Whenever there shall be plans in existence, approved by either
the State Department of Transportation or by the governing body, for
the widening of any street or highway, the Commission may require
additional front yard setbacks for any new construction or for any
structures altered or remodeled adjacent to the future planned right-of-way
for such proposed street or highway widening.
There shall be provided, at the time of erection of any building
or at the time any main building is enlarged, minimum off-street parking
space with adequate provision for entrance and exit by standard-sized
automobiles, as follows:
A.
In all districts where residential uses are permitted, there shall
be provided, either in a private garage or on the lot, space for the
parking of two automobiles for each dwelling unit in a new building
or each dwelling unit added in the case of the enlargement of an existing
building.
B.
For churches, high schools, college and university auditoriums, and
for theaters, general auditoriums, stadiums and other similar places
of assembly, at least one parking space for every five fixed seats
provided in said building.
C.
For hospitals, at least one parking space for each two beds' capacity,
including infants' cribs and children's beds.
D.
For medical and dental offices, at least 10 parking spaces. Three
additional parking spaces shall be furnished for each doctor or dentist
in such offices in excess of three doctors or dentists.
E.
For fraternal lodges, hunting clubs, golf courses, yacht clubs, country
clubs and marinas, at least 25 parking spaces shall be provided. Additional
parking may be required by the governing body.
F.
For retail stores selling directly to the public, one parking space
for each 200 square feet of retail floor space in the building.
G.
Parking spaces for post offices, one for each 50 box holders but
not less than 10 spaces.
H.
Restaurants, one parking space per table or booth, plus six for employees.
I.
For motels, hotels, tourist homes and boardinghouses, one parking
space per guest room plus adequate parking for employees as determined
by the Zoning Administrator.
J.
Any other commercial building not listed above hereafter erected,
converted or structurally altered shall provide one parking space
for each 100 square feet of business floor space in the building.
K.
For industrial plants, one parking space for each employee working
in the plant.
L.
Parking space as required in the foregoing shall be on the same lot with the main building, except that in the case of buildings other than dwellings, spaces may be located as far away as 600 feet. Every parcel of land hereafter used as a public parking area shall be surfaced with gravel, stone, asphalt or concrete. It shall have appropriate guards where needed as determined by the Zoning Administrator. Any lights used to illuminate said parking areas shall be so arranged as to reflect lights away from adjoining premises in a residential district. Any lights used to illuminate said parking areas shall be so arranged as to reflect lights away from adjoining premises as required by § 148-144.
M.
Parking requirements shall at no time be considered sufficient for
any other use of the premises, and additional spaces shall be provided
to meet requirements when there is any change to a different industrial
use or to a commercial use.
A.
The Commission shall determine whether there exist any areas which
would come under the United States Federal Aviation Agency's criteria
for determining obstruction to air navigation. If such an area exists,
it shall be marked on the Zoning Map in the office of the Zoning Administrator.
B.
Places of public assembly, such as schools, hospitals, churches,
apartment houses, theaters, community centers and nursing homes, shall
not be erected or otherwise located in an area which would be classified
as an airport/airstrip approach zone. This zone contains an area of
11,000 feet from the end of any runway. For airports accommodating
commercial jet aircrafts, the zone extends out 3 1/2 miles from
the end of any runway.
C.
The Zoning Administrator shall consult with the United States Federal
Aviation Agency and prepare such height and other regulations governing
the construction of buildings within the airport/airstrip approach
zone. Following approval by the governing body, the Zoning Administrator
shall enforce these regulations.
The following lighting standards shall apply to all exterior
lighting sources, including but not limited to lighting for parking,
access drives, and walkways, gasoline canopy lighting, and internally
and externally illuminated signs. Site plans shall include a lighting
plan, drawn to the same scale as the site plan, to demonstrate compliance
with the following standards.
A.
All lighting shall be designed, located, fully shielded, and arranged
so as not to direct glare on adjoining streets or properties. For
Zoning Districts C-1, A-1 and all residential districts, the intensity
at adjoining streets or residential properties shall not exceed 5.38
lux. For Zoning Districts B-1 and M-1, the intensity at adjoining
streets or properties shall not exceed 16.15 lux. If the intensity
on adjoining property lines does not exceed the lux previously mentioned,
then lighting does not need to be shielded.
B.
Excepted from these requirements are roadway and airport lighting,
lighting activated by motion-sensor devices, temporary circus, fair,
carnival, or civic uses, construction or emergency lighting, temporary
lighting, and lighting associated with agricultural pursuits. For
the purpose of this chapter, a "fully shielded fixture" shall be defined
as an outdoor lighting fixture that is shielded or constructed so
that all light emitted is projected below a horizontal plane running
through the lowest part of the fixture.
Activities must comply with all local, state, and federal regulations.
At the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, the following
uses shall be screened from public view and adjacent residential properties
in a manner to be approved by the Zoning Administrator:
A.
Sawmills.
B.
Mobile home parks.
C.
Veterinary, dog or cat hospital, with runways.
D.
Sand and gravel pits.
E.
Commercial feed lots.
F.
Livestock markets.
G.
Contractors' equipment storage yards.
H.
Asphalt or concrete batching plants.
I.
Concrete works.
J.
Truck and motor freight terminals.
K.
Auto/truck dismantling or junkyards.
L.
Shipping containers.
At the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, the following
uses shall have adequate fencing, to be approved by the Zoning Administrator:
A.
Farming with livestock.
B.
Veterinary, dog or cat hospitals, with runways.
C.
Sand and gravel pits.
D.
Commercial feed lots.
E.
Lumber and building supplies.
F.
Machinery sales and services.
G.
Contractors' equipment storage yards.
H.
Asphalt or concrete batching plants.
I.
Concrete works.
J.
Swimming or tennis clubs, commercial.
K.
Swimming pools, private.
L.
Auto/truck dismantling or junkyards.
In addition to setbacks required in other sections of this chapter,
the following uses shall require the additional setback as specified:
A.
Recreation camps, campgrounds and travel trailer camps: 25 feet.
B.
Marinas, public or private, with or without restaurants: 25 feet.
C.
Seafood processing, commercial aquaculture: 50 feet.
D.
Sawmills and wood chipping/grinding facility: 100 feet.
E.
Light industry: 25 feet.
F.
Portable sawmills: 100 feet.
G.
Food processing and canning: 50 feet.
H.
Sand and gravel pits: 50 feet.
I.
Commercial feed lots: 100 feet.
J.
Livestock markets: 100 feet.
K.
Contractors' equipment storage yard: 25 feet.
L.
Storage warehouse: 25 feet.
M.
Asphalt or concrete batching plant: 50 feet.
N.
Boat building: 50 feet.
O.
Concrete works: 50 feet.
P.
Flour mill and grain milling: 25 feet.
In addition to side yards required in other sections of this
chapter, the following uses shall require the additional side yards
as specified:
A.
Recreation camps, campgrounds and travel trailer camps: 25 feet.
B.
Marinas, public or private, with or without restaurants: 25 feet.
C.
Seafood processing, commercial aquaculture: 25 feet.
D.
Sawmills and wood chipping/grinding facility: 50 feet.
E.
Light industry: 25 feet.
F.
Portable sawmills: 50 feet.
G.
Food processing and canning: 25 feet.
H.
Sand and gravel pits: 50 feet.
I.
Commercial feed lots: 50 feet.
J.
Livestock markets: 50 feet.
K.
Contractors' equipment storage yard: 25 feet.
L.
Storage warehouse: 10 feet.
M.
Asphalt or concrete batching plant: 25 feet.
N.
Boat building: 25 feet.
O.
Concrete works: 25 feet.
P.
Flour mills and grain milling: 25 feet.
A.
Private noncommercial piers shall be located no less than 10 feet
from the property line, unless two adjacent property owners construct
one pier that is on the property line.
B.
Open-sided shelter roofs or gazebo-type structures shall not be placed
on private noncommercial piers.
C.
Commercial piers and piers associated with marinas shall be located
no less than 10 feet from the side property line and, if permitted
by the governing body, may be covered.
[Amended 11-10-2021]
A.
Boathouses shall meet the following criteria:
(1)
Boathouses shall not exceed 20 feet in height, 700 square feet,
unless, in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors, the physical
features of the site, such as the property owner's length of shoreline,
the elevation of the bank, the type of other structures in the area,
etc., are such that a boathouse of a larger dimension would not be
out of conformity with the surrounding area. In addition, two adjacent
property owners may construct one boathouse that is on the property
line, which cannot exceed 1,400 square feet by 20 feet in height.
Boathouses' lengths and widths are measured from the support pilings,
and the height is measured from the top of the roof ridge to mean
low water.
(2)
The minimum length of the applicant's shoreline shall not be
less than 100 feet (measured in a straight line from the intersection
of the side property line with the mean low waterline), and the pier
and boathouse shall not be located less than 20 feet from the side
property line at mean low water.
(3)
The leaseholder of any oyster ground encroached upon by the
proposed boathouse must be notified, as well as all the adjacent property
owners, including owners across the waterway, if the waterway is less
than 500 feet in width.
(4)
The boathouse shall be in the most suitable location from surrounding
properties, and any adverse impacts to adjoining properties, whether
abutting or nearby, shall be minimal.
(5)
All exposed materials shall be painted, stained or salt treated.
Treated materials are required for all wood members contacting the
water.
(6)
All roofs shall have an "A" pitch of no less than four on 12,
with eves and soffits not exceeding 18 inches in width.
(7)
Except for the support pilings, top plates or headers, all sides
of the boathouse will be open, with an unobstructed view from the
waterline to the bottom of the top plate or support header.
(8)
A fire extinguisher must be located within the boathouse, accessible
from the pier.
A.
No individual mobile/manufactured home shall be located or relocated
within Northumberland County until a building permit is granted. No
building permit shall be granted for residential use of a mobile/manufactured
home in Northumberland County until an approved water well and septic
tank disposal system has been installed and certified operational
by the County Sanitarian, Virginia Department of Health.
B.
Once all requirements have been met regarding the placement of a
mobile home within Northumberland County, except for the installation
of a water and septic disposal system, the Building Official shall
provide to the applicant a conditional certificate, which shall guarantee
the issuance of a building permit when the approved water well and
septic tank disposal system has been installed and certified operational
by the County Sanitarian, Virginia Department of Health.
C.
Mobile/manufactured home parks must meet the following requirements:
(1)
The mobile/manufactured home park (MHP) is designed so that
it will be harmonious in appearance with the existing or intended
character of the general vicinity and that such use will not change
the character of the area or be detrimental to existing properties.
(2)
The MHP must meet all sanitary requirements of the State Health
Department and provide a central water system.
(3)
The minimum size of the MHP is 10 acres. The maximum density
of an MHP shall not exceed a total of three manufactured homes per
gross acre. Each manufactured home within the park shall be placed
on an individual lot that shall contain a minimum of 10,890 square
feet. Each lot shall have a minimum width of 75 feet.
(4)
At least 10% of the MHP shall be reserved for recreational and
open uses. This area may include areas within buildings designed for
recreational use. The yard requirements for individual lots within
the MHP shall not be included as part of this requirement.
(5)
A fifty-foot-wide evergreen vegetated buffer shall be maintained
from all adjacent roads, and a twenty-five-foot-wide evergreen vegetated
buffer shall be maintained from all adjacent properties. The vegetated
buffer shall be a minimum of six feet in height with no openings other
than the required entrances and exits to streets or public spaces.
(6)
Each home shall be so placed on its lot that no part of said
home shall be closer than 50 feet to any other home, 50 feet to any
service building and 75 feet to any boundary property line of the
MHP.
(7)
No home space shall be designed for direct access to a street
outside the boundaries of the park. All interior access rights-of-way
shall be at least 50 feet in width, and an all-weather maintained
road at least 20 feet in width shall be constructed. All dead-end
streets shall have a cul-de-sac which is not less than 100 feet in
diameter.
(8)
The MHP shall provide for a central location for the collection
and removal of trash.
(9)
Individual sites cannot be sold or transferred, and all utilities
must be underground.
(10)
Every park site shall have a minimum of two parking spaces per
unit at a width of 15 feet per parking space.
D.
Requirements for temporary storage of mobile/manufactured homes in
various districts.
(1)
Approval to store a mobile/manufactured home must be obtained
from the Zoning Administrator.
(2)
Only one mobile/manufactured home shall be stored on a given
lot.
(3)
Storage of a mobile/manufactured home shall not exceed six months.
If storage needs exceed six months, approval must be obtained from
the governing body.
(4)
There shall be no occupancy of the mobile/manufactured home
during the storage period.
[Amended 4-13-2023]
Recreational vehicles shall meet the following requirements:
A.
Recreational vehicles shall be tied into an approved Health Department
sewerage system unless they are located in an area (campground or
subdivision) which has a dumping station approved by the Health Department
or are located on the same property and adjacent to the main residence
and no compensation is involved.
C.
No full-time occupancy is allowed.
Hunt clubs shall meet the following requirements:
A.
No hunt club shall operate within Northumberland County until a conditional
use permit has been issued.
B.
The roster of all members of any hunt club must be submitted annually
prior to a date established by the Zoning Administrator.
C.
The hunt club shall have a water sewerage disposal system for the
submitted roster approved by the Northumberland County Health Department.
D.
There shall be a vegetated buffer of 200 feet from adjoining residences
and 100 feet from all other property lines, with no activities within
these buffer areas. A landscape plan may be required by the Zoning
Administrator.
E.
There shall be three off-street parking spaces provided for every
four members of the organization.
F.
No animals shall be kept on the property unless supervised daily
and permitted by the Board of Supervisors.
G.
The hunt club shall be free of all trash and debris.
H.
All exterior or outdoor lighting shall be so arranged as to reflect
light away from adjoining properties. Hours of outdoor lighting shall
be determined by the Board of Supervisors.
I.
Any discharging of firearms on the site is prohibited unless specifically
permitted by the Board of Supervisors.
[Added 6-14-2018]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide for the siting,
development, and decommissioning of solar energy projects in Northumberland
County, subject to reasonable conditions that promote and protect
the public health, safety and welfare of the community while promoting
development of renewable energy resources.
C.
Solar energy facility, small system:
(1)
Shall require administrative plan approval by the County Zoning
Administrator. Plan approval does not indicate compliance with the
Building Code or the Electric Code.
(2)
For ground-mounted projects, the applicant shall supply a site
plan showing existing structures, property lines and setback lines.
(3)
For ground-mounted projects, the applicant is required to obtain
a zoning permit and comply with local and state building codes, with
setbacks being the same as the principal structure in the underlying
zoning district.
(4)
Noise requirements shall be no more stringent than noise requirements
for other types of development.
(5)
Does not require a decommissioning plan.
D.
Solar energy facility, medium-scale, and solar energy facility, utility-scale:
[Amended 3-10-2022]
(1)
Shall require conditional use approval by the Board of Supervisors
in all zoning districts.
(2)
Shall require a minimum setback of 25 feet, with a 200-foot
setback from the edge of the right-of-way of any state-maintained
road. The Board of Supervisors can reduce the 200-foot setback if
the applicant installs measures to prevent vehicles from entering
the facility as a result of a traffic accident.
(3)
Shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws, including
but not limited to building and electrical codes and erosion and sediment
control as well as stormwater regulations.
(4)
Shall submit a preliminary emergency operations plan (EOP) to
be approved by the Chief of Emergency Services before seeking a conditional
use permit, and a final as-built facility-specific EOP to the Chief
of Emergency Services and the Sheriff's office before the facility
is operational. The EOP is to be revised when any substantial changes
are made to the facility, or if the ownership of the facility changes.
(5)
Training for first responders, fire departments, rescue squads,
and Sheriff shall be conducted on-site prior to the facility becoming
operational.
(6)
Shall notify the Chief of Emergency Services at least 48 hours
before site becomes operational.
(7)
Shall purchase and install a Knox-Box® on the outside of the perimeter fence near the entrance with the
latest revision of the EOP, facility map, MDS sheets and emergency
contact information as well as a key to the facility gate. A placard
shall be mounted to the perimeter fence with the emergency contact
phone number.
(8)
Solar panels should, to the extent practical, be nonreflective.
(9)
Shall require a project description that is a narrative identifying
the applicant, owner and operator, and describing the proposed solar
energy project, including an overview of the project and its location;
approximate rated capacity of the solar energy project; the approximate
number, representative types and expected footprint of solar equipment
to be constructed; and a description of ancillary facilities, if applicable.
(10)
Shall require a site plan which shall include the following
information:
(a)
Property lines and setback lines.
(b)
Existing and proposed buildings and structures, including preliminary
location(s) of the proposed solar equipment.
(c)
Existing and proposed access roads, drives, turnout locations, and
parking; however, this requirement shall not exceed VDOT requirements
for other types of projects in the underlying zoning district.
(d)
Location of substations, electrical cabling from the solar systems
to the substations, ancillary equipment, buildings, and structures
(including those within any applicable setbacks).
(e)
Fencing or other methods of ensuring public safety.
(f)
Areas of land disturbance, and location of the 100 foot Chesapeake
Bay 100 Foot Resource Protection Area.
(g)
Additional information may be required, as determined by the Zoning
Administrator, such as a scaled elevation view and other supporting
drawings, photographs of the proposed site, photo or other realistic
simulations or modeling of the proposed solar energy project from
potentially sensitive locations as deemed necessary by the Zoning
Administrator to assess the visual impact of the project, landscaping
and screening plan, coverage map, and additional information that
may be necessary for a technical review of the proposal.
(11)
Noise requirements for solar facilities shall be no more stringent
than noise requirements for other types of development in the County.
(12)
Documentation of right to use property for the proposed project.
Documentation shall include proof of control over the land or possession
of the right to use the land in the manner requested.
(13)
Decommissioning plan.
(a)
The application shall include a decommissioning plan.
(c)
The decommissioning plan shall be updated and filed with the County
every five years to account for changed circumstances, including inflation.
(d)
The owner or owners of a solar facility shall notify the County whenever
the facility is inactive for one year, at which time the owner shall
have six months to decommission the facility.
(e)
The owner or owners of a solar facility shall return the site to
the land cover that was present before the solar facility was built.
E.
Bonding requirements. Solar energy facility, utility-scale, shall
require a surety in the amount required for full decommissioning of
the solar facility as stated in the decommissioning plan. The surety
shall be approved by the BOS or its designee.
[Added 4-19-2023]
A.
Tent
camping is permitted by owners, residents, tenants and their respective
guests on property owned, leased or otherwise legally occupied by
the owners, residents, or tenants, without compensation, for a period
of no more than 10 consecutive days, and shall require a Health Department-approved
sanitation facility, on lots less than one acre that do not have dwelling
unit or a recreational vehicle connected to a sewer or septic system.
B.
A conditional
use permit, if allowed per zoning district (See Table of Usages, Appendix
A),[1] is required for any exception to these provisions.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table of Usages, Appendix A, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
C.
No
full-time occupancy is allowed.
