Zoning Report
Virginia Beach, VA Zoning
Virginia Beach uses a citywide zoning ordinance administered through its Planning and Community Development system, with land use review involving the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and City Council. The source material shows a mix of conventional zoning districts, mapped overlay areas, and board-based approval processes, with planning emphasis also reflected in Strategic Growth Areas identified in the comprehensive plan materials. The available research clearly confirms residential district structure, key review bodies, and several mapped overlay/constraint layers, but it does not provide a full extract of all district standards, parking tables, or the complete current ordinance text.
Last researched May 2026
Zoning Districts in Virginia Beach, VA
R-40 Residential District
Large-lot residential district intended for lower-density areas where environmental and public facility constraints support lower density.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures, Detached guest house and limited use accessory dwelling unit within the R-40 District only
R-30 Residential District
Large-lot residential district for lower-density development where the comprehensive plan recommends reduced density.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-20 Residential District
Residential district intended for larger lots in constrained areas where lower density is appropriate.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-15 Residential District
Medium-density single-family residential district where that density is recommended by the comprehensive plan.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-10 Residential District
Medium-density single-family residential district.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-7.5 Residential District
Medium-density single-family residential district.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-5D Residential Duplex District
District recognizing developed areas with both single-family and semidetached dwellings on smaller lots and duplexes on larger lots.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-5R Residential Resort District
District recognizing developed areas with smaller-lot single-family and duplex housing serving both year-round and seasonal residents.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-5S Residential Single-Family District
District recognizing established developed areas of single-family homes with fifty- and sixty-foot frontages.
Allowed uses: Residential uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
R-2.5 Residential Townhouse District
Residential district intended for townhouse development where recommended by the comprehensive plan.
Allowed uses: Townhouses and other uses listed as permitted or conditional in Sec. 501 use chart, Accessory uses and structures
Recent Zoning Changes
The available materials show at least one zoning ordinance amendment on the June 10, 2026 Planning Commission agenda concerning Section 207 and building-mounted antennas/small wireless-related language, but the final City Council outcome was not included in the provided sources. The source set also shows updated GIS datasets through 2025 and 2026 for overlays and special district mapping.
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Deal-fit, approval path & risk flags for Virginia Beach, VA
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