For the purposes of this ordinance, Amherst County is divided into eleven (11) districts as follows:

P-1 Public Lands District

A-1 Agricultural Residential District

R-1 Limited Residential District

R-2 General Residential District

R-3 Multi-Family Residential District

V-1 Village Center District

B-2 General Commercial District

M-1 Industrial District

FH Flood Hazard District

WS Watershed District

MU/TND Mixed Use/Traditional Neighborhood Development District

(Ord. No. 2011-0008, § 1, 12-20-11)

The maps entitled the "Official Zoning District Maps for Amherst County, Virginia", dated May 02, 2001, with all notations, references, amendments and dates thereof, and other information shown thereon, and the official flood hazard district maps, adopted by the board of supervisors on July 3, 1978, as amended, shall collectively constitute a part of this ordinance and be hereinafter referred to as the zoning map. The zoning map shall be made a public record and shall be kept permanently in the office of the zoning administrator, where it shall be accessible to the general public.

If, in accordance with the provisions of Article X herein, changes are made in the district boundaries or other information portrayed on the official zoning map, such changes shall be entered on the official zoning map within thirty (30) days after the amendment has been approved by the board of supervisors, together with a numerical entry referring to the application for the amendment which shall be kept as a public record by the zoning administrator. Said numerical entry shall state the reference number of the application in the records of the zoning administrator, and the date of the approval of the amendment by the board of supervisors. Amendments to this ordinance, which involve matter portrayed on the official zoning map shall become effective immediately upon being approved by the board of supervisors. The official zoning map, which shall be located in the office of the zoning administrator shall be the final authority in determining the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the county. No changes of any nature shall be made on the official zoning map except in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

In the event that the official zoning map becomes damaged, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, or can be improved with a more accurate base map, the board of supervisors may, by resolution, adopt a new official zoning map which shall supersede the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original official zoning map or any subsequent amendment thereof without a public hearing in accordance with Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. Unless the prior official zoning map has been lost, or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining shall be preserved, together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.

Unless district boundary lines are fixed by dimensions, and where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the aforesaid districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following rules shall apply:

505.01. Unless otherwise indicated, district boundaries indicated as approximately following property lines, land lot lines, centerlines of streams, streets, highways, alleys, or railroads, or the shorelines of reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or civil boundaries, shall be construed to follow such lines.

505.02. District boundaries indicated as approximately parallel to the centerlines of streams, streets, highways, or railroads, or right-of-ways of the same, or the shorelines of reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or said lines extended, shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distance therefrom as indicated on the official zoning map. If no distance is given, such dimensions shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map.

505.03. Where a district boundary line as appearing on the official zoning map divides a lot which is in single ownership at the time of this enactment, the use classification of the larger portion may, on application, be extended to the remainder by the board of supervisors in accordance with Section 404 herein.

505.04. Where a public road, street, or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the regulations applicable to the property to which it is reverted shall apply to such vacated or abandoned road, street, or alley.

505.05. Where a district boundary is indicated to follow a river, creek, or branch or other body of water, said boundary shall be construed to follow the centerline at low water or at the limit of the jurisdiction, and in the event of natural change in the shoreline, such boundary shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline with its reestablished center or channel.

505.06. If no distance, curvature description, or other means is given to determine a boundary line accurately and the foregoing provisions do not apply, the same shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map. In case of subsequent dispute, the matter shall be referred to the board of appeals, which shall determine the boundary in accordance with subsection 1402.03(4) herein.

505.07. In case the exact location of a boundary cannot be determined by the foregoing method, the board of appeals shall, upon application, determine the location of the boundary in accordance with subsection 1402.03(4) herein.