Prince William County Unincorporated
Zoning districts
16 districts, grouped by category.
Commercial
3General Business District
- Max height
- 45 ft
- Front setback
- 20 ft
- Permitted uses
- 65
Neighborhood Business District
- Max height
- 45 ft
- Front setback
- 20 ft
- Permitted uses
- 50
Convenience Retail District
- Max height
- 35 ft
- Front setback
- 55 ft
- Permitted uses
- 26
Industrial
2Residential
8R-16 Suburban Residential District
- Max density
- 16 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 5
Residential District
- Min lot
- 15,000 sq ft (0.34 ac)
- Front setback
- 30 ft
- Permitted uses
- 1
R-30 Urban Residential District
- Max density
- 30 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 4
R-4 District
- Min lot
- 10,000 sq ft
- Front setback
- 30 ft
- Max density
- 4 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 4
R-6 District
- Max density
- 6 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 4
Semi-Rural Residential District
- Min lot
- 43,560 sq ft (1 ac)
- Front setback
- 35 ft
- Max density
- 1 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 6
Semi-Rural Residential District
- Min lot
- 130,680 sq ft (3 ac)
- Front setback
- 35 ft
- Max density
- 0.33 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 6
Semi-Rural Residential District
- Min lot
- 217,800 sq ft (5 ac)
- Front setback
- 50 ft
- Max density
- 0.2 du/ac
- Permitted uses
- 6
General provisions
581 rules that bind every district rather than one — sign regulations, parking, floodplain and the rest of the code’s citywide chapters.
Existing cemeteries, as defined in Part 100 of this chapter, shall be preserved and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this section.
A minimum of a twenty-five (25)-foot wide cemetery preservation area shall be established around the perimeter of the cemetery... A cemetery fence ... between three and four feet tall ...
All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed, shielded, aimed, located and maintained to shield adjacent properties and to not produce glare onto adjacent properties or roadways. Parking lot light fixtures and light fixtures on buildings shall be full cut-off fixtures.
All outdoor lighting shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this division; ...
All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed, shielded, aimed, located and maintained to shield adjacent properties... Parking lot light fixtures and light fixtures on buildings shall be full cut-off fixtures. ... Flashing, revolving, or intermittent exterior lighting visible from any property line or street shall be prohibited. ... In parking lots, light fixture poles shall not be more than 30 feet in height...
The average maintained lighting levels for nonresidential uses shall not exceed the following standards: (a) Five foot-candles for parking lot and other areas. (b) Ten foot-candles along fronts of buildings and along main drive aisles. (c) Thirty foot-candles for high security areas.
Outdoor lighting for nonresidential uses shall comply with the following standards: ...
The average maintained lighting levels for nonresidential uses shall not exceed the following standards: Five foot-candles for parking lot... Ten foot-candles along fronts of buildings... Thirty foot-candles for high security areas... Lighting levels shall not exceed 0.5 foot-candles at any common property line with property zoned, used as or planned for residential or agricultural uses.
The average maintained lighting levels for recreational uses, other than professional sports teams, shall not exceed the following: (a) Fifty foot-candles in the infield and 30 foot-candles in the outfield for baseball/softball. (b) Fifty foot-candles for football/soccer fields. (c) Fifty foot-candles for tennis courts. (d) Thirty foot-candles for basketball courts. (e) Five foot-candles for golf related facilities. (f) Five foot-candles for parking lots.
Outdoor lighting for recreational sports facilities shall comply with the following standards: ...
The average maintained lighting levels for recreational uses... shall not exceed: Fifty foot-candles in the infield... All light fixtures/light poles shall be set back a minimum of one foot for every foot in height from any residential property line or right-of-way. Lighting levels shall not exceed 0.5 foot-candles at any common property line...
The average maintained lighting levels for multifamily units shall not exceed the following: 1. 0.5 foot-candles at property line boundaries. 2. Ten foot-candles at buildings, parking lots and other areas.
Outdoor lighting for multifamily uses shall comply with the following standards: ...
The average maintained lighting levels for multifamily units shall not exceed the following: 0.5 foot-candles at property line boundaries. Ten foot-candles at buildings, parking lots and other areas.
Spotlighting or floodlighting used to illuminate buildings, statues, signs or any other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal or platform, or used to accentuate landscaping shall consist of full cut-off or directionally shielded lighting fixtures
Outdoor lighting for buildings, statues, other man-made objects, and landscapes shall comply with the following standards: ...
Spotlighting or floodlighting used to illuminate buildings, statues, signs or any other objects... shall consist of full cut-off or directionally shielded lighting fixtures... The lighting shall not shine directly into the window of a residence or directly into a roadway.
The following lighting shall be exempt from the provisions of this division: ...
As part of the submission for a site plan or a building, electrical or sign permit to install outdoor lighting fixtures as part of the application, the applicant shall submit evidence that the proposed work complies with this section.
All site plans and subdivision plans shall include a lighting plan showing the location, type, and illuminance levels of all outdoor lighting.
Source documents
The chapters of the adopted code that were retrieved, read and extracted from. Everything above traces back to one of these.