Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Change Highlights - Chapter 12: Definitions

Chapter 12 of the new Zoning Ordinance defines uses and terms used throughout the ordinance to aid in the administration of the Zoning Ordinance. Included are definitions for more than 700 terms to assure consistency in the interpretation of zoning regulations. The new ordinance does not include more than 90 terms that appear in the previous ordinance because those terms are outdated, redundant, no longer mentioned in the ordinance, or consolidated with other new or revised definitions. The new Zoning Ordinance includes more than 150 new definitions that did not appear in the previous ordinance.  

The new Zoning Ordinance provides a central location, which is Chapter 12, for all definitions, except for those in the Floodplain Overlay District, which are defined in Chapter 5. Many existing definitions from the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance were carried forward into the new ordinance unchanged, while others were revised for clarity where appropriate or consolidated with other definitions. In cases where use standards were included in definitions, those standards were relocated to Chapter 4: Use-Specific Standards. Definitions cannot be modified through the land development process.  

Notably, the new Zoning Ordinance does not include a definition of “farm.” Following careful consideration by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, the Board of Supervisors decided not to add a definition of farm as part of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, in part, because the county’s General Plan does not call for development changes in areas of the county where farms are located. Consideration of adding the definition of farm is anticipated to occur in the future, within the context of a future Comprehensive Plan Amendment and/or Zoning Ordinance Amendment, to allow targeted public outreach to all stakeholders and a comprehensive review of potential policy and zoning changes.   

Other highlights in Chapter 12 of the new Zoning Ordinance include:  

• Adds a definition of Adaptive Reuse. 
• Adds a definition of Energy Storage Facility.  
• Adds definitions for Site-Specific Solar Facility and Utility-Scale Solar Facility. 
• Adds a definition of Historic Resource.  
• Adds a definition of Incremental Addition. 
• Adds definitions for Native Plant and Invasive Plant.  
• Adds a series of new sign definitions for the extensively rewritten sign ordinance. 
• Revises the definition of Attainable Housing Unit. 
• Revises the definitions of Medical Office and Medical Care Facility. 

Review additional details in the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance.

Last updated 12/18/2023