Frequently Asked Questions

The Planning Department cannot determine that a lot is not buildable. Whether or not a lot is “buildable” depends on what building plans are proposed, location on the property, site conditions, and what steps the owner is willing to take. If an owner submits a building permit application with building plans and a site plan, then the Planning Department will review the application for compliance with the zoning ordinance. If a property owner wishes to preview applicable zoning requirements before they submit a building permit, they will need to provide sufficient details about what they want to build and where on the property, and then a zoning official can preview what zoning ordinance requirements would apply to the proposal. Below is some of the criteria that the site plan would be judged upon:

• Lot width, area

• The different lot width, area, and setback requirements by district can be found at the following link: https://library.municode.com/va/petersburg/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_APXBZO_ART22HEARBURE_S1REVADI 
• You can find the zoning district and approximate size of your lot at the following link: City of Petersburg (geodecisions.com) 

• Exceptions 

• There exist exceptions for lots which don’t meet the requirements of lot width and area. These can be seen on the following document: Lot Regulations.

• Uses 

• See allowed uses for your property by consulting the zoning ordinance at the link below and clicking your property’s zoning district on the sidebar. 

•  Mini TOC: APPENDIX B - ZONING | Code of Ordinances | Petersburg, VA | Municode Library

1. Applicant files petition with the Petersburg Department of Planning and Community Development, City Hall, 135 N Union Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803. 

Note: It is advised that the applicant discusses the proposed change with the Councilmember responsible for their Ward, in order to determine the likelihood that such request would be approved. To find the Councilmember responsible for our ward, consult the following links: http://www.petersburg-va.org/263/Ward-Map and https://petersburgva.gov/123/City-Council  

2. The Filing fee for Petitions for Rezoning or Special Use Permits is $1,500. A Check or Money Order made payable to the City of Petersburg is to accompany the application.

Note: This fee goes towards the legally required advertising of the public hearing described below. 

3. A Plat of the property must also accompany the petition. A copy of your plat may be found at the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court, 7 Courthouse Ave., Petersburg, VA 23803, or telephone 804-733-2367.

4. The Department of Planning and Community Development Staff will refer the petition to the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing and consider the petition. Department of Planning and Community Development staff shall advertise the public hearing twice during a fourteen-day period, and the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing, and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the petition.

5. The City Council schedules then advertises a public hearing regarding the petition. 

6. The City Council holds a public hearing then considers the petition with the Planning Commission recommendation and renders a final decision to approve or disapprove the petition.

See allowed uses for your property by consulting the zoning ordinance at the link below and clicking your property’s zoning district on the sidebar. 

 Mini TOC: APPENDIX B - ZONING | Code of Ordinances | Petersburg, VA | Municode Library You can also reference this use matrix for a quick glance of the uses allowable in each district. 

Building setbacks and yard requirements vary by zoning district. Please consult the chart at the following link for the requirements for your district: ARTICLE 22. - HEIGHT, AREA AND BULK REQUIREMENTS | Code of Ordinances | Petersburg, VA | Municode Library 

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program turns 50 on August 22, 2024. Established through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, CDBG was created by consolidating several programs into a single block grant. Cities, counties, and states use the CDBG program to undertake community development activities ranging from housing and neighborhood revitalization to economic development and infrastructure improvement. Grantees are given tremendous flexibility in the activities they choose to undertake provided that these activities meet a “national objective” such as benefiting low- and moderate-income residents or addressing blight. HUD allocates CDBG funds each year according to a formula that uses U.S. Census Bureau data for variables that in the 1970s correlated well with community distress. 

For more information about the City of Petersburg’s CDBG, visit https://www.hudexchange.info/ or http://www.petersburg-va.org/990/Community-Development-Block-Grant-Advisory