James City County, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base height limit
- 35 ft, two stories
- Increased height option
- 45 ft/three stories with wider side yards
- Farm structure allowance
- silos, spires up to 60 ft
- Maximum with waiver
- 100 ft, Board of Supervisors approval
- Accessory building cap
- 45 ft (60 ft for farm silos/barns)
Summary
Ordinary structures in James City County's A-1 General Agricultural District are limited to two stories and 35 feet under section 24-218, though buildings can rise to 45 feet and three stories with wider side yards, and farm-related structures like silos and church spires can reach 60 feet, or up to 100 feet with a Board of Supervisors waiver.
Structures may be erected up to two stories and shall not exceed 35 feet in height from grade, except that: ... (1)The height limit for buildings may be increased to 45 feet and to three stories; provided, that the two side yards for the building are increased to a minimum of 15 feet plus one foot for each additional foot of the building's height over 35 feet.(2)Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, athletic field lighting, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, home television antennas, home radio aerials, silos and other structures normally associated with and accessory to farming operations may be erected to a total height of 60 feet from grade.
Full Breakdown
Section 24-218 caps ordinary structures in the A-1 General Agricultural District at two stories and 35 feet measured from grade. A building can rise to 45 feet and three stories, but only if its two side yards grow to at least 15 feet, plus one additional foot of side yard for every additional foot of height above 35 feet, a direct trade of setback for height. The ordinance treats farm-related and accessory structures far more generously: church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, water towers, athletic field lighting, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, home television antennas, home radio aerials, silos and other structures normally associated with and accessory to farming operations may reach 60 feet from grade without a waiver.
Beyond that, a structure can go as high as 100 feet, but only after the owner applies for a height limitation waiver, pays the required fee, notifies adjacent property owners, and the Board of Supervisors holds a public hearing and finds the taller structure will not block light to neighbors, will not harm nearby historic sites or property values, and that the county fire chief confirms fire equipment and station access are adequate. No accessory building within 15 feet of a lot line may exceed one story, and most accessory buildings are capped at 45 feet, except that farm silos and barns follow the taller 60-foot farm-structure rule instead.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 35-foot base height limit, or the 45- or 60-foot exceptions, without the required side-yard trade-off or Board of Supervisors waiver is a zoning violation enforced under section 24-22. It is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $10.00 to $1,000.00 per offense, with each 30-day period of an unresolved violation charged separately, and the county may seek an injunction to require the structure be lowered or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build in James City County's A-1 district?
Can farm structures like silos be taller?
Can I get a taller building than 60 feet approved?
What about small accessory buildings near my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in James City County
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