Henrico County, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-3 lot-coverage cap
- None (density by lot area)
- R-3 minimum lot area
- 11,000 square feet
- Coverage defined in
- Sec. 24-8302.D
- Percentage caps
- Mixed-use / townhouse districts
- Bay buffers
- May limit impervious cover
Summary
Henrico's one-family residence districts (like R-3) do not cap lot coverage by a fixed percentage; instead density is controlled by a minimum lot area (11,000 sq. ft. in R-3) and yard setbacks. Mixed-use and some multifamily districts do set explicit lot-coverage percentages (Chapter 24).
Lot Coverage. Lot coverage (expressed as a percentage of lot area) is determined by measuring the total horizontal land area covered by all buildings, structures, and impervious surfaces, dividing that area by the lot area, and multiplying the result by 100.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 24 defines lot coverage in Sec. 24-8302.D as the percentage of lot area covered by all buildings, structures, and impervious surfaces. The one-family residence districts (R-0 through R-4, R-3) regulate intensity through minimum lot area (11,000 sq. ft. in R-3), lot width, and required yards rather than a maximum lot-coverage percentage. Explicit minimum/maximum lot-coverage percentages appear in mixed-use and townhouse-style districts (for example the CMU Community Mixed-Use District). Environmentally-friendly design incentives (Sec. 24-5903) can allow additional coverage in exchange for green building features. Chesapeake Bay Preservation buffers may further limit impervious cover near protected waters.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding an applicable lot-coverage or impervious-surface limit is a Chapter 24 zoning violation, a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and escalating fines for continued violation (Sec. 24-7602).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum lot coverage for a house in Henrico County?
How is lot coverage measured in Henrico County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia building setbacks & zoning overview
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