(A) Purpose and intent. The purpose of this District is to provide for general residential development that includes a range of housing types for single- and two-family dwellings. The District also allows churches, public uses, and accessory uses compatible with residential surroundings. The regulations for this District are designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the District, to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life, and to prohibit commercial activities.
(B) Permitted uses. In the Residential, General R-2 District, structures to be erected or land to be used shall be for one or more of the following uses:
(1) Single-family dwellings;
(2) Two-family dwellings;
(3) Manufactured homes;
(4) Boat docks (private), shoreline stabilization projects, and private boat ramps (Wetlands Board approval may be required);
(5) Churches;
(6) Schools;
(7) Parks/playgrounds and community recreational facilities;
(8) Home occupations;
(9) The tilling of the soil, raising of crops, and forestry. The keeping of animals of a type or quantity that would be generally regarded as agricultural in nature is prohibited. Allowing animals to run at large so as to be a nuisance to neighbors is also prohibited; and/or
(10) Accessory structures are permitted as defined, however, garages, carports, porches, and stoops attached to the main building shall be considered part of the main building.
(C) Special exception uses.
(1) Bed and breakfast establishments;
(2) Rest homes;
(3) Facilities necessary for rendering local public utility service. Buildings, treatment plants, water storage tanks, pumping or regulating stations, storage yards and substations, county sanctioned recycling centers, and refuse collection centers may be considered as special exception uses. Underground utility service shall be required except where shown to be not feasible;
(4) Wireless telecommunications facilities; and/or
(5) Multifamily dwellings which may include apartments, townhouses, condominiums, or similar development that provides up to four family dwelling units per building.
(D) Lot size standards.
(1) Table of lot size standards.
Type | Minimum Lot Area | Minimum Lot Width (ft.) | Minimum Lot Depth (ft.) |
Type | Minimum Lot Area | Minimum Lot Width (ft.) | Minimum Lot Depth (ft.) |
Churches | 2 acres | 200 | 200 |
Schools | 5 acres | 250 | 300 |
Single-family or two-family dwellings with either public or central water or sewerage but not both | 30,000 sq. ft.* | 100* | 150 |
Single-family or two-family dwellings with individual water and sewerage systems | 1 acre* | 150* | 200 |
Single-family or two-family dwellings with public or central water and sewerage | 15,000 sq. ft.* | 100* | 150 |
Other uses | Other uses same as for single-family dwelling or as specified in district regulations | ||
Table notes: *: For lots fronting on a U.S. highway, the minimum lot size is two acres and minimum lot width of 200 feet. For lots fronting on a primary highway, the minimum lot size is one and one-half acres and minimum lot width of 200 feet. Lots that adjoin a U.S. or primary highway but do not have vehicle access to the U.S. or primary highway shall be considered as not having frontage on a U.S. or primary highway. | |||
(2) Measuring. Lot width shall be measured at the front yard setback line and shall continue to meet the minimum width requirement throughout the allowable building envelope.
(3) Minimum street frontage. Minimum street frontage for any lot shall be 25 feet.
(E) Setback regulations.
(1) The front yard setback shall be 75 feet or more from the centerline of any street or road right-of-way, but, in no event less than 50 feet from the edge of the right-of-way. This shall also be known as the setback line. For lots fronting on a U.S. or primary highway, the front yard setback shall be 100 feet from the edge of the right-of-way.
(2) The minimum side yard for each main structure shall be 25 feet and the total width of the two required side yards shall be 50 feet or more.
(3) The minimum rear yard for each main structure shall be 25 feet.
(4) For lots recorded prior to August 10, 1989, which are 100 feet or less in width, the side yard setbacks are reduced to a total of 15 feet with no side yard setback to be less than five feet.
(5) For lots two acres or less in size recorded prior to August 10, 1989, which front on the Rappahannock River or its tidal tributaries are and are to be used for residential purposes, the front yard setback shall be 25 feet from the edge of the street or road right-of-way.
(6) The minimum setback from a private street or right-of-way, which is 25 feet or less in width, shall be 25 feet from the edge of the right-of-way.
(7) Accessory structures shall observe the front yard setback but may encroach into the side and rear yard areas to within five feet of the property lines.
(F) Height regulations.
Type | Maximum Height |
Accessory structures | Not to exceed height of primary structures |
All other structures | 2-1/2 stories not to exceed 35 ft. |
Churches | 2-1/2 stories not to exceed 45 ft. |
Single-family or two-family dwellings | 2-1/2 stories not to exceed 35 ft. |
(G) Special provisions for corner lots. Corner lots must meet the front yard requirements along each street that the lot fronts on.
(J) Keeping of animals. Pets are allowed in this residential district provided they are not allowed to run at large so as to be a nuisance to neighbors. This district is not intended for keeping types or quantities of animals that may pose a potential hazard to the health, safety, and welfare of residents of the District.
(Ord. passed 11-9-1995; Ord. passed 2-13-1997; Ord. passed 9-14-2000; Ord. passed 11-8-2001; Ord. passed 4-13-2006; Ord. passed 2-11-2021) Penalty, see § 157.999