2006 Code of Virginia § 15.2-2283 - Purpose of zoning ordinances

15.2-2283. Purpose of zoning ordinances.

Zoning ordinances shall be for the general purpose of promoting the health,safety or general welfare of the public and of further accomplishing theobjectives of 15.2-2200. To these ends, such ordinances shall be designedto give reasonable consideration to each of the following purposes, whereapplicable: (i) to provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access,and safety from fire, flood, crime and other dangers; (ii) to reduce orprevent congestion in the public streets; (iii) to facilitate the creation ofa convenient, attractive and harmonious community; (iv) to facilitate theprovision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster evacuation, civildefense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks,forests, playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports and other publicrequirements; (v) to protect against destruction of or encroachment uponhistoric areas; (vi) to protect against one or more of the following:overcrowding of land, undue density of population in relation to thecommunity 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; (vii) to encourageeconomic development activities that provide desirable employment and enlargethe tax base; (viii) to provide for the preservation of agricultural andforestal lands and other lands of significance for the protection of thenatural environment; (ix) to protect approach slopes and other safety areasof licensed airports, including United States government and military airfacilities; (x) to promote the creation and preservation of affordablehousing suitable for meeting the current and future needs of the locality aswell as a reasonable proportion of the current and future needs of theplanning district within which the locality is situated; and (xi) to providereasonable protection against encroachment upon military bases, militaryinstallations, and military airports and their adjacent safety areas,excluding armories operated by the Virginia National Guard. Such ordinancemay also include reasonable provisions, not inconsistent with applicablestate water quality standards, to protect surface water and ground water asdefined in 62.1-255.

(Code 1950, 15-821, 15-968.3; 1962, c. 407, 15.1-489; 1966, c. 344;1968, c. 407; 1975, c. 641; 1976, c. 642; 1980, c. 321; 1983, c. 439; 1988,c. 439; 1989, cc. 447, 449; 1990, cc. 19, 169, 384; 1992, c. 812; 1993, cc.758, 884; 1997, c. 587; 2004, c. 799.)