Zoning Report

Chesterfield County, VA Zoning

Chesterfield County’s zoning framework is in the middle of a major modernization. The county’s new Chapter 19.2 Zoning Ordinance and Chapter 17.1 Subdivision Regulations became effective January 1, 2026, replacing the prior Chapter 19.1/17 format referenced in archived materials. Based on the materials provided, the county regulates land use through base zoning districts, overlay districts, site plan review, subdivision review, and Board of Zoning Appeals relief, but the supplied source excerpts do not include the full district tables or complete standards needed for a fully detailed code summary.

Last researched August 2026

zoning ordinance modernizationsite plan reviewfloodplain overlaysbuffers and setbacksboard of zoning appealsactive development casessubdivision regulations

Zoning Districts in Chesterfield County, VA

Base zoning districts under Chapter 19.2

The modernization ordinance organizes zoning districts in Article 2 and ties uses and dimensional standards to each district.

Allowed uses: Uses listed in Article 3 and Table 19.2-29.1, Restricted uses under Sec. 19.2-30, where applicable

Agricultural-zoned property

The site plan checklist shows agricultural zoning remains relevant, especially for adjacency, buffering, and comprehensive plan designation review.

Allowed uses: Agricultural uses not specifically enumerated in the supplied excerpts

Residential, office, commercial, and other named districts in Chapter 19.2

The ordinance clearly contains multiple district types, but the provided excerpts do not include the full district list or each district’s purpose statements.

Allowed uses: Not fully available in supplied excerpts

Recent Zoning Changes

A major countywide zoning ordinance modernization took effect on January 1, 2026. The provided sources show the county moved from Chapter 19.1/Chapter 17 to Chapter 19.2/Chapter 17.1, but the excerpts do not describe every substantive policy change made in the update.

Setbacks, Lot Size & Height Limits in Chesterfield County, VA

The research set confirms that dimensional standards are district-specific and located within Article 2, with general dimensional provisions in Sec. 19.2-37. Several narrow standards and measurement rules are referenced in the site plan checklist and snippets, but the complete district tables were not provided.

District	Standard	Requirement
Countywide general dimensional rules	Eave encroachment	three feet — Snippet from Sec. 19.2-37 states eaves may encroach three feet into required setbacks.
Countywide general dimensional rules	Rear setback from required buffers	five-foot rear setback — Snippet from Sec. 19.2-37 references a minimum five-foot rear setback from required buffers.
Sites along major arterial streets	Setback averaging	per Sec. 19.2-37 — Checklist states setback exceptions may be allowed by setback averaging along a major arterial street.
Sites with adjacent vacant agricultural land	Buffer width	per Table 19.2-35.2 — Buffer width depends on adjacent vacant agricultural land and its comprehensive plan designation.
Retaining walls	Setback treatment	same setbacks as required for drives and parking — Checklist states retaining walls use same setbacks as required for drives and parking, with possible increase when landscaping is needed to preserve planting area.
Uses without buildings, cemeteries, solid waste storage areas, and certain outdoor recreation features	Use-specific setbacks	per cited sections — Checklist notes that certain uses have special setback rules under cited sections, but full values were not included in the excerpt.

ADU, Rental & Special Use Rules in Chesterfield County, VA

Temporary manufactured home

Handled through the Board of Zoning Appeals as a special exception, including renewals.

Petition to the BZA is required.
Specific standards were not provided in the supplied excerpt.

Private kennel

Handled through the Board of Zoning Appeals as a special exception.

Petition to the BZA is required.
Specific operational or dimensional standards were not provided in the supplied excerpt.

One-chair beauty shop

Handled through the Board of Zoning Appeals as a special exception.

Petition to the BZA is required.
Specific home-business or site standards were not provided in the supplied excerpt.

Uses with on-premises recreational substances

Use is subject to school separation limitations under Sec. 19.2-30-43.

Verify separation from public schools.
Confirm full restrictions in Sec. 19.2-30-43.

Overlay Districts in Chesterfield County, VA

Floodplain district

Development within any floodplain district is subject to additional permitting and review before work may proceed.

Chesterfield County, VA Zoning FAQ

What are the setback requirements in Chesterfield County, VA?

Setbacks vary by district. Examples — Countywide general dimensional rules: five-foot rear setback; Sites along major arterial streets: per Sec. 19.2-37; Retaining walls: same setbacks as required for drives and parking; Uses without buildings, cemeteries, solid waste storage areas, and certain outdoor recreation features: per cited sections. Always confirm the exact yard requirements for your district with Chesterfield County, VA.

What zoning districts are in Chesterfield County, VA?

Chesterfield County, VA includes districts such as Base zoning districts under Chapter 19.2, Agricultural-zoned property, Residential, office, commercial, and other named districts in Chapter 19.2.

Are there flood zones or overlay districts in Chesterfield County, VA?

Floodplain constraints are clearly identified in the supplied materials, and the county’s GIS resources appear to be the main tool for determining mapped constraints. The research set does not provide confirmed zoning-code text for wetlands, steep slopes, aquifer protection, or coastal overlays.

Have there been recent zoning changes in Chesterfield County, VA?

Common questions about Chesterfield County, VA zoning

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Sources

Document Viewer | Zoning Ordinance Modernization — Confirmed that Chapter 19.2 is effective January 1, 2026 and provided the floodplain district snippet requiring permit issuance before development in floodplain districts.
Document Viewer | Zoning Ordinance - Chapter 19.1 — Confirmed legacy Chapter 19.1/17 structure and showed transition to Chapter 19.2/17.1 effective January 1, 2026.
Document Viewer | Zoning Ordinance Modernization — Helped confirm that Article 2 and Article 3 of Chapter 19.2 contain district and use regulations, though the excerpt did not expose the full table text.
Document Viewer | Zoning Ordinance Modernization — Provided snippet from Sec. 19.2-37 with limited dimensional standards such as eave encroachment and rear setback from required buffers.
Document Viewer | Zoning Ordinance Modernization — Provided a partial nonconforming rule stating a nonconforming use may extend within a building arranged or designed for that use on or before January 1, 2026.
DRAFT FIRST GLANCE CHECKLIST — Most useful practical source for current zoning administration, including references to Table 19.2-29.1, Sec. 19.2-30 restricted uses, Sec. 19.2-37 setbacks, buffers, adjacent-use treatment, and overlay coordination.
Board of Zoning Appeals | Chesterfield County, VA — Confirmed BZA jurisdiction over variances, special exceptions, and appeals, including examples of use-specific special exceptions.
Petitioning and Appealing to the Board of Zoning Appeals | Chesterfield County, VA — Confirmed that the county has a formal process for BZA petitions and appeals.
Planning Commission | Chesterfield County, VA — Confirmed the Planning Commission’s advisory role on zoning cases, ordinance amendments, and comprehensive planning.
Board of Supervisors Agendas and Minutes | Chesterfield County, VA — Confirmed availability of Board of Supervisors agendas, packets, and minutes for tracking adopted land-use actions.
Active Development and Zoning Cases | Chesterfield County, VA — Confirmed that the county maintains active development and zoning case tracking resources and a case map.
Zoning Ordinance Modernization (ZOMod) Project | Chesterfield County, VA — Confirmed the existence and completion context of the ZOMod effort leading to the 2026 ordinance.

This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with Chesterfield County, VA officials before making decisions.