Housing Matrices & District Requirements
Editor's Note: All definitions are taken from Article
VI of the 1999 Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance. If a definition you need
is not included here, please check the Definitions
included in the Zoning Ordinance. These materials are based on the 1999 Zoning
Ordinance and are provided as a service. They do not, however have any legal
authority. Print versions of each of the matrices area available and can be
accessed by clicking on the print button to the left of each section heading.
Print Versions are in black and white and do not include the subject links.
Definitions
Dwelling: A building or portion thereof used for residential purposes,
including one-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings, and Bed and Breakfast
establishments, but not including hotels, motels, boardinghouses, dormitories,
fraternity/sorority houses, tourist cabins, or automobile trailers. (also see
Dwelling Unit.)
Dwelling, Accessory: A subordinate dwelling located on the same lot
as the principal dwelling, and which may be within the same structure as the
principal dwelling, or which may be a detached structure, but which shall not
include duplex or two-family dwellings.
Dwelling, Multi-Family (Multiple-Family): A building or portion thereof
used for occupancy by three (3) or more families living independently of each
other and containing three or more dwelling units, including apartment buildings,
but not including group, row or town houses. (also see Apartment).
Dwelling, Single-Family: A structure arranged or designed to be occupied
by one (1) family, the structure having only one (1) dwelling unit, with the
exclusion of mobile or manufactured homes and trailers, except as otherwise
provided in this chapter.
Dwelling, Single-Family Attached: One of two or more residential buildings,
each having separate ground floor access, and having a common or party wall
separating the dwelling units, such party walls having no openings. For purposes
of this definition, living space on the ground floor may include a garage or
porch. Includes duplex, triplex, quadraplex and townhouse units. (also see townhouse,
as defined herein.)
Dwelling, Single-Family Detached: A single family dwelling unit which
is entirely surrounded by open space or yards on the same lot.
Dwelling, Two-Family: A structure arranged or designed to be occupied
by two (2) families, the structure having only two (2) dwelling units. A duplex
unit.
Dwelling Unit: One (1) or more rooms in a dwelling designed for independent
living and sleeping purposes by one family and having at least one (1) separate
kitchen. A dwelling unit shall not be occupied by more than four (4) individuals
unrelated by blood or marriage except that no more than eight (8) mentally ill,
mentally retarded, or developmentally disabled persons, as defined by the Code
of Virginia, may occupy a single dwelling unit, together with resident counselors
or other staff persons.
Family: One (1) or more persons occupying a premises and living in a
single dwelling unit, as distinguished from an unrelated group occupying a boardinghouse,
tourist home or hotel. One (1) or more persons related by blood, marriage, adoption
or guardianship, including servants, caregivers, and no more than two roomers
or boarders; or a group of not more than four (4) unrelated persons; or up to
eight mentally or developmentally disabled persons living in a residential group
home facility.
Manufactured Home, Class A: A multi-sectional manufactured home constructed
after July 1, 1976, that meets or exceeds the Manufactured Home Construction
and Safety Standards, promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. Manufactured homes are also commonly referred to as "mobile
homes" and differ from Modular Homes as defined herein, in that they do
not necessarily comply with BOCA or Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
standards.
Manufactured Home, Class B: A traditional single section
manufactured home ("mobile home") constructed after July 1, 1976,
that meets or exceeds the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards,
promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Manufactured
homes are also commonly referred to as "mobile homes" and differ from
Modular Homes as defined herein, in that they do not necessarily comply with
BOCA or Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code standards.
Manufactured Home, Class C: A manufactured home ("mobile home")
constructed before July 1, 1976 and consequently does not meet the criteria
of a Class A or Class B manufactured home. Manufactured homes are also commonly
referred to as "mobile homes" and differ from Modular Homes as defined
herein, in that they do not necessarily comply with BOCA or Virginia Uniform
Statewide Building Code standards.
Mobile home park: Any lot or tract of land designed to accommodate
three (3) or more mobile homes (trailers).
Modular Home: A residential dwelling unit for which the walls, floor
and roof structure are built in a manufacturing plant and transported to the
site for final assembly on a permanent foundation, and which meets the BOCA
and Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code standards.
Setback: The distance by which any building, structure or other defined
object shall be separated from the front lot line or other lot line as may be
specified. (also refer to Yard).
Townhouse: A single-family dwelling forming one (1) of a group or series
of three (3) or more attached single-family dwellings separated from one another
by party walls without doors, windows, or other provisions for human passage
or visibility through such walls from basement to roof and having roofs which
may extend from one (1) such dwelling unit to another. [also see single family
attached]
Yard: An open space in a lot other than a court unoccupied and unobstructed
from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided in this chapter:
1. Front: An open space on the same lot as a building between the
front line of the building (excluding steps) and the front lot or street line
and extending across the full width of the lot.
2. Rear: An open, unoccupied space on the same lot as a building
between the rear line of the building (excluding steps) and the rear line
of the lot and extending the full width of the lot.
3. Side: An open, unoccupied space on the same lot as a building
between the side line of the building (excluding steps) and the side line
of the lot and extending from the front yard line to the rear yard line.
Types of Housing by District
| |
BY RIGHT |
|
BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT |
|
Housing Type
|
A1
|
C1
|
RR
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
RM1
|
GB
|
CB
|
M1
|
ML
|
PIN
|
PDC
|
PDR
|
PMR
|
| Single Family - Detached |
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| Single Family - Attached |
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| Two-Family |
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| Multi-Family |
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| Class A Mfg (Double-wide) |
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| Class B Mfg (Single-wide) |
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Minimum Setback Requirements by District (IN FEET)
|
A -- Uses
|
A1
|
C1
|
RR
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
RM1*
|
GB
|
CB
|
M1
|
ML
|
PIN
|
PDC
|
PDR
|
PMR
|
| Front Setback |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
30 |
30 |
50/ 35 |
50/ 35/ 15 |
75/ 35 |
50/ 35 |
20/ 35 |
see base district |
see base district |
20 |
| Rear Setback |
40
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
30 |
15/ 25 |
40/ 10 |
40/ 10 |
35/ 10 |
35/ 10 |
35/ 10 |
see base district |
see base district |
10 |
| Side Setback |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
30 |
40/ 10 |
40/ 10 |
35/ 10 |
35/ 10 |
35/ 10 |
see base district |
see base district |
30 |
| Corner Lot Setback |
Corner lots shall be deemed to
have no rear yards, but only a full-depth front yard, a half-depth front
yard and side yards. Through lots shall be deemed to have either two full-depth
front yards, or one full-depth and one half-depth front yard, and two side
yards. |
| Accessory Structure Setback: Front |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
30 |
Setback Measurement from streets
All setbacks from public streets shall be
measured from the wider of either:
1. the existing dedicated right-of-way,
or
2. the minimum dedicated right-of-way permitted
for VDOT acceptance of the right-of-way for state maintenance.
If no dedicated right-of-way exists, or if
no construction plans are approved for the road, or if less than the
minimum right-of-way exists, the right-of way shall be assumed to be
the edge of the existing travelway.
|
| Accessory Structure Setback: Rear |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
| Accessory Structure Setback: Side |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
District Requirments
Key: A=Agriculture; R=Rural; C=Conservation; U=Urban; RE=Rural Expansion;
UE=Urban Expansion, and zoning district abbreviations. All lot and district
sizes are in acres unless otherwise noted.
|
Requirements
|
A1
|
C1
|
RR
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
RM1*
|
| Minimum District Size |
10 |
20 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
| Qualifying Lands |
A,R |
C |
R, RE |
R1, RE, UE |
R2, RE, UE |
R3, RE, UE |
RM1,UE |
| Requires Public Water & Sewer (y/n) |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Has Compact Development Option (y/n) |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Requirements
|
GB
|
CB
|
M1
|
ML
|
PIN
|
PDC
|
PDR
|
PMR
|
| Minimum District Size |
5 |
1 |
5 |
-- |
5 |
5 |
50 |
6 |
| Qualifying Lands |
GB, RE, UE |
RE, A, RR |
M1, UE |
UE, RE |
UE, RE |
UE, RE |
UE, RE |
UE, RE |
| Requires Public Water & Sewer (y/n) |
Y* |
Y* |
Y* |
Y* |
Y* |
Y* |
Y* |
Y |
| Has Compact Development Option (y/n) |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
*Required in areas where public water and sewer is either provided or is
planned.
Lot Requirements (By District)
Key: Lot sizes and densities are in acres unless otherwise noted.
|
Requirements
|
A1
|
C1
|
RR
|
R1
|
R2
|
R3
|
RM1**
|
| Minimum Lot Size |
1 |
2.5 |
5 (small scale ag.); 1.5 for all others |
20,000 sq.ft. |
20,000 sq.ft. |
10,000 sq. ft. |
2,000 for townhouses; 6,000 for all others |
| Density |
2.5; See Sliding Scale
|
Based on Sliding Scale |
|
|
|
|
|
| Lot Access |
VDOT or hard surface, with
exceptions* |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
| Maximum Coverage (Buildings/ Impervious Surface) |
20% |
|
10% / 30% |
30% / 50% |
30% / 50% |
30% / 50% |
40% / 60%
|
| Minimum Width |
120' |
120' |
120' |
100' |
100' |
80' |
16' for townhouses; 64' for all others |
| Max Length/Width Ratio |
5:1 on lots less than 20 acres |
5:1 on lots less than 20 acres |
5:1 on lots less than 50 acres |
5:1 |
5:1 |
5:1 on lots less than 2 acres |
|
| Maximum Building Height |
40', with exceptions |
40', with exceptions |
35'/50' |
35', with exceptions |
35', with exceptions |
35', with exceptions |
35', with exceptions |
| Use Limitations |
auto repair shops; kennels, and shooting ranges |
None |
None |
public water & sewer, horses & ponies |
public water & sewer, horses & ponies
|
public water & sewer, horses & ponies |
public water & sewer |
|
Requirements
|
GB
|
CB
|
M1
|
ML
|
| Minimum Lot Size |
20,000 sq ft (with shared access); 1 acre otherwise |
20,000 sq ft (with shared access); 1 acre otherwise |
1acre |
1 acre (with shared access); 2 acres otherwise |
| Density |
|
|
|
|
| Lot Access |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
| Maximum Coverage (Impervious Surface) |
40% / none |
40% / none |
70% / none |
50% / none |
| Minimum Width |
75 feet (with shared lot); 150 feet otherwise. |
75 feet (with shared lot); 150 feet otherwise. |
50 feet |
75 feet (with shared access); 100 feet otherwise |
| Max Floor Area Coverage |
.40 |
.40 |
|
.40 |
| Max Length/Width Ratio |
|
|
|
|
| Maximum Building Height |
50', with exception |
35', with exception |
50' |
50' |
| Use Limitations |
screening & landscaping, off-street parking, indoor and
outdoor activity restrictions |
screening & landscaping, off-street parking, indoor and
outdoor activity restrictions |
screening & landscaping, off-street parking, indoor and
outdoor activity restrictions, separation of certain uses |
screening & landscaping, off-street parking, indoor and
outdoor activity restrictions |
|
Requirements
|
PIN
|
PDC
|
PDR
|
PMR
|
| Minimum Lot Size |
1 acre |
|
see base districts |
3,000 sq ft |
| Density |
|
See base district |
4 dwellings per net residential acre (urban expansion); 2
dwellings per net residential acre (rural expansion) |
8 mh per acre for new pmr/4 mh per acre for existing pmr |
| Lot Access |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
VDOT or hard surface |
|
| Maximum Coverage (Impervious Surface) |
50%/ none |
70% / none |
20% |
40% |
| Minimum Width |
100' |
see base district regulations; 25' for existing lots / 50'
otherwise |
see base districts |
50' |
| Max Floor Area Coverage |
|
.40/ Six Dwellings per Acre(Urban Expansion); .25 / 2 dwellins
per acre (Rural Expansion) |
|
|
| Max Length/Width Ratio |
|
|
|
4:1 (length or width) |
| Maximum Building Height |
20' |
50' |
20' |
35' |
| Use Limitations |
screening & landscaping, off-street parking, indoor and
outdoor activity restrictions |
public water & sewer; maximum area for residential uses;
off-street parking and loading; commercial & office space criteria;
width, setbacks, and yards, screening and landscaping, streets, commercial
and residential open space |
public water & sewer; off-street parking and loading;
commercial/ office criteria; open space critieria; width, setbacks, and
yards, streets |
new and existing pmrs; foundations; water and sewer; streets;
open space; recreation areas; outdoor living areas and storage facilities;
refuse disposal |
* According to Article II, §10-21(5)(d),
"Under the first exception, up to three (3) lots divided from any parent
parcel may be served by a private access easement at least forty (40) feet in
width. Under the second exception, a private access easement at least forty
(40) feet in width may be used if the easement serves all the permitted lots
derived from the parent parcel and if VDOT has approved an entrance permit for
the easement to access the VDOT road system. The purpose of the exceptions are
to discourage strip development by allowing lot access from interior private
roads rather than separate access for each lot onto the public road."
** In addition to maximum coverage requirements, the RM-1 district also has
minimum greenspace requirements in §10-27(5)(d)
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