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Goochland County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 11

- RESIDENTIAL, OFFICE, DISTRICT R-O

Sec. 15-181.- Statement of intent.

This district is intended to include suburban residential and professional office uses that provide a transition between residential and commercial areas, or in which commercial uses might be damaging to established residential neighborhoods. This district is intended to provide a mix of residential uses with certain specified business, such as personal and professional services, that can function efficiently without generating large volumes of vehicular traffic. This district's regulations and restrictions are intended to protect, preserve, and enhance residential uses while permitting uses characterized principally by consultative, personal, executive, and administrative services. Strong preference will be given to complementary uses which facilitate easy pedestrian circulation and encourage joint use of parking areas and shared vehicle ingress and egress. This district corresponds to areas on the comprehensive plan that transition from residential to commercial.

Sec. 15-182. - Uses and structures permitted by right (P) or by conditional use permit (CUP).

Principal Uses and StructuresP or CUP
Residential
Accessory family housing unit, attached, in accordance with Sec. 15-285.A P
Accessory family housing unit, detached, in accordance with Sec. 15-285.A CUP
Bed and breakfast in accordance with Sec. 15-285.G CUP
Dwelling, manufactured home P
Dwelling, single-family P
Dwelling, two-family CUP
Family health care structure, temporary, in accordance with Sec. 15-285.D P
Home occupation in accordance with Sec. 15-285.E P
Short-term rental, hosted or unhosted, in accordance with Sec. 15-285.G CUP
Non-residential
Antique shop; gift shop CUP
Assisted living facility; group home for eight or fewer P
Audio studio in a soundproof building CUP
Child care center in accordance with Sec. 15-283.C CUP
Club; lodge CUP
Family day home, four children or fewer P
Fire and rescue station P
Museum; historical and cultural exhibit; library; similar uses P
Office, professional; office, medical; both in accordance with Sec. 15-184 P
Park; playground P
School, private CUP
School, public P
Solar energy facility, accessory, in accordance with Sec. 15-289.B P
Temporary trailer in accordance with Sec. 15-287 P
Utility distribution facility, public, and all accompanying appurtenances and structures P
Utility - gas transmission line, compressor station, measurement station, regulator station CUP
Utility transmission substation; transmission line, other than normal distribution facility CUP
Worship uses existing as of July 1, 2016 and the expansion of no more than 50% of the square footage of the existing place of worship as of July 1, 2016. P
Worship uses and expansion of any place of worship in existence on July 1, 2016, that results in a square footage increase greater than 50% of the square footage of the place of worship as of July 1, 2016. CUP

 

(Ord. No. 5703, § 8, 5-2-23)

Sec. 15-183. - District standards.

Principal Structure
Minimum Lot Area(exclusive of road rights-of-ways, ponds, lakes, and rivers)
 Lots intended for a single dwelling served by both public or central water and sewage systems 20,000 sq. ft.
 Lots intended for a single dwelling served by only one public or central utility 1 ac.
 Lots intended for a single dwelling served by both individual water and sewage systems 1.5 ac.
 Lots intended for more than a single dwelling and served by both public or central water and sewage systems 25,000 sq. ft.
 Lots intended for more than a single dwelling and served by only one public or central utility 40,000 sq. ft.
Maximum Impervious Coverage for Non-residential Uses
 Impervious coverage ratio 50%
Minimum Lot Width (measured at setback line - exclusive of all roads)
 Lots served by both public or central water and sewage systems 75 ft.
  Each additional use requires an additional 10 ft.
 Lots served by both individual water and sewage systems 200 ft.
  Each additional use requires an additional 10 ft.
Minimum Lot Frontage
 Lot frontage - percentage of the minimum required lot width 80%
 Cul-de-sac lots 50 ft.
 Corner lots 100 ft.
Minimum Yard Setbacks (measured from property line)
 Front yard
  Routes 6, 45, 250, and 522 100 ft.
  All other roads 55 ft.
 Side yard 15 ft.
 Side yard corner lot or adjacent to an access easement 35 ft.
 Rear yard 25 ft.
Maximum Height*
Structures 35 ft.
*  Exceptions to the height requirement include: church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennas and radio aerials. Parapet walls may rise up to six feet above the finished roof surface.

 

Accessory Structure
Yard Requirements (setbacks are measured from property line)
 Front yard setback
  Routes 6, 45, 250, and 522 100 ft.
  All other roads 55 ft.
 Side yard 5 ft.
 Side yard for corner cul-de-sac 35 ft.
 Rear yard 5 ft.
Maximum Height*
 Accessory structures Less than main
building height
 Accessory structures within 20 ft. of lot line 15 ft.
*  Exceptions to the height requirement include: church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennas and radio aerials. Parapet walls may rise up to six feet above the finished roof surface.

 

Sec. 15-184. - Special conditions applicable to professional and medical offices.

To protect the integrity of residential property from potentially adverse effects of professional and medical offices, the following conditions are imposed on those uses:

A.

Driveways and parking areas. All driveways and off-street parking areas must be covered with one or more of the following materials: bituminous surface treatment, bituminous concrete, concrete or equivalent paving material approved by the zoning administrator. Parking areas adjacent to residential uses must be appropriately screened by a masonry wall or solid fence between five and seven feet high. The wall or fence must be maintained in sound condition and good appearance; it cannot have any openings or gates permitting vehicular entrance or egress to residential zoning districts. Dense vegetative screening with evergreens may be substituted for all or a portion of the fence or wall, provided that such screening is not unsightly during any season, does not create a fire hazard, and is equivalent to a wall or fence.

B.

Maximum size of structure. No structure or group of structures may be of a size or character that creates the impression of general commercial development. Therefore, in addition to other limitations designed to achieve this end, no individual structure may have a gross floor area exceeding 7,500 square feet.

C.

Appearance. There cannot be any garbage or trash containers, exposed garbage or trash, or outdoor storage in any portion of any outdoor space. There shall be no outdoor display or outdoor storage.

D.

Lighting. Lighting must comply with article 25, Sec. 15-391 through 15-399.

E.

Hours of operation. Except for emergency activities, no use may be open for business between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

F.

Amplification system. No public address systems, or devices for reproducing or amplifying voices or music, may be mounted outside any building or be audible beyond the property line, except for alarm systems intended to draw attention to an emergency condition such as smoke, fire, or intruders.

(Ord. No. 3539, § 1, 3-4-20)

Sec. 15-185. - Utilities.

Distribution lines and service connections must be installed underground; provided, however, electric and telephone service may be provided from overhead lines when a lot abuts an existing major street or highway with pre-existing overhead electric or telephone distribution lines, but the service connections still must be installed underground.

Sec. 15-186. - Landscape requirements.

Refer to Sec. 15-377 for landscape requirements.