6 rules for unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Loudoun County Chapter 612 limits grass and weeds to 12 inches maximum on residential lots under 10 acres. VA Code §15.2-900 authority; agricultural zones exempt.
Loudoun has a Tree Conservation Ordinance protecting specimen trees in developments. Rural AR zones have broader tree protections tied to stormwater and Chesapeake Bay compliance.
Loudoun County does not require permits for tree removal on private residential property outside regulated overlays. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Resource Protection Areas (RPAs) impose strict 100-ft stream buffer protections per Ord. Ch. 1220. Development site plans preserve designated trees per FSM Chapter 3. Historic districts (Waterford, Goose Creek, Middleburg) require Certificate of Appropriateness for significant tree removal. Virginia banned Bradford pear as noxious weed 2024. Street trees are VDOT or town-managed.
Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-961 – Replacement of trees during development process
Any locality with a population density of at least 75 persons per square mile or any locality within the Chesapeake Bay watershed may adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacement of trees during the development process pursuant to the provisions of this section. Population density shall be based upon the latest population estimates of the Cooper Center for Public Service of the...
Loudoun enforces weed and noxious vegetation under Chapter 612 and VA Code §15.2-900. Active invasive species include kudzu, English ivy, Japanese stiltgrass, and tree-of-heaven across eastern Loudoun.
Loudoun Water enforces conservation stages triggered by Potomac River flows. Stage 1-3 restrictions limit outdoor watering. Well owners in rural Loudoun self-manage aquifer use.
Rainwater harvesting in Loudoun County is legal and encouraged — Virginia has no state restrictions on residential collection. Rain barrels and small cisterns require no county permit. Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District offers rain barrel workshops and rebates. Large cistern systems over 2,500 gallons may trigger building/plumbing permits. Potable use requires filtration/UV per VDH regulations. HOAs may restrict visible barrel placement. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act compatible — reduces stormwater runoff.
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