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Amelia County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE VIII

RR-3 Rural Residential District

§ 325-8.1 Intent.

[Amended 12-17-2003; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
This residential district is intended to preserve and enhance the essential character and resources of rural portions of the County where agriculture and forest uses exist, but in which rural residential uses are expected to predominate. This district is expected to contain numerous non-farm uses, especially dwellings in attractive rural surroundings, located in general proximity to major road corridors and/or village settlements as shown in the Comprehensive Plan. This district is expected to provide an orderly and protected transition between general agriculture areas and areas experiencing more intensive residential development. While this district is expected to remain rural in character, it is also expected to absorb a significant proportion of rural residential development in the County, and to gradually transition to mainly rural residential uses. It is the second top priority area (after the R-3 District) for such rural residential development and growth.

§ 325-8.2 Permitted uses.

[Amended 3-19-1997; 12-17-2003; 10-20-2010; 4-15-2015; 2-21-2018; 11-19-2025]
A. 
Accessory structures and uses.
A1. 
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
B. 
Agriculture, general.
C. 
Agriculture, limited (on less than 10 acres), excluding horses.
D. 
Bed-and-breakfast.
E. 
Cemeteries.
F. 
Day-care center and nursery.
G. 
End user animal manure/waste storage.
H. 
Family division.
I. 
Home day care.
J. 
Home occupation.
K. 
Large lot division.
L. 
Mobile home, double-wide.
M. 
Off-street parking.
N. 
Parks and playgrounds.
O. 
Portable sawmill and chipper.
P. 
Preserve and conservation area.
Q. 
Public utilities (extensions).
R. 
Schools, churches, libraries.
S. 
Single cut subdivision.
T. 
Single-family dwelling.
U. 
Temporary family health care structure.
V. 
Wayside stand.
W. 
Wireless support structures up to 80 feet.

§ 325-8.3 Permitted uses by special exception.

[Amended 5-16-2001; 11-17-2010; 2-21-2018; 4-21-2021 by Ord. No. 21-006; 4-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-001;4-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-002; 4-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-004; 11-19-2025]
A. 
Adult-care facility.
B. 
Agriculture, intensive, expansion.
C. 
Airport and private air strip.
D. 
Amusement park/commercial recreational facility.
E. 
Antique shop.
F. 
Assembly halls.
G. 
Campgrounds.
H. 
Country general store/convenience store.
I. 
(Reserved)
J. 
Golf driving range.
K. 
Greenhouse and nursery.
L. 
Hunt, golf or boat clubs and lodges.
M. 
Public utilities (new).
N. 
Restaurants.
O. 
Service and repair of farm, yard, garden, blacksmith and logging implements and equipment.
P. 
Solar energy systems, utility-scale.
Q. 
Turkey shoots.
R. 
Veterinary clinic/hospital.
S. 
Wireless support structures in excess of 80 feet.

§ 325-8.4 Accessory uses.

A. 
Garages, carports and sheds.
B. 
Tennis courts.
C. 
Swimming pools, in-ground or aboveground.

§ 325-8.5 Setbacks/area/frontage requirements.

A. 
Setbacks from property lines.
(1) 
Front.
(a) 
Primary: 100 feet.
(b) 
Accessory: 100 feet.
(c) 
Agricultural: 150 feet.
(2) 
Side.
(a) 
Primary: 20 feet.
(b) 
Accessory: 10 feet.
(c) 
Agricultural: 100 feet.
(3) 
Rear.
(a) 
Primary: 40 feet.
(b) 
Accessory: 10 feet.
(c) 
Agricultural: 100 feet.
B. 
Area: three acres.
C. 
Frontage: 250 feet.

§ 325-8.6 Building height.

Thirty-five feet, except:
A. 
The height limit for dwellings may be increased up to 45 feet and up to three stories, provided there are two side yards for each permitted use, each of which is 20 feet or more, plus one foot or more of side yard for each additional foot of building height over 35 feet.
B. 
A public or semipublic building such as a school, church, or library 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 of building height over 35 feet.
C. 
Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, silos, barns, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, and wireless support structures are exempt. Parapet wall may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.
[Amended 2-21-2018]
D. 
No accessory building which is less than 20 feet from any lot line shall be more than one story high.
[Amended 4-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-007]
E. 
All accessory buildings shall be less than the main building in height except when located on a parcel of 10 acres or more.

§ 325-8.7 Major and minor subdivisions not permitted.

[Amended 12-17-2003; 4-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-007]
Any subdivision occurring in the RR-3 District shall conform to County's zoning and subdivision ordinances.[1] Major and minor subdivisions, as defined herein, are not permitted uses in this district.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 314, Subdivision of Land.