Building Setbacks & Zoning in Loudoun County, VA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
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.
Loudoun County AR-1 Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsLoudoun County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 2.04.01, Table 2.04.01-1
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.
Structure Height Limits
Loudoun County caps building height at 35 ft in the Agricultural Rural-1 (AR-1) Zoning District, the same limit across all three AR-1 development options. Height is measured from average finished grade to the average point between the eaves and roof peak, or to a flat roof's highest point. Barns, silos, farm buildings, chimneys, and utility structures are exempt from the cap.
Loudoun County AR-1 Building Height Limit
Some RestrictionsLoudoun County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 2.04.01, Table 2.04.01-1; § 7.01.06.B.3
11 Building Height (max)3: 35 ft / 35 ft / 35 ft / 35 ft [Table 2.04.01-1]. Section 7.01.06.B.3.a: "The building height limitations specified under the zoning district regulations do not apply to: Towers, gables, penthouses, scenery lofts, cupolas, barns, silos, farm buildings, residential chimneys, spires, flag poles, monuments, utility lines and utility poles, telecommunications facilities, r...
Lot Coverage Limits
In Loudoun County's Agricultural Rural-1 (AR-1) Zoning District, maximum lot coverage is capped at 25 percent under the Base Density Division Option, but only 10 percent of that may be built as residential or nonresidential structures excluding agricultural structures not open to the public. Under the Principal/Subordinate Subdivision and both Cluster Subdivision options, the cap drops to a flat 15 percent of the lot.
Loudoun County AR-1 Max Lot Coverage
Some RestrictionsLoudoun County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 2.04.01, Table 2.04.01-1
10 Lot Coverage (max): 25%, but only 10% may be used for residential or nonresidential structures excluding agricultural structures not open to the public / 15% / 15% / 15%.
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