(a)

The agricultural district A-1 covers portions of the county that are occupied by various open uses, such as forests, parks, farms, lakes or mountains. This district is established for the specific purpose of facilitating existing and future farming and agricultural operations, conservation of water and other natural resources, reducing soil erosion, protecting watersheds and reducing hazards from flood and fire. Uses not consistent with the existing character of this district are not permitted.

(b)

It is recognized that certain desirable areas of this rural district may logically be expected to develop residentially, at low density. It should also be recognized that agricultural and forestry activities may produce some noise, odors and other effects and a certain level of tolerance for these effects must be expected of those who would dwell in this district.

(Code 2000, § 16.34)

In agricultural district A-1, structures to be erected or land to be used shall be for one or more of the following uses:

(1)

Single-family dwellings;

(2)

General farming, agriculture, dairying and forestry, except, however, confined animal/livestock feeding operations, which shall be subject to section 53-208 et seq.;

(3)

Schools, churches, parks and playgrounds;

(4)

Preserves and conservation areas;

(5)

Lodges, hunting clubs and boating clubs;

(6)

Sawmills;

(7)

Small boat docks, with repair;

(8)

Cemeteries;

(9)

Home occupations;

(10)

Industrialized/modular buildings used for single-family residential occupancy;

(11)

Public utility generating, booster or relay stations, transformer substations, lines and towers exclusive of communications facilities, pipes, meters and other facilities for the provision and maintenance of public utilities, including railroads and water and sewerage installations;

(12)

Off-street parking, as required by this chapter;

(13)

Accessory uses;

(14)

Business signs only to advertise the sale or rent of the premises upon which erected;

(15)

Church bulletin boards and identification signs;

(16)

Directional signs;

(17)

Home occupation signs;

(18)

Clubs and golf courses;

(19)

Small neighborhood businesses, as defined, if issued a conditional use permit;

(20)

Facilities, activities and operations that are provided by a duly constituted unit of government with conditional use permit issued by the board of supervisors;

(21)

Outdoor amusement/entertainment areas, if issued a conditional use permit;

(22)

Campgrounds, as defined, with conditional use permit;

(23)

Child welfare homes, agencies and institutions as licensed by the state under authority of Code of Virginia, § 63.2-1700 et seq., with a conditional use permit issued by the board of supervisors;

(24)

Communications towers and antenna systems if issued a conditional use permit;

(25)

Mobile homes used for single-family residential occupancy;

(26)

Manufactured homes used for single-family residential occupancy;

(27)

Manufactured home parks, if issued a conditional use permit;

(28)

Mobile home parks, if issued a conditional use permit;

(29)

Boat storage facilities, if issued a conditional use permit;

(30)

Commercial firing range, indoor or outdoor, if issued a conditional use permit;

(31)

Small wind energy systems, if issued a conditional use permit;

(32)

Colleges, universities and schools that maintain residential dormitories or otherwise house students, if issued a conditional use permit;

(33)

Facilities, activities and operations that are provided by the board of supervisors;

(34)

Small scale solar energy facilities;

(35)

Community/shared solar energy facilities, if issued a conditional use permit;

(36)

Large scale solar energy facilities, if issued a conditional use permit;

(37)

Residential special care treatment facility with the issuance of a conditional use permit;

(38)

A second single-family dwelling per lot with the execution of a family relationship affidavit in a form approved by the administrator which shall be signed by the owner of the tract and immediate family member under oath and penalty of perjury that identifies the second dwelling is to a qualifying family member(s) and identifies the receiving family member(s) and their relationship to the owner. For the purpose of this affidavit, a member of the immediate family is defined as any person who is a natural or legally defined offspring (including stepchildren) sibling, spouse, grandchild, grandparent or parent owner;

(39)

Farming and agricultural operations which process raw agricultural products into a finished product, if issued a conditional use permit;

(40)

Two or less campers or recreational vehicles on lot that has no other dwelling, conditioned upon there being an approved septic and well system installed prior to issuance of a building permit. If lot contains an existing dwelling, one camper or recreational vehicle may be allowed with approved septic and well system;

(41)

Temporary housing, as defined in section 53-1;

(42)

Retail stores and shops, if issued a conditional use permit;

(43)

Short term rental;

(44)

Short term rental with shared amenities or if hunting is allowed, if issued a conditional use permit;

(45)

Golf courses; golf driving ranges, if issued a conditional use permit;

(46)

Exotic animal welfare care and management, if issued a conditional use permit.

(Code 2000, § 16.35; Ord. No. 2007-5, § 1, 11-5-2007; Ord. No. 2009-10, § 1, 10-5-2009; Amd. of 3-6-2017; Ord. No. 2017-3, § 2, 11-6-2017; Ord. No. 2021-10, § 1, 4-5-2021; Ord. No. 2022-28, § 3, 10-3-2022; Ord. No. 2023-9, § 2, 9-5-2023; Ord. No. 2024-33, § 2, 12-17-2024; Ord. No. 2024-34, § 1, 12-2-2024)

(a)

Lots in zoning district A-1, agricultural, and fronting on an existing public road, except as noted in subsection (b) and subsection (g) of this section, shall have a minimum of 1.5 acres provided the width at the street line is 135 feet or greater. Lots with less than 135 feet of width at the street line shall have a minimum of 2.5 acres, and the minimum building setback line for such lot shall be 150 feet or the point at which the lot has a minimum width of 135 feet; but in no case shall the building setback line be less than 75 feet. Any lot using the public road as primary access shall have, at a minimum the width required for compliance with state department of transportation entrance standards for PE 1. Within any subdivision or parent tract of land, there shall be no more than two lots that adjoin a public road with less than 135 feet of road frontage adjoining one another.

(b)

Lots in zoning district A-1, agricultural, and fronting on a public road that has a federal, state, or local designation as scenic or historic shall have a minimum of 2.0 acres provided the width at the street line is 200 feet or greater. Lots with less than 200 feet of width at the street line shall have a minimum of 2.5 acres, and the minimum building setback line for such lot shall be 150 feet or the point at which the lot has a minimum width of 200 feet; but in no case shall the building setback line be less than 75 feet. Any lot using the public road as primary access shall have, at a minimum the width required for compliance with state department of transportation entrance standards for PE 1. Within any subdivision or parent tract of land, there shall be no more than two lots that adjoin a public road with less than 200 feet of road frontage adjoining one another.

(c)

Lots in zoning district A-1, agricultural, and fronting on a private road built to the standards of chapter 47, subdivision of land, or of the state department of transportation, shall have a minimum of 1.0 acre provided the width at the street line is 100 feet or greater. Lots with less than 100 feet of width at the street line shall have a minimum of 1.5 acres, and the building setback line for such lot shall be 150 feet or the point at which the lot has a minimum width of 100 feet; but in no case shall the building setback line be less than 75 feet. In no case shall any lot using the private road as primary access have less than 30 feet of width at the street line.

(d)

Lots fronting on culs-de-sac whether newly constructed or public shall have a minimum building setback line of 100 feet.

(e)

Lots of less than 135 feet in width at the building setback line shall have minimum side yards of 15 feet and a minimum rear yard of 35 feet. Lots of 135 feet or greater in width at the building setback line shall have a minimum side yard of 20 feet and a minimum rear yard of 35 feet.

(f)

All structures shall have a minimum building setback line of 75 feet from the street right-of-way, unless otherwise specified.

(g)

Lots in zoning district A-1, agricultural, to be used for recreational hand launches shall have a minimum lot size of one acre.

(Code 2000, § 16.36; Ord. No. 2016-2, 3-7-2016)

Of the two sides of a corner lot the front shall be deemed to be the shortest of the two sides fronting on streets. In the agricultural district A-1, the minimum side yard on the side facing the side street shall be 35 feet for both main and accessory buildings.

(Code 2000, § 16.40)