Building Setbacks & Zoning in Virginia Beach, VA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Virginia Beach, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Virginia Beach's Zoning Ordinance sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks by residential district, from 50 feet in R-40 down to 20 feet in the R-5 districts, under City Zoning Ordinance § 502.
Yard Setback Minimums by Zone in Virginia Beach
Some RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Zoning Ordinance § 502
The following chart lists the requirements within the R-40 through R-5S Residential Districts for minimum lot area, width, yard spacing and maximum lot coverage for single-family dwellings. ... Minimum front yard setback in feet: 50 50 50 30 30 30 20 20 20 ... Except as provided in subdivision (6.1), minimum side yard setback except when adjacent to a street in feet: 20 15 15 10 10 5 & 10 8 8 5...
Structure Height Limits
Virginia Beach caps residential structures at 35 feet under City Zoning Ordinance Sec. 503, with a narrow exception allowing 42 feet for single-family homes in larger R-40 through R-15 subdivisions.
Virginia Beach Residential Height Limit: 35 Feet
Some RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Zoning Ordinance § 503
The following shall constitute the maximum height requirements for all structures within all Residential Districts. (a)Except as provided in subsection (b), the maximum height for all buildings and structures shall be thirty-five (35) feet.(b)The maximum height for single-family dwellings within the R-40, R-30, R-20 or R-15 Residential District in subdivisions of ten (10) or more lots create...
Lot Coverage Limits
Single-family lot coverage in Virginia Beach is capped by zoning district, from 25% in R-40 down to as much as 40% in R-5D and R-5S.
Virginia Beach Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsVirginia Beach City Zoning Ordinance § 502(a) and § 111
Sec. 502(a): Maximum lot coverage in percent: 25 [R-40] 25 [R-30] 25 [R-20] 30 [R-15] 30 [R-10] 35 [R-7.5] 40 [R-5D] 35 [R-5R] 40 [R-5S]. Sec. 111: "Lot coverage. That percent of a zoning lot covered by enclosed building space including total area of all covered open space ... but not including uncovered entrance platforms, uncovered terraces, or uncovered steps where such features do not thems...