Showing ordinances that apply to University Center, VA
University Center is an unincorporated community (population 3,969) in Loudoun County, Virginia. Because University Center is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Loudoun County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The setback rules rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Loudoun County setbacks vary dramatically by zoning district — from 10-15 ft in Planned Development districts (Ashburn, Brambleton) to 100+ ft in rural A-3 Agricultural zones west of Route 15. The Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (with 2023 amendments) governs. Typical suburban residential R-1: 40 ft front, 10 ft side, 25 ft rear. JLMA (Joint Land Management Area) and Rural Policy Area setbacks protect Loudoun's horse country character. Lot width and setback exceptions in cluster subdivisions. Variances require Board of Zoning Appeals hearing.
Loudoun County is governed by the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (as amended, including significant 2023 updates for ZOAM-2017-0005 and the new Loudoun County Code of Ordinances renumbering). Major residential districts and typical setbacks: R-1 (Single Family Residential - 1 DU/ac): front 40 ft, side 10 ft, rear 25 ft. R-2 (medium density): front 35 ft, side 8 ft, rear 25 ft. PD-H (Planned Development Housing, common in Ashburn, Brambleton, Broadlands, One Loudoun): setbacks set by approved development plan, often 15-25 ft front, 5-10 ft side, 15-20 ft rear. A-3 (Agricultural Rural) west of Route 15: front 75-100 ft from road centerline, side 50 ft, rear 50 ft to preserve rural character. AR-1 and AR-2 (Agricultural Residential): similarly large. TR (Transitional Residential): intermediate setbacks. CLI (Commercial Light Industrial) and PD-IP (Planned Industrial Park, including Ashburn's Data Center Alley): commercial setbacks 30 ft front, 20 ft side/rear. Accessory structures (sheds, garages): typically 10 ft rear, 5 ft side in R-1, reduced from primary structure. Corner lots have two 'front' setbacks on street-facing sides. Flag lots and irregular parcels use special dimensional standards. Variances under VA Code §15.2-2309 require BZA hearing with hardship finding. Loudoun's Facilities Standards Manual supplements with engineering details.
Building in setback (Zoning Ord. §5-900): stop-work order; fines $100-$1,000 per day per VA §15.2-2286. Unpermitted work: permit fee doubled. Encroachment may require removal at owner expense. Title issues at resale.
See how University Center's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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