This district is intended for low-density single-family residential areas, plus certain open areas, where similar residential development appears likely to occur. The regulations for this district are designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the district, to promote and encourage suitable environment for family life and to protect single-family areas from encroachment by potentially incompatible commercial land uses. To these ends, development shall be limited to low concentration, and permitted uses shall be limited to single unit dwellings providing homes for the residents, plus certain public and semi-public facilities that serve the residents.

(Code 1972, § 30-22; Code 1992, § 30-22; Ord. No. 2000-3, 5-2-2000)

In the R-1A Rural Residential District, structures to be erected, or land to be used, shall be for one or more of the following uses:

(1)

Single-family dwellings, including a family and one unrelated individual per unit.

(2)

Agriculture and forestry, but not including pens, as herein defined, or the raising or keeping of swine or goats. Enclosures for horses of at least 8,000 square feet for each horse.

(3)

Public buildings to consist of fire, police and rescue squad stations, schools and recreational facilities. Private buildings to consist of schools and recreational facilities, with a conditional use permit.

(4)

Churches and other places of worship.

(5)

Parks and playgrounds.

(6)

Minor home occupations. Major home occupations with a conditional use permit.

(7)

Off-street parking and loading.

(8)

Signs in accordance with the sign ordinance in article XXIV, signs.

(9)

Public utilities, such as poles, lines, distribution transformers, pipes, meters and other facilities necessary for provision and maintenance, including water and sewerage facilities; pumping and regulatory stations; substations; communications antennas; amateur radio towers. Communications monopoles, with a conditional use permit.

(10)

Accessory buildings, such as separate garages or carports, workshops, toolsheds and greenhouses; provided, that garages or other accessory buildings such as carports, porches and stoops attached to the main building shall be considered part of the main building; provided further, that no accessory building shall be closer than three feet to any property line or located within any easement or right-of-way.

(11)

Construction trailers on active construction sites.

(12)

Family day homes serving one through five children. Family day homes serving six through 12 children, with a conditional use permit.

(13)

Child day care centers, with a conditional use permit.

(14)

Portable storage containers, in accordance with section 42-662.

(15)

Assisted living facilities and group homes of eight or fewer individuals, as exempted by Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2291.

(16)

Urban agriculture in accordance with section 42-663.

(Code 1972, § 30-23; Code 1992, § 30-23; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. of 12-17-1991(1); Ord. of 6-2-1998; Ord. of 4-20-1999; Ord. of 12-7-1999; Ord. No. 2000-2, 4-18-2000; Ord. No. 2004-4, 9-7-2004; Ord. No. 2007-1, 4-3-2007; Ord. No. 2008-6, 12-2-2008; Ord. No. 2012-6, § 30-23, 6-19-2012; Ord. No. 2012-10, § 30-23, 11-20-2012; Ord. No. 2016-1, 2-23-2016; Ord. No. 2017-7, 9-12-2017)

The minimum lot area for each permitted use shall be as follows:

(1)

For lots containing, or intended to contain, a single permitted use served by public water and sewage disposal, 15,000 square feet.

(2)

For lots containing, or intended to contain, a single permitted use served by public water systems but having individual sewage disposal, the minimum lot area shall be 17,000 square feet.

(3)

For lots containing, or intended to contain, a single permitted use served by individual water and sewage disposal systems, the minimum lot area shall be 20,000 square feet.

(Code 1972, § 30-24; Code 1992, § 30-24)

Structures shall be located 35 feet or more from any street right-of-way which is 50 feet or greater in width, or, in the event that buildings are already constructed on the same side of the street in the same block, no new structure shall be closer to the street right-of-way line than a distance equal to the average of the distance to the street right-of-way of all existing structures in the same block on the same side of the street. This shall be known as the setback line. See article XVII for special setback regulations pertaining to the widening of highways and streets. See section 42-15 for special regulations pertaining to structural projections into the minimum required setback. Parking lots shall have a minimum setback of 15 feet from any street right-of-way.

(Code 1972, § 30-25; Code 1992, § 30-25; Ord. No. 2002-2, 3-5-2002; Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)

(a)

The minimum lot width at the setback line and the street line shall be 100 feet.

(b)

All structures in this district shall be located on the lot with the front of the structure facing the front lot line.

(Code 1972, § 30-26; Code 1992, § 30-26; Ord. No. 2012-6, § 30-26, 6-19-2012)

(a)

The minimum side yard for each main structure shall be a minimum of 15 feet or side lot line easement width whichever is greater.

(b)

Each main structure shall have a rear yard of 40 feet or more.

(c)

Accessory structures shall have a side and rear yard of three feet or more.

(d)

Sidewalks and curb and gutter shall be required on both sides of the public streets for all new streets. In lieu of sidewalks and curb and gutter, an owner or developer shall provide a paved multi-use trail a minimum of ten feet in width connecting to the street right-of-way adjoining other properties and to each lot within the development by a hard surface connection.

(e)

Handicap ramps shall be allowed to encroach in all yards if the following criteria are met:

(1)

The encroachment by the ramp must be the minimum necessary to accomplish safe access;

(2)

The ramp must meet the current edition of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and the Town of Christiansburg Code; and

(3)

The minimum size of a building entry landing associated with the ramp shall meet Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code requirements. The maximum building entry landing size shall be six feet by six feet.

(f)

Structural projections into minimum required yards shall be permitted in accordance with section 42-15.

(Code 1972, § 30-27; Code 1992, § 30-27; Ord. of 6-20-1989; Ord. No. 2007-1, 4-3-2007; Ord. No. 2010-9, 12-21-2010; Ord. No. 2012-6, § 30-27, 6-19-2012; Ord. No. 2015-1, 4-28-2015; Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)

Buildings may be erected up to 35 feet in height from street grade or lot grade at setback line, whichever is greater; except, that:

(1)

A public or semi-public building, such as a school or church, 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.

(2)

Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues and flagpoles shall be exempt from this section.

(3)

Parapet walls may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.

(4)

No accessory building which is within 20 feet of any property line shall be more than one story high.

(5)

Accessory buildings shall not exceed the main structure in height, except that when the accessory building is located at a lower ground elevation, then the elevation of the roofline of the accessory building shall not be higher than the elevation of the roofline of the main structure, but not to exceed two stories in height.

(Code 1972, § 30-28; Code 1992, § 30-28; Ord. of 12-17-1991(2))

The following special provisions shall apply to corner lots:

(1)

Of the two sides of a corner lot, the front shall be deemed to be the shorter of the two sides fronting on streets.

(2)

The side yard on the side facing the side street shall be 35 feet or more for both main and accessory buildings, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(3)

For subdivisions platted after the enactment of this chapter, each corner lot shall have a minimum width at the setback line and the street line measured to the Pi of a radius where a radius exists of 125 feet.

(Code 1972, § 30-29; Code 1992, § 30-29; Ord. No. 2020-4, 1-12-2021)