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Rezoning, Special Use & Variances
Applications
The Roanoke County Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations on rezoning applications (PDF) to the Board of Supervisors at their monthly public hearing. The deadline for application submission is six weeks before the date of the public hearing.
Definition of Rezoning
A rezoning is the reclassification of a parcel of land from one zoning district to another zoning district. A rezoning is often requested when the applicant wishes to use a piece of property for a use that is not permitted in the current zoning district. An application for a rezoning can be initiated by the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, or any other party with the written consent of the property owner.
Application Process
Virginia State Code requires that all rezoning applications proceed through a series of advertised public hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. Adjacent property owners are notified by mail of the date, time, and location of these public hearings.
A typical rezoning application takes approximately two months from submission of the application to the final decision of the Board of Supervisors. As of July 2017, a pre-application meeting is required.
Contact Us
For more information or to begin the rezoning or special use process, download a rezoning application (PDF) and contact the Planning and Zoning Division at 540-772-2065.
Applications
The Roanoke County Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations on special use permit applications (PDF) to the Board of Supervisors at their monthly public hearing. The deadline for application submission is six weeks before the date of the public hearing.
Definition of Special Use Permit
Uses in a zoning district are divided into by-right uses and uses that are allowed only by special use permit. These uses may, depending on their scale, design, and location, be compatible with other uses within that zoning district. Special use permits are generally subject to certain standards or conditions to ensure that the use is appropriate to the area.
Application Process
Virginia State Code requires that all special use permit applications proceed through a series of advertised public hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. Adjacent property owners are notified by mail of the date, time, and location of these public hearings.
A typical special use permit application takes approximately two months from submission of the application to the final decision of the Board of Supervisors. As of July 2017, a pre-application meeting is required.
Contact Us
For more information or to begin the special use process, download a special use permit application (PDF) and contact the Planning and Zoning Division at 540-772-2065.
What is a Variance?
"Variance" means, in the application of a zoning ordinance, a reasonable deviation from those provisions regulating the shape, size, or area of a lot or parcel of land or the size, height, area, bulk, or location of a building or structure when the strict application of the ordinance would unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property, and such need for a variance would not be shared generally by other properties, and provided such variance is not contrary to the purpose of the ordinance. It shall not include a change in use, which change shall be accomplished by a rezoning or by a conditional zoning.
About the Variance Process
Virginia State Code requires that all variance petitions heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals and meet the public hearing requirements, which include mailings to adjacent property owners and a legal advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation. The adjacent property owners are notified by mail of the date, time, and location of these hearings.
Length of Process
Because of these requirements, the typical variance process will take about one month, from the submission of the application to the public hearing. Planning and Zoning Department staff is available to assist citizens throughout the variance application process.
Appeals
If the Board of Zoning Appeals' decision is to deny the variance, the petitioner may appeal the decision to the Circuit Court within 30 days.
Contact Us
For more information or to begin the variance process, download a variance application form and contact the Planning and Zoning Department at 540-772-2065.