Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Portsmouth, VA (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Portsmouth, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Portsmouth allows up to a 20 percent density bonus above the district maximum for new commercial, industrial, D1, and UR-M development that provides qualifying resilient site and building features under Sec. 40.2-310.
Portsmouth Resilient Development Density Bonus
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA Zoning Ordinance Sec. 40.2-310(A)(1)(a)(i)
(a)Development providing resilient site and building features in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be eligible for bonuses shown in Table 40.2-310(1) and including:(i)A total density bonus of up to a maximum of 20 percent beyond the maximum allowable gross residential density;
Downtown Design Guide
Portsmouth's Downtown (D1) zoning district regulates building design across five sub-districts (T3 through T6 and SD) to protect the tourist corridors leading to the city's historic districts and waterfront. Nonresidential ground-floor façades must be at least 50 percent glass between two and eight feet high, and residential façades at least 30 percent.
Portsmouth Downtown D1 District Standards
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth City Code § 40.2-207(A) and (E), Downtown D1 District and Sub-Districts
(A)General Purposes. The Downtown (D1) district and sub-districts are created for the purposes set forth herein and without limitation, for the promotion and preservation of the City's educational, cultural and economic interests, opportunities and advantages. The district includes and bounds the Downtown Design Overlay District and significant tourist routes providing access to historic struct...