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Horse Parking in Southeastern Virginia Counties – Part 2

Virginia is a “horse-friendly” Commonwealth, where the horse owner can find extensive horse grounds and facilities throughout the state. This article will focus on the Richmond, VA area and detail county laws for the number of horses allowed on property and acreage in various Virginia counties. The selected counties stretch from Northern Neck in the Chesapeake Bay Country to James City County, where Williamsburg is located.

Each county has different requirements for horses in stables, and some may even limit the number of horses per property or per acre. While this article attempts to provide a complete overview of county laws in each area, I encourage home buyers to contact the county directly after finalizing a property lease. For the most part, horses are allowed on farmland properties. There may be cases where exceptions are made for residential area properties if they are located near an agricultural area or are protected by previous laws.

Hannover County
In this county of Virginia, one horse is allowed for every acre of land.

Henrico County
The Henrico County zoning ordinance regulates horse ownership in three ways. In most cases, the primary requirement is that any building or yard for enclosing and feeding the horses must be at least 400 feet from any lot in a residential zoning district and at least 200 feet from any other occupied lot. for a home. Henrico County advises horse owners to limit their stables to personal use. The extracted code reads as follows: “Conservation of no more than three horses and / or ponies for personal enjoyment and not for business.” In that case, the barn must be at least 400 feet from any dwelling in a residential zoning district or 200 feet from any other dwelling. Measuring from the home, rather than the property line, allows much greater flexibility in the location of buildings or patios. In return, however, this provision comes with a restriction that no more than one horse or pony is allowed per acre of fenced pasture.

James City County
If the property is zoned A-1, it is general agricultural and the county allows up to seven horses per acre. If the property is zoned R-8, Rural Residential, up to seven horses per acre are allowed. Horses are not allowed in the R-2 or R-1 zones.

York County
Horses are allowed on properties that are divided into Rural Residential Zones (RR) or Resource Conservation Properties (RC). Homeowners must have a minimum of two usable acres, excluding home or mishaps. If a part of the property has environmental problems or other restrictions, this area cannot be counted as usable acres. The number of horses allowed is one per usable acre. Stables must be built 100 feet from adjoining properties and 100 feet from public rights-of-way. The barn must also be within 1,000 feet of drinking water reservoirs (exceptions to this are possible if a zoning manager determines that runoff exits the reservoir and public health will not be adversely affected). Additionally, horses cannot be in a stable within 100 feet of an active well, nor can stable runoff, pasture, or animal yard flow within 100 feet of an active well.

Isle of wight
In this county, there must be one acre of land for personal housing and one acre of land per horse for private stables.

Sussex County
Sussex County requires that the property parcel be zoned A-1 General Agricultural (with a minimum of 2 acres) to keep horses in the stable. The county is primarily agricultural. If the farm property has been subdivided, check the deed for horse restrictions.

Essex County
In this county, the agricultural district is divided into zones A-1 and A-2. If the property is zoned A-1 or A-2, zoning laws apply to the keeping of horses or ponies for personal enjoyment. Any building to keep animals must be within 300 feet of any residence not on the same property or from any lot in a residential district and at least 200 feet from any residential property line. Horses are not allowed in most residential areas.

King George County
Horses are only allowed in agricultural zone districts A-1 or A-2. Under King George County zoning, “the ownership of a horse will require a minimum lot area of ​​two acres. [dedicated to pasturing] plus one acre for each additional horse. Horses cannot be kept in a subdivision with lots less than five acres.

Powhatan County
In this county, if a property is zoned agricultural, there is no limit to the number of horses allowed. These properties are generally divided into zones as A-1. There are some properties zoned RR – Rural Residential. This section of Powhatan County is small in scope and bordered by the James River in the northeast part of the county. RR is divided into agricultural zones and the same laws apply to stable horses as A-1. However, horse owners should call the county and verify the number of horses allowed on parcels in RR areas. The horse stable is limited in the residential areas of Powhatan County. Owners must have a minimum of 3 acres for a horse in R-2. For each additional horse, another acre is required and the total number of horses is limited to three horses. R-5 properties must be a minimum of 5 acres for one horse and an additional acre for each additional horse. R-5 properties are 20 acres or less.

Goochland County
In this county, any farm zone property or zone R-1 property allows horses. Two acres are required for the first horse and an additional acre is required for each additional horse. On RR zoned properties, the parcel must be a minimum of 10 acres for stable horses.

Richmond County
A minimum of five acres is needed for a horse, either zoned agricultural or R-1 or R-2. Up to three horses are allowed for the first five acres. An additional acre is needed for each additional horse.

There are quite a few variations in horse stable laws in these Virginia counties. The closer a county is to a town or city, the more restrictions appear to apply and the less agricultural land is available.

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