use permit

Did you happen to see a big blue sign with the County Seal and the words “Public Hearing”? The sign indicates that a property owner has applied for rezoning, a use permit, or a variance.

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is appointed by the Circuit Court to provide relief from the zoning regulations in certain circumstances. The following applications may be granted based upon specific criteria found in the Code of Virginia (e.g. for variances, whether the zoning ordinance would unreasonably restrict the use of the property; for conditional use permits, whether the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance and will not a have a detrimental impact on nearby property). Extraction operations must also comply with county regulations, as well as with regulations administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. The BZA also hears appeals when a property owner believes they have been aggrieved by a decision of the Planning Director or other County official in the administration of the zoning ordinance.