Overview
Worth knowing
- Resilience Quotient System applies to ALL new development city-wide (§5.12) — not just in CRO. Every new development must earn minimum point score across three categories: risk reduction, stormwater management, energy resilience. Points scale with project size: ≤5 units = 4 points; ≥200 units = 10 points. Nationally unprecedented.
- Alternative compliance path: Elevation above BFE, on-site stormwater detention, generator connectivity in lieu of point system.
- CRO combines 100-year and 500-year floodplains into one overlay — proactive sea-level rise adaptation.
+ 3 more in Quirks & notes
Districts
res_sf 6res_mf 2spec 2mu 2res_th 1com 1cbd 1off 1
| Code | Name | Category | Min lot | Height | Coverage | FAR | Du/ac | Parking | Setbacks F/S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF-2 | Single-Family 2 | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| SF-4 | Single-Family 4 | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| SF-6 | Single-Family 6 | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| SF-10 | Single-Family 10 | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| SF-C | Single-Family Compact | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| SF-T | Single-Family Townhouse | res_th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| R-C | Residential Cottage | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| MF-NS | Multi-Family Neighborhood Scale | res_mf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| MF-HR | Multi-Family High Rise | res_mf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| HC | Historic and Cultural Conservation | spec | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-1 | General Commercial | com | — | 65 ft[2] | 0.75[3] | — | — | — | 10[1] / — / — |
| C-2 | Downtown Commercial | cbd | — | 85 ft[5] | 0.85[6] | — | — | — | 2.5[4] / — / — |
| MU-N | Mixed-Use Neighborhood | mu | — | 55 ft[8] | 0.7[9] | — | — | — | 15[7] / — / — |
| MU-D | Mixed-Use Downtown | mu | — | 85 ft[11] | 0.85[12] | — | — | — | 2.5[10] / — / — |
| OP | Office Professional | off | — | 65 ft[14] | 0.7[15] | — | — | — | 15[13] / — / — |
| INST | Institutional | spec | — | 75 ft[17] | 0.6[18] | — | — | — | 20[16] / — / — |
Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found
Overlays
CRO
Coastal Resilience Overlay
FP100-year floodplain (FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area) AND 500-year floodplain (0.2% annual chance)
| freeboard_100yr_ft | 3 |
|---|---|
| freeboard_500yr_ft | 1.5 |
| permeable_surfaces_required | 1 |
| stormwater_infiltration_required | 1 |
URO
Upland Resilience Overlay
TODAreas outside flood hazard zones (upland locations)
| transit_oriented_development | 1 |
|---|---|
| development_rights_transfer | 1 |
HC
Historic and Cultural Conservation
HPHistorically or culturally significant neighborhoods
| sub_types | HC-WF1, HC-WF2 |
|---|---|
| vacation_rental_permitted | 0 |
Adopted building codes
Statewide — VA Uniform SBC
Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.
Quirks & notes
- Resilience Quotient System applies to ALL new development city-wide (§5.12) — not just in CRO. Every new development must earn minimum point score across three categories: risk reduction, stormwater management, energy resilience. Points scale with project size: ≤5 units = 4 points; ≥200 units = 10 points. Nationally unprecedented.
- Alternative compliance path: Elevation above BFE, on-site stormwater detention, generator connectivity in lieu of point system.
- CRO combines 100-year and 500-year floodplains into one overlay — proactive sea-level rise adaptation.
- Transfer of development rights incentive: CRO development rights can be extinguished for Resilience Quotient points on URO development. Novel market-based instrument; unused as of 2018.
- Character districts cross-cut base zones — form standards driven by neighborhood character (Downtown, Traditional, Suburban, Coastal), not just use district.
- ADU parameters: Max 50% of principal dwelling sf, capped at 800 sf; owner must reside on site; one per lot.
Formulas
Definitions
- height
- Measured to roof deck; character district form standards may modify. §unspecified
- lot_coverage
- Building footprint / lot area
- setback
- Measured from property line to building exterior
- adu
- Max 50% of principal dwelling sf, capped at 800 sf; owner must reside on site; one per lot §4.3.3.E
Massing explorer
Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.
Sort by
Max height
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Max density
— du/ac
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Min lot size
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| District | Category | Height | FAR | Coverage | Setbacks | Parking | Density | Min lot | Overlays |
|---|
Sources & references
Citations
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Research status
Data quality
35%completeness8 confirmed15 partial12 inferred
Documented gaps
- Residential district dimensional tables (height, setbacks, lot coverage, FAR) not extracted
- Commercial district dimensional tables not extracted
- Full character district form standards require ordinance text verification
- AICUZ relationship to NAS Norfolk not confirmed as distinct overlay
- Historic district parameters not detailed
Known issues
schema:v1-legacypriority:lowdata:gaps-present
Other cities in this state
Nearest-alphabetical profiles. Click through to compare zoning patterns side-by-side.