Development Standards for Residential Districts

We always encourage the use of our eBUILD system for all your permit and plan review submittals as well as payments and permit issuance.

Note to Developers & Disclaimer

Residential zoning districts require minimum yard distances from property lines for building single-family structures. The following zoning district classifications indicate the required lot areas, widths, and yards for newly created lots in standard subdivisions. Based upon the availability of water and sewer connections lot sizes may increase as may be required by the Chesapeake Health Department to permit adequate facilities for wells and sewerage disposal. These development standards do not include minimum requirements for "cluster" subdivisions or for two-family and multi-family dwellings. For further explanation or cluster subdivisions please refer to sections 6-2200 through 6-2210 of the Chesapeake Zoning Ordinance. More detailed information on two-family and multi-family development is also available in Sections 6-1500 through 6-1702 of the Chesapeake Zoning Ordinance.

These required yards also apply to all existing lots that may be zoned residential but may not meet current development standards as they were developed under a previous ordinance. The development standards noted below are not all-inclusive but do reflect the minimum standards under which most people need to begin their individual building projects.

Minimum lot widths are measured at the required front yard setback. Maximum building heights are 35 feet, and may only be increased by a conditional use permit approved by City Council. Under normal construction, most homes that are equal to or less than 2 ½ stories will be at or below the 35-foot height limit (1 story usually equals 14 feet). Under certain circumstances, lot frontages in standard subdivisions (the width of the lot along a street) may be reduced to 80% of the lot width. Some lot frontages developed on a cul-de-sac may qualify for additional lot frontage reductions.

In the zoning categories marked with "(a)", some newly created lots may be platted below the minimum for the zoning district but the overall average of the subdivision must meet the minimum requirements. Setbacks to property lines may also change in these cases, and these changes are noted. 

A-1 Agricultural and Re-1 Residential Estate Districts

Lot Area

  • 3 acres (130,680 square feet)

Lot Width

  • 175 feet

Front Yard

  • 50 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 25% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: at least 10% of the width of the lot or 10 feet, whichever is greater. If the total required width of the two side yards is more than 45 feet, one side yard need not be more than 20 feet in width.

Rear Yard

  • 40 feet

R-40s & R40(a)s Residential Districts

Lot Area

  • 40,000 square feet. (0.92 acres)

Lot Width

  • 110 feet

Front Yard

  • 40 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 25% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: at least 10% of the width of the lot or 10 feet, whichever is greater. If the total required width of the two side yards is more than 30 feet, one side yard need not be more than 15 feet in width.

Rear Yard

  • 30 feet

R-25s & R25(a)s Residential Districts

Lot Area

  • 25,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 100 feet

Front Yard

  • 40 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 25% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: at least 10% of the width of the lot or 10 feet, whichever is greater. If the total required width of the two side yards is more than 25 feet, one side yard need not be more than 10 feet in width.

Rear Yard

  • 30 feet

R-15s & R15(a)s Residential Districts

Lot Area

  • 15,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 90 feet

Front Yard

  • 30 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 25% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: at least 10% of the width of the lot or 10 feet, whichever is greater. If the total required width of the two side yards is more than 25 feet, one side yard need not be more than 10 feet in width.

Rear Yard

  • 30 feet

R-12s Residential District

Lot Area

  • 12,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 85 feet

Front Yard

  • 30 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 25% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: at least 10% of the width of the lot or 10 feet, whichever is greater. If the total required width of the two side yards is more than 25 feet, one side yard need not be more than 10 feet in width.

Rear Yard

  • 30 feet

R-12(a)s Residential District

Lot Area

  • 10,000 to 12,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 80 to 90 feet

Front Yard

  • 30 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 20% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: 6 feet

Rear Yard

  • 30 feet

R-10s Residential District

Lot Area

  • 10,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 80 feet

Front Yard

  • 25 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 20% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: at least 6 feet. If the total required width of the two side yards is more than 25 feet, one side yard need not be more than 10 feet in width.

Rear Yard

  • 25 feet

R-10 Residential District

Lot Area

  • 10,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 80 feet

Front Yard

  • 25 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 20% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: 6 feet.

Rear Yard

  • 25 feet

R-8 Residential District

Lot Area

8,000 square feet

Lot Width

  • 75 feet

Front Yard

  • 25 feet

Side Yards

  • Total side yards: 20% of the width of the lot.
  • Minimum side yard: 6 feet.

Rear Yard

  • 25 feet

R-6 & R-SFA Residential Districts

Note: These districts were established under a previous zoning ordinance that is no longer in effect but properties still maintain these zoning designations. These classifications can only be applied to land that have already been platted into lots of less than 8,000 square feet. Newly platted lots in these zoning categories must meet the R-8 development standards. Many properties with existing homes may already be below the minimum setbacks but would need to comply with these standards for future additions.

Lot Width

  • 65 feet

Front Yard

  • The average front yard of dwellings on the same side of the street within 250 feet. When an average front setback cannot be established, the minimum must be at least 20 feet.

Side Yards

  • Minimum 5 feet on each side, with at least 6 feet of open space between dwellings on adjacent properties. If a fence or wall is present on the adjacent property at the time of construction, side yard requirements of the R-8 district shall apply.

Rear Yard

Lawfully Nonconforming Lots

  • For lawfully nonconforming lots as provided for in Article 15 of the City of Chesapeake Zoning Ordinance, the following side yard setbacks shall apply:
    • For lawfully nonconforming lots with a lot width between forty-one (41) feet and fifty-nine (59) feet, each side yard shall be four feet.
    • For lawfully nonconforming lets with a lot width between sixty (60) feet and sixty-four (64) feet, each side yard shall be five feet.