Loudoun County, VA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 4.04.22.C.3
- Applies to
- Vehicle Wholesale Auction use only
- Minimum lot size
- 20 acres
- Operating hours
- 8 a.m.–6 p.m., weekdays only
- Outdoor storage setback
- 100 feet from right-of-way
- First-offense civil penalty
- $200, then $500 per day
- Applies only in
- Unincorporated Loudoun County
Summary
In unincorporated Loudoun County, a Vehicle Wholesale Auction site must wash any vehicles on-site with recycled water rather than potable water, one of eight Site Development Criteria in Zoning Ordinance Section 4.04.22. The use also requires a 20-acre minimum lot, public sewer service, and operating hours limited to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays only.
Car washing associated with the use must use recycled water.
Full Breakdown
22 governs Vehicle Wholesale Auctions: commercial lots where inventory vehicles are bought and sold at auction to licensed dealers and wholesalers rather than the public. C impose eight specific standards, the third of which is the recycled-water mandate: car washing associated with the use must use recycled water. on weekdays, with no Saturday or Sunday operation. B additionally require a minimum 20-acre lot fronting a public road capable of handling auction traffic, and the site must be served by public sewer. Compliance is verified at Site Plan review by the Department of Building and Development, and the recycled-water system serving the wash bay must be documented on the approved plan before a Zoning Permit issues.
The rule applies only within unincorporated Loudoun County; it has no bearing on car washes, dealerships, or repair shops operating under the separate codes of Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro, or Lovettsville.
Violations & Fines
Operating a Vehicle Wholesale Auction that washes vehicles with potable water instead of recycled water is a Zoning Ordinance violation under the general enforcement scheme of Section 10.13. The Zoning Administrator issues a notice specifying a cure period; if uncorrected, civil penalties of $200 for the first offense and $500 for each subsequent day apply, capped at $5,000 per set of facts (Code of Virginia § 15.2-2286), after which the county may pursue criminal misdemeanor charges. Owners may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals under Section 10.14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every car wash in Loudoun County have to use recycled water?
Why does the ordinance single out vehicle auctions for recycled water?
What happens if an auction site is caught using potable water?
Does this rule apply inside Leesburg or the other towns?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia water use rules overview
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