Loudoun County, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard (Base Density/Principal-Subordinate)
- 25 ft + 35 ft from road ROW
- Front yard (Cluster Subdivision)
- 25 ft
- Side yard minimum
- 25 ft; 15 ft under Cluster
- Rear yard minimum
- 25 ft; 20 ft under Cluster
- Governing district
- AR-1, unincorporated area only
- Enforcement
- Zoning Administrator, § 10.13
Summary
In the unincorporated Rural Policy Area of Loudoun County, the Agricultural Rural-1 (AR-1) Zoning District sets minimum yard setbacks by development option. Under the Base Density Division and Principal/Subordinate Subdivision options, front yards run 25 ft from the property line (35 ft from a road right-of-way, private road, or prescriptive easement), with 25 ft side yards and 25 ft rear yards. The Cluster Subdivision Option tightens side yards to 15 ft and rear yards to 20 ft.
7 Front Yard (min): 25 ft from property line; 35 ft from road ROW; private road; and/or prescriptive easement / 25 ft from property line; 35 ft from road ROW; private road; and/or prescriptive easement / 25 ft / 25 ft. 8 Side Yard (min): 25 ft / 25 ft / 15 ft / 15 ft. 9 Rear Yard (min): 25 ft / 25 ft / 20 ft / 20 ft.
Full Breakdown
01 governs the AR-1 District, established for the Rural North Place Type identified in the General Plan and limited to unincorporated land: the incorporated towns of Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro, and Lovettsville set their own setbacks under separate town codes. 01-1: Base Density Division (1 lot per 20 acres), Principal/Subordinate Subdivision (1 lot per 10 acres), or Cluster Subdivision (1 lot per 5 acres). 01-1's Setback Requirements rows (7-9) fix front yard minimums at 25 ft from the property line plus 35 ft from any road right-of-way, private road, or prescriptive easement for the two lower-density options, dropping to a flat 25 ft under Cluster Subdivision.
Side yards run 25 ft under Base Density/Principal-Subordinate and 15 ft under Cluster; rear yards run 25 ft and 20 ft respectively. 03. Because AR-1 covers the bulk of western Loudoun's rural land outside the towns and the Suburban Policy Area, these numbers are the operative baseline for any new dwelling, addition, or accessory structure on an AR-1 parcel; a survey plat locating the property line, road ROW, and any prescriptive easement is the practical first step before siting a foundation.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces setback compliance under Zoning Ordinance § 10.13. A first notice of violation sets a compliance deadline; failure to abate lets the County issue a civil penalty of $200 for the first offense and $500 for each additional day, capped at $5,000 per set of facts (§ 10.13.E). Once civil penalties from the same violation reach $5,000, the County may instead prosecute it as a criminal misdemeanor under Code of Virginia § 15.2-2286, with each uncorrected day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front yard setback in Loudoun County's AR-1 district?
Are AR-1 setbacks the same in Leesburg or Purcellville?
Can Loudoun County reduce AR-1 setbacks below the table minimums?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
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