Prince William County, VA · Prince William County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 32)
Suburban Residential (R-6). The R-6 (formerly SR-6) district is intended to implement the suburban residential medium and community employment center land use classifications of the Comprehensive Plan. The R-6 district is designed to provide for a mixture of single-family residential dwelling types at a density not to exceed six dwelling units per net acre so long as appropriate standards are maintained to insure a reasonable amount of open space and architectural variety, together with public and community buildings (schools, churches, etc.) and facilities necessary for or as are normally compatible with residential surroundings. Description abridged from Sec. 32-303.41 of the Prince William County Zoning Ordinance -- sentences carrying figures are omitted here so this text can never contradict the standards table, which carries a citation on each value. Read that section for the district's own words in full.
| Front setback | Single-family detached, village house: At least 20 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached, patio house: At least 22 ft if the setback is measured to a garage; otherwise at least 15 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” “D. Patio house. This dwelling type is a detached or semi-detached unit, for a single-family, with one dwelling unit from ground to roof. Each dwelling unit's lot shall be fully enclosed by a wall located at the lot line, thus creating a private yard between the house and the wall. Walls shall be a maximum of six feet in height. That portion of the yard or patio area comprising "minimum patio area" is this housing type's minimum yard area. All living spaces, such as living rooms, dens, and bedrooms, shall face into the yard or patio. The following table specifies the minimum standards for a patio house. (1) Minimum lot area5,000 sq. ft. (2) Maximum lot coverage0.75 (3) Maximum building height35 ft. (4) Minimum setbacks: (a) Front setback to house15 ft. (b) Front setback to garage22 ft.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Two-family, duplex house: At least 20 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Single-family attached, ['back-to-back townhouse', 'live/work unit']: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 32-303.41 | |
| Side setback | Single-family detached, village house: At least 20 ft if the side is a corner lot's side along a street; otherwise at least 10 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” “C. Village house. This dwelling type is a single-family residence which is fully detached from neighboring structures. The village house is distinguished by small front and side yards. The streetscape of village houses is a critical element given the small setbacks from the street, thus each plan using this housing type shall demonstrate good design practices. The following table and text specify the minimum standards for a village house. (1) Minimum lot area6,000 sq. ft. (2) Maximum lot coverage0.60 (3) Maximum building height35 ft. (4) Minimum setbacks: (a) Front setback to house20 ft. (b) Side10 ft. (c) Corner lot (side)20 ft.” | 32-306.12 |
| Single-family detached, patio house: At least 20 ft if the side is a corner lot's side along a street; otherwise at least 10 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” “D. Patio house. This dwelling type is a detached or semi-detached unit, for a single-family, with one dwelling unit from ground to roof. Each dwelling unit's lot shall be fully enclosed by a wall located at the lot line, thus creating a private yard between the house and the wall. Walls shall be a maximum of six feet in height. That portion of the yard or patio area comprising "minimum patio area" is this housing type's minimum yard area. All living spaces, such as living rooms, dens, and bedrooms, shall face into the yard or patio. The following table specifies the minimum standards for a patio house. (1) Minimum lot area5,000 sq. ft. (2) Maximum lot coverage0.75 (3) Maximum building height35 ft. (4) Minimum setbacks: (a) Front setback to house15 ft. (b) Front setback to garage22 ft. (c) Minimum side yard setback, for portions not attached10 ft. (d) Corner lots (side)20 ft.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Two-family, duplex house: At least 10 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Single-family attached, ['back-to-back townhouse', 'live/work unit']: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 32-303.41 | |
| Rear setback | Single-family detached, village house: At least 5 ft if the setback is measured to a garage; otherwise at least 25 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” “C. Village house. This dwelling type is a single-family residence which is fully detached from neighboring structures. The village house is distinguished by small front and side yards. The streetscape of village houses is a critical element given the small setbacks from the street, thus each plan using this housing type shall demonstrate good design practices. The following table and text specify the minimum standards for a village house. (1) Minimum lot area6,000 sq. ft. (2) Maximum lot coverage0.60 (3) Maximum building height35 ft. (4) Minimum setbacks: (a) Front setback to house20 ft. (b) Side10 ft. (c) Corner lot (side)20 ft. (d) Rear lot line to house25 ft. (e) Rear lot line to garage5 ft.” | 32-306.12 |
| Two-family, duplex house: At least 15 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Single-family attached: At least 10 ft if the lot is one the ordinance lets keep the setbacks that applied on an earlier date; otherwise at least 20 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” “3) The rear yard setback for townhouses constructed under the standards in effect prior to April 21, 1998, is ten feet. An unroofed deck in the rear yard of a townhouse constructed prior to that date, and with an actual rear yard of ten feet, may encroach up to six feet into the required setback.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Single-family detached, patio house: The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 32-303.41 | |
| Maximum height | Single-family detached, village house: At most 35 ft | 32-306.12 |
| Single-family detached, patio house: At most 35 ft | 32-306.12 | |
| Two-family, duplex house: At most 35 ft | 32-306.12 | |
| Single-family attached, townhouse: At most 35 ft | 32-306.12 | |
| Max density | At most 6 dwellings per net acre | 32-303.41 |
| Minimum lot size | Single-family detached, village house: At least 6,000 sq ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 |
| Single-family detached, patio house: At least 5,000 sq ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Two-family, duplex house: At least 4,500 sq ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Other comparable housing units: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 32-303.41 | |
| Minimum lot width | Single-family detached, village house: At least 60 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 |
| Single-family detached, patio house: At least 50 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Two-family, duplex house: At least 50 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Single-family attached, townhouse: At least 20 ft “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 | |
| Maximum lot coverage | Single-family detached, village house: Depends on the house type: R-6 applies the planned-residential standards of section 32-306.12, which set 60% for a village house and 75% for a patio house. “The performance standards of the PMR, Planned Mixed Residential Zoning District for the village house, patio house, duplex house, townhouse, and other comparable housing units and standards approved by the Zoning Administrator shall apply, in accordance with section 32-306.12.” | 32-303.45(1) |
| Single-family detached, patio house: Depends on the house type: R-6 applies the planned-residential standards of section 32-306.12, which set 60% for a village house and 75% for a patio house. “The performance standards of the PMR, Planned Mixed Residential Zoning District for the village house, patio house, duplex house, townhouse, and other comparable housing units and standards approved by the Zoning Administrator shall apply, in accordance with section 32-306.12.” | 32-303.45(1) | |
| Two-family, duplex house: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 32-303.41 | |
| Minimum open space | Single-family attached, townhouse: At least 30% “5. The Zoning Administrator may approve modifications in any of the minimum development standards provided in this section, other than relating to required side setbacks. No standard shall be reduced by more than 20 percent of the required minimum and the minimum standards for the housing unit type shall collectively be met or exceeded in the area where the modification is proposed.” | 32-306.12 |
| Depends on the development's average lot size: 30% open space where it is under 6,000 sq ft; no figure is set otherwise. “Thirty percent open space shall be required for developments proposing an average lot size of less than 6,000 square feet. For an individual section or phase of a multi-phased development, one-half of the required open space, or 15 percent, shall be provided within that phase or section. The remaining 15 percent may be provided on a project-wide basis.” | 32-303.45(2) |
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.
Look up an address