Norfolk limits how much of a lot buildings and paving can cover through its 2018 Zoning Ordinance under Va. Code § 15.2-2280. In a flood-prone coastal city, impervious coverage also drives stormwater and resilience-quotient requirements on new projects.
The Norfolk Zoning Ordinance (Ord. No. 47,116, effective March 1, 2018) sets maximum building and impervious coverage by district, so how much you can build and pave depends on where your parcel sits. Tight lots in Ghent, Colonial Place, and other older grids press against their coverage caps, while larger outer-neighborhood lots have more room. Because Norfolk sits low against the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay, impervious coverage ties directly into stormwater management: added paving raises runoff and can trigger detention and the city's resilience quotient point requirements. Permeable surfaces may earn partial credit. Exceeding a coverage cap requires a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Over-covering a lot draws a zoning violation and can block the certificate of occupancy. Owners may have to remove impervious surface or add stormwater controls; relief comes only through a Board of Zoning Appeals variance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Norfolk City's lot coverage limits rules stack up against other locations.
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