Occoquan City Zoning Code
DISTRICTS; GENERALLY
§ 157.025 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS.
(A) For purposes of this chapter, the incorporated areas of the town are hereby divided into the following districts:
(1) R-1 District, limited residential, low-density;
(2) R-2 District, general residential, medium-density;
(3) R-3 District, general residential, high-density;
(4) R-4 District, residential, high-density; and
(5) B-1 District, generally business, with mixed-use components.
(B) The locations and boundaries of these districts are shown on the Zoning Map.
(1998 Code, § 66-41) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)
R-1 DISTRICT
§ 157.040 STATEMENT OF INTENT.
The R-1 District consists of low-density residential areas, together with open areas, wherein further low-density residential development appears likely to occur. The regulations for this district are designed to protect and promote the essential characteristics of this district, to promote and encourage a healthy and suitable environment for family life, especially for families that include children, and to ensure that the limited physical size of the town is developed in accordance with its historical character as a town that is primarily residential, with concentrated commercial uses. To this end, development in the R-1 District is limited to low-concentration residential use, mostly detached single-family residences, together with certain additional uses that would serve the residents of this district, including schools, parks, and utilities. To preserve the character of this district, no commercial or industrial use is allowed.
(1998 Code, § 66-61) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)
§ 157.041 USES PERMITTED.
Structures to be erected or maintained, or land to be used, shall be restricted to one or more of the following uses.
(A) Uses permitted by-right. Uses permitted by right are as follows:
(1) Detached single-family dwellings;
(2) Schools;
(3) Town parks;
(4) Places of assembly with less than 25 seats, as an accessory to the principal use;
(5) Home business occupations conducted by a resident and occupant, as an accessory use, subject to the issuance of a home occupation certificate in accordance with § 157.010;
(6) Homestay, as an accessory use;
(7) [Reserved];
(8) Temporary seasonal display, subject to the following conditions: display must be accessory to the principal use of the property; and display may not be present for more than 45 days;
(9) Public utilities, including poles, lines, distribution transformers, pipes, meters, or other facilities necessary for the provision and maintenance of public utilities, including water and sewerage facilities; and
(10) Accessory dwelling, one unit per lot.
(B) Uses permitted by special exception permit approved by Town Council. Bed and breakfast; professional offices within detached single-family dwellings, operated by a resident and occupant; and rooming houses and boardinghouses operated by a resident and occupant.
(1998 Code, § 66-62) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017; Ord. O-2024-03, passed 9-17-2024)
Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.042 SIGNS PERMITTED.
§ 157.043 AREA REGULATIONS.
A residential lot containing or intended to contain a detached single-family dwelling shall have a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet.
(1998 Code, § 66-64) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.044 SETBACK REGULATIONS.
Buildings shall be located 35 feet or more from any street right-of-way that is 50 feet or more in width, or 60 feet or more from the centerline of any street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width. This shall be known as the SETBACK LINE.
(1998 Code, § 66-65) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.045 FRONTAGE REGULATIONS.
For detached single-family dwellings, the minimum lot width at the setback line shall be 70 feet. The front of a corner lot shall be deemed to be the shorter of the two sides fronting on streets.
(1998 Code, § 66-66) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)
§ 157.046 YARD REGULATIONS.
(A) Side. The minimum side yard shall be ten feet, and the total minimum width of the two required side yards shall be 25 feet. For corner lots, the side yard on the side facing the side street shall be 20 feet or more for both main and accessory buildings. Decks are not permitted in the minimum side yard area.
(B) Rear. The minimum rear yard, measured from the largest structure upon the premises, shall be 40 feet, of which no more than 15 feet may be occupied by a deck. However, the Zoning Administrator shall issue a zoning permit reducing the rear yard to 25 feet if the existing or planned building will not have any provision for a deck and a note is placed on all site plans, subdivision plans, building plans, and record plats associated with the property that no deck is permitted on the lot. No deck may be built in any rear yard subject to such a zoning permit. The Zoning Administrator shall issue a zoning permit for a deck larger than 15 feet, if the distance from the rear edge of the deck to the property line is at least 25 feet.
(1998 Code, § 66-67) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.047 HEIGHT REGULATIONS.
(A)
Buildings may be erected up to 35 feet in height from the average of the finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.
(B) Public or semipublic buildings, such as a school, library, or hospital, 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.
(C) Spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennas, and radio aerials are exempt.
(D) Parapet walls may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.
(E) No accessory building shall be closer than five feet to any lot line.
(1998 Code, § 66-68) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017; Ord. O-2024-03, passed 9-17-2024)
Penalty, see § 10.99
R-2 DISTRICT
§ 157.060 STATEMENT OF INTENT.
The R-2 District consists of certain medium-density residential uses, generally located between detached single-family residential and commercial areas, together with certain open areas, where similar 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, with compatible intensities of land use, a suitable environment for family life composed of an adult population with some children, and to permit certain commercial uses of a character unlikely to develop a general concentration of traffic, crowds of customers and general outdoor advertising. To this end, retail activity is sharply limited and this district is protected against encroachment of general commercial or industrial uses. All residential types of structures for both permanent and transient occupancy, including institutions, are permitted, as well as structures for commercial uses conforming to the pattern of the district. This residential district is not completely residential as it includes public, semipublic, institutional, and other related uses. However, it is mostly residential in character, and, as such, shall not be spotted with commercial and industrial uses.
(1998 Code, § 66-91) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)
§ 157.061 USES PERMITTED.
Structures to be maintained or erected or land to be used shall be restricted to one or more of the following uses.
(A) Uses permitted by right. Uses permitted by right are as follows:
(1) Detached single-family dwellings;
(2) Two-family or duplex dwellings;
(3) Places of assembly with less than 25 seats, as an accessory to the principal use;
(4) Home business occupations conducted by a resident and occupant, as an accessory use, subject to the issuance of a home occupation certificate in accordance with § 157.010;
(5) Homestay, as an accessory use;
(6)
[Reserved];
(7) Temporary seasonal display, subject to the following conditions: display must be accessory to the principal use of the property; and display may not be present for more than 45 days; and
(8)
Public utilities, including poles, lines, distribution transformers, pipes, meters, or other facilities necessary for the provision and maintenance of public facilities, including water and sewerage facilities; and
(9) Accessory dwelling, one unit per lot.
(B) Uses permitted by special exception permit approved by Town Council. Uses permitted by special exception permit approved by Town Council are as follows:
(1) Bed and breakfast;
(2) Low-intensity professional and medical offices and facilities within detached single-family dwellings, not conducted by a resident and occupant;
(3) Rooming houses and boardinghouses operated by a resident and occupant; and
(4) Professional offices within detached single-family dwellings, operated by a resident and occupant.
(1998 Code, § 66-92) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017; Ord. O-2024-03, passed 9-17-2024)
Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.062 SIGNS PERMITTED.
§ 157.063 AREA REGULATIONS.
Residential lots containing or intended to contain a detached single-family dwelling shall have a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet. Residential lots containing or intended to contain two-family or duplex dwellings shall have a minimum lot area of 12,000 square feet. Further, that portion of the lot area used or intended to be used for erection or maintenance of a building shall not be less than 3,600 square feet in area. That portion of the total lot area used for property line setbacks, walkways, and outdoor recreational areas shall not be less than 6,600 square feet in area. That portion of the total lot area used for off-street parking shall not be less than 1,800 square feet in area.
(1998 Code, § 66-94) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.064 SETBACK REGULATIONS.
Dwellings shall be located 35 feet or more from any street right-of-way that is 50 feet or more in width, or 60 feet or more from the centerline of any street right-of-way less than 50 feet in width. This shall be known as the setback line.
(1998 Code, § 66-95) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.065 FRONTAGE REGULATIONS.
(A) For detached single-family dwelling, the minimum lot width at the setback line shall be 70 feet.
(B) For two-family or duplex dwellings, the minimum lot width at the setback line shall be 80 feet.
(C) The front of a corner lot shall be deemed to be the shorter of the two sides fronting on streets.
(1998 Code, § 66-96) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.066 YARD REGULATIONS.
(A) Side. The minimum side yard for detached single-family dwellings shall be ten feet, and the minimum total width of the two required side yards shall be 25 feet. The minimum side yard for two-family or duplex dwellings shall be 15 feet, and the minimum total width of the two required side yards shall be 35 feet. For corner lots, the side yard on the side facing the side street shall be 20 feet or more for both main and accessory buildings. Decks are not permitted in the minimum side yard area.
(B) Rear. Each main building shall have a rear yard of 40 feet or more, of which no more than 15 feet may be occupied by a deck. However, the Zoning Administrator shall issue a zoning permit reducing the rear yard to 20 feet if the existing or planned building will not have any provision for a deck and a note is placed on all site plans, subdivision plans, building plans, and record plats associated with the property that no deck is permitted on the lot. No deck may be built in any rear yard subject to such a zoning permit. The Zoning Administrator shall issue a zoning permit for a deck larger than 15 feet if the distance from the rear edge of the deck to the property line is at least 25 feet.
(1998 Code, § 66-97) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.067 HEIGHT REGULATIONS.
(A)
Buildings may be erected up to 35 feet in height from the average of the finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.
(B) Public or semipublic buildings, such as a school, library, or hospital, 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.
(C) Spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, television antennas, and radio aerials are exempt.
(D) Parapet walls may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.
(E) No accessory building shall be closer than five feet to any lot line.
(1998 Code, § 66-98) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017; Ord. O-2024-03, passed 9-17-2024)
Penalty, see § 10.99