Arlington County, VA · Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO)
S-3A (ACZO §4.2) is a special district whose purpose is to encourage retention of certain properties in a relatively undeveloped state -- active or passive recreation, scenic vistas, and stream-valley floodplains -- on publicly or privately owned land. One-family dwellings are permitted by-right on lots of at least 3 acres (35 ft height); other permitted uses (per the §4.1 Public-districts use table) require 6,000 sq ft and may reach 45 feet. Colleges, hospitals, social-service institutions and schools are allowed by special exception.
Development standards in S-3A
We don't hold published dimensional standards for this zone yet — see the ordinance link below for the authoritative table.
Permitted uses in S-3A
AllowedOne-Family Dwelling By-right on lots of at least 3 acres (ACZO §4.2)
AllowedParks, Recreation & Open Space Consistent with the district's retention purpose (ACZO §4.1/§4.2)
ConditionalGovernment & Civic Use Per §4.1 Public-districts use table
ConditionalSchool Special exception / use permit (ACZO §4.2.4)
ConditionalCollege, Hospital, or Social-Service Institution Special exception; min 5 acres, 45 ft (ACZO §4.2.B)
Not AllowedSTR - Short-Term Rentals No accessory homestay row appears in the ACZO S district use tables; per the table key a blank cell is not permitted (ACZO §12.9.12).
"Conditional" means the use generally requires a public hearing or special-exception approval — a very different timeline and risk profile from a by-right permit.
This is the zone. What about the parcel?
Zone rules are the starting point — the answer for a specific property also depends on lot
size, overlays, existing improvements and site conditions. Run a free address lookup to see
what applies to one property.
Standards as recorded by ZoneScore: Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO), Effective June 13, 2026
Values are read from the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO). Where a district allows more density through site plan approval than by right, both are shown -- they are very different entitlement paths.