The Planning Division handles:

• Comprehensive Plan
• Subdivision
• Zoning
• Site Plans
• Sign Ordinance
• Wind Energy

This Planning and Zoning Division is responsible for all short and long-range planning functions affecting the growth and development of Botetourt County. It provides citizens with information related to land use issues, zoning, FEMA floodplain determinations, Home Occupation Permits, Manufactured Home (HUD) Permits, plat approvals, rezoning, site plan review, subdivision approvals, sign permits and variances, and performs review, inspection and enforcement duties.

Planning Commission

The Botetourt County Planning Commission is composed of five members who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors to represent their respective magisterial districts. The Commission makes recommendations on rezoning, text amendments, and special exception permit applications. The Board of Supervisors then makes the final decision regarding the Commission’s recommendations.

For more information, including meeting agendas and minutes, please visit the Planning Commission’s website.

Applications and Permits

Planning and Zoning Fees

• Site Plan Development Application
• Home Occupation Permit
• Rezoning/ SEP/Text Amendment and Change in Proffers/Conditions 
• Pre-Application Conference Request Form
• Outdoor Lighting Waiver
• Sign Permit
• Temporary Use Permit Application
• Checklist for Manufactured Homes Placement Permit (for the Manufactured Home (HUD) Permit (formerly the Mobile Home Placement Permit), contact the Planning Office; answers to questions concerning trailers and mobile homes may be found in the “Housing” section of the FAQ)

Subdivision of Land

All land divisions in Botetourt County are governed by the County Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 21). A subdivision is defined as a division of any tract, parcel or lot of land, into two (2) or more parts, at one (1) time for any extended period of time, for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development.

• • Municipal Code – See Chapters 25 (Zoning) and 21 (Subdivisions)
  • Low Density Development Waiver
  • Subdivision / Major
  • Subdivision / Major-Corporate
  • Subdivision / Minor
  • Request for Boundary Line Adjustment
  • Subdivision Exception

Board of Zoning Appeals – Variances

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a five (5) member board appointed by the Circuit Court, which generally approves or denies zoning ordinance variance requests and hears appeals to the zoning administrators’ decisions. The BZA’s decision is final and appealable only to the Circuit Court.

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) normally meets at 9:00 AM on the second Tuesday of each month in the Old District Court Building in Fincastle. For more information, contact the Division of Planning and Zoning.

• Procedures before the BZA: Sec 25-551 of the Municipal Code
• Variance
• Appeal rev 07/08

Conservation

• • Conservation Easement Brochure

Other Resources

Botetourt County

• • • • Architectural Survey of Botetourt County, Virginia (Dec. 31, 2008)
        

        about the Survey Report (A. Firebaugh’s Fincastle Herald article 03/25/09) in County Libraries Reference;
        available for purchase from the P&Z Office: $15 hard-copy; $12 CD  (not available via download)

  • Commercial Permitting Information
  • GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Maps

State and Federal

• • FEMA Floodplain Map Store
    Maps for Botetourt County and its communities available for purchase
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • VA Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
  • VA Department of Transportation (VDOT)