Member Details

Seven members are appointed by the Circuit Court, on recommendation by the Board of Supervisors, for a five-year term.

Overview

This board reviews and hears applications for special exceptions to, variances from, and appeals regarding the administration of the County's Zoning Ordinance.

Duties

The Board has six primary duties:

• To hear and decide appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative officer in the administration or enforcement of the zoning ordinance.
• To grant upon appeal or original application in specific cases variances from the terms of the zoning ordinance as where the strict application of the ordinance would unreasonably restrict the utilization of a property or that granting of a variance would alleviate a hardship.
• To hear and decide applications for special exceptions as may be authorized in the official schedule of district regulations:
  • All applicants for Special Exceptions must attend a Pre-application meeting.
• To hear and decide applications for interpretation of the district map where there is an uncertainty as to the location of a district boundary.
• To hear and decide appeals from the decision of the zoning administrator.
• To revoke a special exception previously granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Board does not have the power to rezone property.

More Information

Contact the Planning and Zoning Office at 804-693-1224 for more information.