Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions answered in this section:

	Where are the dumpsites nearest my home?
	Where may I recycle paper?
	What is the procedure for obtaining a building permit?
	What is a zoning district?
	What zoning districts does Nottoway County have and how are they different?
	What are the regulations for zoning districts?

Where are the dumpsites nearest my home?

Nottoway County has dumpsites located across the county.

• Intersection of Routes 723 & 460 east

• Road 616, about 2-1/2 miles north of its intersection with Route 460 west

• Intersection of Road 607 and 617

• Route 46, about ² mile south of its intersection with Route 40 Road 625, adjacent to the Nottoway County Post Office

• Road 719, about 1/2 mile from its intersection with Route 153

• Two boxes are located in Pickett Park, one across from Post HQ next to the helicopter landing area and another on Garnett Avenue.

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Where may I recycle paper?

The county accepts paper for recycling in blue collection boxes, one located in each of the three towns. In Blackstone, it’s beside the old Armory; in Burkeville, it’s across from the Burkeville Body Shop; and in Crewe, it’s behind Crewe Exxon, next to Hardees.

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What is the procedure for obtaining a building permit?

Should you need to obtain a building permit, the following checklist may be useful to you.

Is the project in the town of Blackstone, Burkeville, or Crewe?

If the answer is “yes,”

• Visit the town office where you want to build and receive a valid town building permit from them.

• Bring that permit to the County Administrator’s Office for the county permit.

If the answer is “no,” then visit the County Administrator’s Office at Nottoway.

If you are planning to build or install any type of structure on a county parcel of land or add on to an existing structure, you must adhere to the county’s zoning requirements. A copy of the county’s zoning ordinance is available for your review in the County Administrator’s Office.

Staff in the County Administrator’s Office will help you throughout the process. In this office, you will be issued a zoning permit if all regulations can be met. The district in which the property is located determines what zoning regulations will follow. These regulations are listed in the county’s zoning ordinance for each zoning district. These regulations concern such things as the distance you may build from property lines and how much land is required for your project.

Draw a sketch of where the project will be located on the lot and bring it with you.

The following information is needed on your sketch and it must be accurate:

• Number of acres or square feet in the parcel where the structure is to be located

• Distance from the road or street to the closest point on the front of the structure

• Distance from property lines to the closest point on the sides of the structure

• Distance from property line to the closest point on the rear of the structure

If all zoning regulations cannot be met, you have the option to request a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. A variance requests that zoning requirements be changed because a hardship exists in your specific situation. Staff will obtain a completed application from you concerning the request, advertise the hearing with the Board of Zoning Appeals through local newspapers, and send the information to board members for their review before the hearing. The Board of Zoning Appeals will hear your case at the advertised public hearing. You will be urged to attend and explain your need for a variance. Anyone from the public may attend and give their opinion on your request. The Board of Zoning Appeals will decide the case based upon factors outlined in the county zoning ordinance. There is a fee to cover associated expenses for the hearing. If your request is denied, you may want to re-evaluate your project. If you receive an approval for your request, you may proceed.

If all zoning requirements can be met, or if the requested variance was approved, you may now proceed to obtain a health permit (if needed depending upon your project). The staff at the County Administrator’s Office will help you begin the health permit process. A fee is required for beginning this procedure.

You will then visit the office of the county Health Inspector to obtain a well and/or septic permit. The Health Inspector will review your project and determine if and where a well and/or septic system may be installed on your property. The Health Inspector will visit your property to make this determination and when this task is completed, you will be given the permits by the Health Inspector. There is a fee, payable at the Health Department, for this part of your project.

If you received permits from the Health Inspector for a well and/or septic system, you may proceed.

You will need to return to the County Administrator’s Office with the following:

• The approved permit(s) from the Health Inspector

• Two complete sets of plans and specifications of your new project for the Building Inspector (manufactured housing may skip this requirement)

• Check or cash for the building permit and E911 post

The cost of the building permit depends on the type and size of your project. The E911 post fee of $20.00 covers fabrication and installation.

The name and license number of the contractor performing the work.

The Board of Contractors requires that all contractors doing $1,000.00 worth of work or more be licensed by the state. There are three categories of license:

• Class A — Single job of $70,000 or more

• Class B — Single job more than $7,500 but less than $70,000

• Class C — Single job more than $1,000 but less than $7,500

The state also requires that any person who does plumbing, plumbing gas-fitting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), HVAC gas-fitting, or electrical must be certified under the Tradesman Certification Program. There is a separate card issued for these people. The county is charged with the responsibility of verifying that the contractors and tradesmen are licensed and certified PRIOR to issuing any building permits. In order to expedite the building permit procedure, the applicant must bring a legible copy of all cards necessary.

The Building Inspector will review your plans to determine if they meet state and national building codes. It is a good idea to make an appointment with the Building Inspector to have this done. Call 645-8696 for this appointment. If you do not make an appointment and he is out on inspection, you may have to come back later for your permit.

After the Building Inspector has approved your plans and specifications, you may obtain the building permit from the County Administrator’s Office. The fee you will have to pay depends upon the type and size of project you have planned. The fee schedule is as follows:

* whichever is higher

After you have paid your fee, the permit will be issued to you.

Depending upon your project, you will be required to have some or all of the following inspections completed and approved by the Building Inspector. Inspections must be scheduled. Request your inspection from the Building Inspector at least one day in advance by calling 645-8696.

• Footing/Foundation Inspections
  (Be sure to make your appointment for this before you order the concrete!)

• Framing Inspections

• Rough Plumbing/Rough Electrical Inspections

• Insulation Inspections

• Permanent/Temporary Electrical Inspections

• Final Inspections

• Certificate of Occupancy

• If all inspections are approved, a Certificate of Occupancy may be obtained from the County Administrator’s Office if your project requires one.

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What is a zoning district?

A specified area of the county that has uniform regulations and requirements that govern the use, placement, spacing, and size of land and buildings.

Nottoway County currently has several zoning districts.

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What zoning districts does Nottoway County have, and how are they different?

Agricultural Zoning District:

The Agricultural District is established to provide areas for agricultural and silvicultural interests which represent a major portion of Nottoway County’s economic base. The intent of this district is to provide and protect agricultural and silvicultural areas from the encroachment of uses which are not compatible with them. The district provides areas for large scale, intensive livestock operations with surroundings that will not inhibit the activities associated with their operation. Residential development is not encouraged in this district. This corresponds with land use goals as outlined in the Nottoway County Comprehensive Plan concerning future land use.

Conservation Zoning District:

The Conservation District covers the unincorporated portions of the county that are occupied by open spaces with a rural character. This district is established to conserve these open spaces in order to facilitate: existing and future general farming operations; conservation of water and forest resources; and maintenance of a distinctly rural environment. Residential development should conform to the notion that it possess lesser priority than the maintenance of the district’s rural environment.

Residential Zoning District:

The Residential District is established to provide low-density residential development. District regulations are designed to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life.

Business Zoning District:

Generally, this district covers that portion of the community intended for the conduct of general business to which the public requires direct and frequent access, but which is not characterized either by constant and heavy trucking other than stocking and delivery of light retail goods, or by any nuisance factors other than occasioned by incidental light and noise of congregation of people and passenger vehicles. This includes such uses as retail stores, banks, theaters, business offices, newspaper offices, printing presses, restaurants, public garages and service stations. In addition, the manufacture, compounding, processing, or treatment of products is prohibited in this district unless it is clearly incidental and essential to a use permitted by right, and unless all such products are customarily sold at retail on the premises. In addition, this district is designed to exclude manufacturing, compounding, processing, or treatment of products and operations which are objectionable because of odor, dust, smoke, noise, vibration, or other similar nuisances.

Industrial Zoning District:

The Industrial District is established to provide areas in which the principal use of land and buildings is for heavy and light industry, assembly plants, processing, quarrying, storage, warehousing, wholesaling and distribution. It is the intent that permitted uses be conducted so that noise, odor, dust, and glare of each operation is generally confined within the boundary of the industrial district.

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What are the regulations for zoning districts?

Regulations for each zoning district vary. Basic regulations are as follows. For a complete list, contact the County Administrator’s Office.

Agricultural Zoning District:

The following minimum requirements for yards are established for all permitted uses with the exception of general & intensive livestock operation structures:

• Front (setback) — 125 feet from the center of the road.

• Side: Main structure — 50 feet

• Accessory — 10 feet

• Rear: Main structure — 70 feet

• Accessory — 10 feet

The minimum frontage for permitted uses shall be:

• At the street line — 75 feet

• At the setback line — 200 feet

The minimum area for a permitted uses, with the exception of general livestock/poultry operations and intensive livestock/poultry operations, shall be:

• All permitted uses except following — 5 acres

• General Livestock Operations — Subject to Nutrient Management Plan

• Intensive Livestock Operations — Subject to Nutrient Management Plan

Conservation Zoning District:

The following minimum requirements for yards are established for all permitted uses:

• Front (setback) — 125 feet from the center of the road.

• Side: Main structure — 50 feet

• Accessory — 10 feet

• Rear: Main structure — 70 feet

• Accessory — 10 feet

The minimum frontage for permitted uses shall be:

• At the street line: 75 feet

• At the setback line: 200 feet

The minimum area for permitted uses:

• All permitted uses — 2 acres

Residential Zoning District:

The following minimum requirements for yards are established:

• Front (setback) — 75 feet from the street line of any street right of way 50 feet or greater in width and 100 feet from the street line of any street of lesser width.

• Side:

  • Main structure — 15 feet

  • Accessory — 5 feet

• Rear:

  • Main structure — 35 feet

  • Accessory — 5 feet

The minimum frontage for permitted uses shall be:

• At the street line — 100 feet

• At the setback line — 100 feet

The minimum area for permitted uses shall be 20,000 square feet if both public water and sewerage disposal are available, and 40,000 square feet if either one or both are not available.

Business Zoning District:

The following requirements for yards are established:

• Front (setback) — Structures shall be located 30 feet or more from the line of any street right-of-way 50 feet in width or more, and 60 feet or more from the center line of any street of less than 50 feet in width.

• Side and Rear — 10 feet for any lot adjoining an agricultural, conservation or business district.

• Required Frontage: None

Required Area: None, except for permitted uses utilizing individual sewerage systems, the required area for any such use shall be approved by the health official. The administration may require a greater area if considered necessary by the health official.

Industrial Zoning District:

The following requirements for yards are established:

• Front (setback) — Structures shall be located 30 feet or more from the line of any

• street right-of-way 50 feet in width or more, and 60 feet or more from the center line of any street of less than 50 feet in width.

• Side and Rear — 10 feet for any lot adjoining an agricultural, conservation or business district.

The minimum frontage for permitted uses shall be 30 feet at the street line.

None, except for permitted uses utilizing individual sewerage systems, the required area for any such use shall be approved by the health official. The administrator may require a greater area if considered necessary by the health official.

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