Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Stephens City, Virginia

Town of Stephens City’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Stephens City town

  • Enforced by the county building official
  • Violation is a misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000

  “there is hereby adopted by the town council the virginia uniform statewide building code and all amendments thereto”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Stephens City town limits

  • PDF is current through January 30, 2024

  “this chapter shall be known as "the zoning ordinance of stephens city".”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Stephens City town

  • Table of contents also lists R-O, B-2, B-3, I-2, A-1 and other districts

  “the incorporated area of stephens city, virginia, is hereby divided into the following districts: residential district r-1. residential district r-2.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential District R-1 inside Stephens City town

  • Maximum density one residential lot per 40,000 sq ft of adjusted tract area
  • Minimum lot width at setback line 100 feet; no flag lots

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 sq ft (five acres for lots on individual on-site water and/or sewer)

  “the minimum lot area shall be 20,000 square feet. for lots relying on individual on-site water and/or sewer systems, the minimum lot area shall be five acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential District R-1 inside Stephens City town

  • No building need be set back more than the average of the two adjacent structures on either side
  • Corner lot street-side yard at least 30 feet

  front setback: >= 45 feet · total side yards: >= 35 feet (no one side yard less than 15 feet) · rear yard: >= 50 feet

  “the minimum total width of the side yards shall be thirty-five feet, with no one side yard being less than fifteen feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential uses on individual lots in District R-1 inside Stephens City town

  • Total impervious and all-weather surfaces may be up to 30 percent of lot area

  building coverage: <= 20 percent · impervious coverage: <= 30 percent

  “buildings or groups of buildings with their accessory structures may cover up to, but not more than, twenty percent of the area of the lot.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential District R-1 inside Stephens City town

  • Churches up to 60 feet with increased yards
  • Accessory buildings within 20 feet of a party lot line no more than 15 feet high
  • Listed structures such as chimneys and silos are exempt

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (two-and-one-half stories)

  “buildings may be erected up to two-and-one-half stories, thirty-five feet in height from grade.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupying trailers, campers and motor homes as dwellings inside Stephens City town

  • Unlawful except as specifically designated in the town's zoning district
  • A temporary special permit lasts up to 30 days and the trailer may never be used as a dwelling place
  • Extensions need town council approval
  • Original permit fee $100, waivable by council on an emergency basis

  temporary trailer permit duration: <= 30 days (extensions by town council)

  “it shall be unlawful for trailers, trailer camps, or campgrounds to be located, maintained, or occupied as dwellings, for overnight purposes or for other purposes, within the town, except as specifically designated in the town's zoning district.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping and campgrounds inside Stephens City town

  • Allowed only where the zoning districts designate
  • Temporary trailer permit up to 30 days, never as a dwelling

  “it shall be unlawful for trailers, trailer camps, or campgrounds to be located, maintained, or occupied as dwellings, for overnight purposes or for other purposes, within the town, except as specifically designated in the town's zoning district.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured and mobile homes inside Stephens City town

  • Unlawful as dwellings except as designated in zoning districts
  • Temporary permits up to 30 days, never as a dwelling place

  “manufactured homes or mobile trailers may be permitted for temporary periods as provided in this chapter.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building code permit, certificate and inspection fees inside Stephens City town

  • Fees are set by the county, not the town

  “any fees set by the county for services provided in accordance with the virginia uniform statewide building code shall apply within the town as well.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits for construction inside Stephens City town

  • Permits are issued by the county, then approved by the town zoning administrator for zoning compliance

  “each permit issued by the county for construction within the town shall be approved by the town zoning administrator for compliance with the zoning ordinance of the town.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Stephens City or Frederick County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Stephens City town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Stephens City town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Stephens City town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Stephens City town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Stephens City town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.