Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Broadway, Virginia

Town of Broadway’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or altered buildings and changes of use inside Broadway town

  • Section 803.02 says the Rockingham County department of building signs and issues the certificate.
  • Special use permit uses still require a certificate of occupancy (501.02).

  “a certificate of occupancy shall be required in advance of occupancy or use of a building hereafter erected;”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Broadway town limits (Rockingham County)

  • Land Development Regulations: zoning ordinance plus Article IX subdivision regulations; article revision dates range 2011-2023.

  “constituting the town of broadway zoning ordinance, as amended and subdivision ordinance - town of broadway, virginia, as amended.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Broadway town (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and others)

  • Article IV (establishment of districts) revised December 6, 2011; Article VI uses in districts revised October 3, 2023.

  “iv establishment of districts december 6, 2011 v application of zoning regulations december 6, 2011”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 residential district inside Broadway town

  • Minimum lot width at the setback line is 100 feet (75 feet in a cul-de-sac).
  • Other districts (R-2, R-3, R-4) have different standards; R-2 and R-3 not fully extracted here.

  minimum lot area R-1: >= 15000 square feet

  “lots in the r-1 district shall not be less than 15,000 square feet in area.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 residential district inside Broadway town

  • Rear yard minimum 30 feet; side yards together 25 feet, each not less than 10 feet (611.08).

  front setback from street right-of-way R-1: >= 35 feet

  “primary structures in an r-1 district shall be located 35 feet or more from any street right-of-way.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 residential district inside Broadway town

  maximum building height R-1: <= 35 feet from grade

  “buildings may be erected up to 35 feet in height from grade.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Broadway town

  • Article IX subdivision regulations, revised July 7, 2015.

  “no building or zoning permit shall issue in connection with any land divided or conveyed in violation of this subdivision ordinance.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Bed and breakfast or short term rental use inside Broadway town

  • Average stay one week or less; no more than four guest rooms under common ownership and no more than eight guests at one time.
  • Ordinance of May 2, 2023 added short term rentals to the definition.

  “the particular type of dwelling constituting the bed and breakfast or short term rental must be a structure that is permitted (either by right, or through a duly granted special use permit) in the underlying zoning district.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits inside Broadway town

  • Special uses need a special use permit under Article 8 instead of a zoning permit.
  • Zoning permit lapses six months after issuance if not exercised (802.06).
  • Permit may be withheld if town property taxes are unpaid (802.05 area).

  “the zoning administrator shall issue a zoning permit without a public hearing and in accordance with the procedures of this ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Broadway town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Broadway town
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Broadway town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Broadway town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Broadway 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.