CHAPTER 344

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 15.1-480 as amended, 15.1-486, 15.1-489
and 15.1-490 of the Code of Virginia relating to planning, subdivision
of land and zoning so as to enable counties and municipalities to enact
ordinances in reference to flood plane zoning. S116)

Approved April 1, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 15.1-430 as amended, 15.1-486, 15.1-489 and 15.1-490 of the
Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 15.1-430. (a) “Governing body” means the board of supervisors
of a county or the council of a city or town.

(b) “Historic area” means an area containing buildings or places
in which historic events occurred or having special public value because of
notable architectural or other features relating to the cultural or artistic
heritage of the community, of such significance as to warrant conservation
and preservation.

(c) “Local planning commission” or “local commission” means a
municipal planning commission or a county planning commission.

(d) “Municipality” means a city or town incorporated under the laws
of Virginia.

(e) “Official map” means a map of legally established and proposed
public streets, waterways, and public areas, adopted by the governing body
oo a county or municipality in accordance with the provisions of Article 5

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(f) “Person” means individual, firm, corporation or association.

(g) “Regional planning commission” means a planning commission
for any region consisting of any two or more adjacent counties or munici-
palities or of either or both, including any county and any town or towns
within it, heretofore organized or organized under the provisions of article
2 hereof ; and includes any such commission organized under the designation
“regional planning and economic development commission.”

(h) “Street” means highway, street, avenue, boulevard, road, lane,
alley, or any public way.

(i) “Special exception” means a special use, that is a use not per-
mitted in a particular district except by a special use permit granted under
the provisions of this chapter and any zoning ordinances adopted herewith.

§ 15.1-486. The governing body of any county or municipality may,
by ordinance, divide the territory under its jurisdiction into districts of
such number, shape and area as it may deem best suited to carry out the
purposes of this article, and in each district it may regulate, restrict,
permit, prohibit, and determine the following:

(a) The use of land, buildings, structures and other premises for
agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, flood plane and other
specific uses;

(b) The size, height, area, bulk, location, erection, construction,
reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance, razing, or removal of
structures ;

(c) The areas and dimensions of land, water, and air space to be
occupied by buildings, structures and uses, and of courts, yards, and other
open spaces to be left unoccupied by uses and structures, including varia-
tions in the sizes of lots based on whether a public or community water
supply or sewer system is available and used;

The excavation or mining of soil or other natural resources.

For the purpose of zoning, the governing body of a county shall have
jurisdiction over all the unincorporated territory in the county, and the
governing body of a municipality shall have jurisdiction over the incorpo-
rated area of the municipality.

§ 15.1-489. Zoning ordinances shall be for the general purpose of
promoting the health, safety or general welfare of the public and of further
accomplishing the objectives of § 15.1-427. To these ends, such ordinances
shall be designed (1) to provide for adequate light, air, convenience of
access, and safety from fire, flood and other dangers; (2) to reduce or
prevent congestion in the public streets; (3) to facilitate the creation of
a@ convenient, attractive and harmonious community; (4) to expedite the
provision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster evacuation, civil
defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks,
forests, playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports and other public
requirements; (5) to protect against destruction of or encroachment
upon historic areas; and (6) to protect against one or more of the following:
overcrowding of land, undue density of population in relation to the com-
munity facilities existing or available, obstruction of light and air, danger
and congestion in travel and transportation, or loss of life, health, or
property from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.

§ 15.1-490. Zoning ordinances and districts shall be drawn with
reasonable consideration for the existing use and character of property, the
suitability of property for various uses, the trends of growth or change,
the current and future requirements of the community as to land for
various purposes as determined by population and economic studies and
other studies, the transportation requirements of the community, and the
requirements for schools, parks, playgrounds, recreation areas, and other
public services; for the conservation of natural resources; and preserva-
tion of flood planes and for the conservation of properties and their values
and the encouragement of the most appropriate use of land throughout
the county or municipality.