Zoning Administration in the City of Chesapeake enforces the regulations of the City's Zoning Code, provides information on zoning regulations, reviews documents and plans for compliance, and assists applicants with requests for land use reviews such as variances and rezonings.
The State of Virginia has empowered all towns, cities and counties to adopt zoning ordinances. All of the local jurisdictions in the Hampton Roads area have adopted some form of Zoning Ordinance. While most zoning ordinances are similar, no two are alike. It is recognized that every community has its own particular set of circumstances and zoning ordinances are designed to meet those conditions.
The purpose of zoning is to manage the design, location, use, or occupancy of buildings and structures on property through the development of land in Chesapeake.
The City of Chesapeake's original Zoning Ordinance was adopted on September 27, 1969. It brought together the Zoning Ordinances of Norfolk County (adopted October 9, 1934) and the City of South Norfolk (adopted January 20, 1955). In 1993 the 1969 Zoning Ordinance was comprehensively revised to include the current code. Find the Municipal Code online.
Frequently requested topics relate to the use of property and also provides the required development standards (yard setback requirements based on the zoning classification of the property) for proposed locations of primary and accessory structures on property.