot shall be deemed to be the shorter of the two sides fronting on streets.
Height
- Maximum building heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.35 ft
Buildings may be erected up to 35 feet in height from the average of the finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for public/semipublic buildings60 ft
Public or semipublic buildings, such as a school, library, or hospital, may be erected to a height of 60 feet from grade, provided that required front, side, and rear yards shall be increased one foot for each foot in height over 35 feet.
- Maximum parapet wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. above building4 ft
Parapet walls may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.
Other
- Average lot widthLot widthHow wide a lot must be, usually measured at the front setback line. for townhouseTownhouseA single-family home sharing side walls with its neighbours, each on its own lot. group20 ft
The average lot width for any group of townhouses shall be at least 20 feet.
- Maximum uncovered deck in rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.10 ft
Of the rear yard, no more than ten feet may be occupied by an uncovered deck.
- Decks not permitted in minimum side area
Decks are not permitted in the minimum side area.
- Maximum attached units in a townhouseTownhouseA single-family home sharing side walls with its neighbours, each on its own lot. group8 units
The maximum number of attached units in any one group or series shall be eight.
- Minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built. for duplexTwo-family dwellingTwo dwelling units in one building — a duplex. dwelling12,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Residential lots containing or intended to contain duplex dwellings shall have a minimum lot area of 12,000 square feet.
- Minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built. for multifamilyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive. structure10,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
The minimum lot area for any multifamily structure shall be at least 10,000 square feet.
- Minimum lot areaMinimum lot areaThe smallest parcel on which the district allows anything to be built. for detached single-family dwellingSingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours.6,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Residential lots containing or intended to contain detached single-family dwellings shall have a minimum lot area of 6,000 square feet.
- Minimum lot widthLot widthHow wide a lot must be, usually measured at the front setback line. for multifamilyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive.100 ft
The minimum width shall be 100 feet.
- Minimum landscaped open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted. for multifamilyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive. project30 pct
At least 30% of the land area in any project shall be devoted to landscaped open space.
- Minimum landscaped open spaceOpen spaceLand a development must leave unbuilt, sometimes required to be usable or planted. for townhouseTownhouseA single-family home sharing side walls with its neighbours, each on its own lot. project40 pct
At least 40% of the total area of any townhouse project, including area on individual lots, shall be devoted to landscaped open space.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. exemption in Old and HistoricHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. Occoquan DistrictZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2.
The setback regulations in this section shall not apply in the Old and Historic Occoquan District.
Setback
- Minimum distance of accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. building from lot line5 ft
No accessory building shall be closer than five feet to any lot line.
- Front setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for duplexTwo-family dwellingTwo dwelling units in one building — a duplex. and townhouseTownhouseA single-family home sharing side walls with its neighbours, each on its own lot.25 ft
Duplex and townhouse dwellings shall be set back at least 25 feet from the public or private street right-of-way; except that when parking is provided in the rear or side of a unit, the setback from a public or private street right-of-way or easement shall be a minimum of ten feet.
- Front setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for multifamilyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive.25 ft
Multifamily dwellings shall be set back at least 25 feet from street right-of-way or the private street portion of access easements, whichever is closer.
- Front setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for single-familySingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours. from street ROW25 ft
Single-family dwellings within the R-3 District shall be located 25 feet or more from any public street right-of-way that is 50 feet or more in width, or 60 feet or more from the centerline of any public street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width.
- Minimum rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. for main building20 ft
Each main building shall have a rear yard of at least 20 feet, of which no more than ten feet may be occupied by an uncovered deck.
- Minimum side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. for multifamilyMultifamily dwellingA building of four or more dwelling units. Where zoning is most restrictive.25 ft
Multifamily dwellings shall have a minimum side yard on each side of at least 25 feet.
- Minimum side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. for single-familySingle-family dwellingOne dwelling unit on its own lot, usually detached from its neighbours. and duplexTwo-family dwellingTwo dwelling units in one building — a duplex.10 ft
The minimum side yard for detached single-family dwellings shall be ten feet on each side. The minimum side yard for duplex dwellings shall be ten feet on each side.
- Minimum side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. for townhouseTownhouseA single-family home sharing side walls with its neighbours, each on its own lot. end units10 ft
For townhouse lots, there shall be no side yard required except for end units, which shall have a minimum ten-foot side yard for each end unit.
From the ordinance
R-3 District: residential development for more than two families, including duplex, townhouse, and multifamily. Area, setback, yard, and height regulations apply.