In order to regulate and redistrict the location of trades and industries, and the location of buildings erected or altered for specific uses; to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings hereafter erected or structurally altered; to regulate and limit population density and the intensity of the use of lot areas; and to regulate and determine the areas of yards, courts and other open spaces within and surrounding such buildings; the City of Petersburg is hereby divided into districts, of which there shall be twenty (20) in number, known as:

"A" Agricultural District

"R-1A" Single-Family Residence District

"R-1" Single-Family Residence District

"R-2" Single-Family Residence District

"RMH" Residential Mobile Homes District

"R-3" Two-Family Residence District

"R-4" Multiple Dwelling District

"R-5" Multiple Dwelling District

"R-6" High Rise District

"RTH" Residential Town House District

"RB" Office-Apartment District

"B-1" Shopping Center District

"B-2" General Commercial District

"B-3" Central Commercial District

"M-1" Light Industrial District

"M-2" Heavy Industrial District

"MXD-1" Mixed Use District

"MXD-2" Mixed Use District

"MXD-3" Mixed Use District

"PUD" Planned Unit Development District

(Ord. No. 21-79, Exh. A, 3-21-2023)

Editor's note— This section has been updated, at the editor's discretion, to reflect the current number of zoning districts and to list the "MXD-1" and MXD-2" districts established by Ord. No. 82-111, adopted Dec. 7, 1982.
  Subsequently, the number of zoning districts was updated to 20, at the editor's discretion, with the addition of the "MXD-3" district established by Ord. No. 21-79, adopted March 21, 2021.

Such land, and the district classification thereof, shall be shown on the map designated as the "Zoning District Map of Petersburg, Virginia," dated and signed by the mayor and the city clerk of Petersburg upon adoption. This zoning district map, and all notations, dimensions, references and symbols shown thereon pertaining to such districts, shall be as much a part of this ordinance as if fully described herein and shall be filed as part of this ordinance by the clerk of the City of Petersburg. Said map shall be available for public inspection in the office of the city clerk, and any later alterations of this map, adopted by amendment as provided in this ordinance, shall be similarly dated, filed and made available for public reference.

The city shall cause to be published, no later than ninety (90) days following adoption of this ordinance, the official zoning district names and designations for the City of Petersburg. In each calendar year thereafter, if there have been any changes in the permitted uses, zoning district boundaries, zoning regulations and classifications in the preceding year, such map shall also be published no later than March 31, reflecting all such changes as of December 31 of the preceding year.

Any person desiring a copy of said official zoning district map or a copy of official zoning ordinance shall pay one dollar ($1.00) for each map or ten dollars ($10.00) for each ordinance, to the appropriate city official. Upon written request, all future amendments shall be furnished at cost of printing.

(1)

A district name or letter-number combination shown on the district maps indicates that the regulations pertaining to the district designated by that name or letter-number combination extend throughout the whole area in the municipality bounded by the district boundary lines within which such name or letter-number combination is shown or indicated, except as otherwise provided by this section.

(2)

Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various districts as shown on the accompanying map and made a part of this ordinance, the following rules shall apply:

(a)

In cases where a boundary line is given a position within a street or alley or non-navigable stream, it shall be deemed to be in the center of the street, alley or stream and if the actual location of such street, alley or stream varies slightly from the location as shown on the district map, then the actual location shall control.

(b)

In cases where a boundary line is shown as being located in specific distance from a street line or other physical feature, this distance shall control.

(c)

In cases where a boundary line is shown adjoining or coincident with a railroad, it shall be deemed to be in the center of the railroad right-of-way, and distances measured from a railroad shall be measured from the center of the designated track.

(d)

Where the district boundaries are not otherwise indicated, and where the property has been or may hereafter be divided into blocks and lots, the district boundaries shall be construed to be the lot lines; and where the districts designated on the map accompanying and made a part of this ordinance are bounded approximately by lot lines, said lot lines shall be construed to be the boundary of such districts, unless said boundaries are otherwise indicated on the map or by ordinance.

Except as hereinafter provided:

(1)

No land may be used except for a purpose permitted in the district in which it is located.

(2)

No buildings shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered, nor shall any building, or part thereof, be used, except for a use permitted in the district in which the building is located.

(3)

No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed the height limit herein established for the district in which the building is located.

(4)

No building shall be erected, enlarged or structurally altered to the extent of increasing the floor area by fifty (50) percent or more, except in conformity with the off-street parking and loading regulations of the district in which the building is located.

(5)

No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered, except in conformity with the floor-lot ratio regulations of the district in which it is located.

(6)

The minimum yards, parking space and open spaces, including lot area per family, required by this ordinance for each and every building existing at the time of the passage of this ordinance, or for any building hereafter erected, shall not be encroached upon or considered as required yard or open space for any other building; nor shall any lot area be reduced below the requirements of this ordinance.

(7)

Every building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be located on a lot, as herein defined and, except as hereinafter provided, in no case shall there be more than one main building on one lot.