Frequently Asked Questions

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM.

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM.

Public Works

Citizen Request Form

The Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for the maintenance of all state roads, such as Brooke Road

Click Here to view VDOT’s Major Initiatives: Route 608 (Brooke Road) Maintenance and Operations

To answer that question can be extensive, but to summarize: it takes years to complete transportation projects because of the enormous amount of work that is involved. Before actual construction can even begin, studies and design work must be completed. The proposed area must be surveyed. The environmental, social and economic impact of a road must be studied. A preliminary design of the roadway, must be reviewed by all stakeholders in the project, such as affected property owners and local governments. And finally, all permits must be secured before construction can begin. 

For more information on the process and timeline for building a road, please visit: VDOT’s How to Build a Road

Over the past three years, VDOT has had to close Brooke Road to traffic on approximately 13 occasions, outside of temporary closures by Public Safety.

Road closures along Brooke Road impact approximately 450 residences

To realign and elevate Route 608 (Brooke Road) between the intersection of Raven Road and Maplewood Drive for a length of approximately 0.45 miles, it would take approximately 5 – 7 years to complete construction. Design work is anticipated to begin in the Fall/Winter 2021.

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Phone Hours:
Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

• NADA value of $20,000 = $10,000 in county assessed value
• NADA value of $1,000 = $500 in county assessed value

Vehicles that qualify for tax relief, as explained above, received a reduced bill. For vehicles with a NADA value of $1,000 or less ($500 county assessed value), the tax has been eliminated.

If your vehicle is improperly qualified or you are uncertain whether your vehicle would be eligible for car tax relief because it is used part of the time for business purposes, contact the Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue at (540) 658-4132 or email to commrev@staffordcountyva.gov.

When you pay your Stafford County taxes on qualified vehicles, you are certifying that personal property tax relief is given only to personal use vehicles.

Yes. Existing treatment requirements, water quality standards and design standards for construction of drinking water treatment systems and wells address viruses and microbial pathogens, including the COVID-19 virus.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that Americans continue to use and drink tap water as usual. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the, "presence of the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies and based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is low." Additionally, according to the CDC, COVID-19 is mainly thought to spread between people who are in close contact with one another and COVID-19 is not spread through drinking water. 

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) continues to enforce all regulations and treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water. During a pandemic, waterworks are required to maintain the same water quality standards. 

VDH has reached out to waterworks owners and operators to provide information and encourage owners and operators to prepare for potential future events. 

In addition, VDH is continually reaching out to waterworks owners and operators to discover if they are being impacted by COVID-19, for example, loss of operational staff, lack of supplies and chemicals, or loss of support services, such a water quality laboratory. 

Boiling your water is not required as a precaution against COVID-19.

 Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that Americans continue to use and drink tap water as usual. According to the CDC, washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Contact Stafford County Utilities at (540) 658- 8616. If you have a private water supply, contact the local health department for more information.

Free chlorine is a disinfectant that is used on a temporary basis to remove any residual bacteria and viruses that may be in the water distribution system. Free chlorine is the use of chlorine- only, which is a stronger disinfectant that chloramines which is a combined chlorine.

In order to disinfect and kill germs and other contaminates, Stafford County adds chloramines to the water throughout the year. Every few years, Stafford switches to “free chlorine” to do a deep cleaning of all water mains throughout the drinking water distribution system to assure there is no bacterial growth once the water has left the treatment plant.

Yes, free chlorine is safe and effective. Stafford County’s water quality has met or surpassed every state and federal requirement that safeguards public health. Stafford County monitors water quality regularly to provide residents with safe drinking water. Click here to view the latest Water Quality Report

Some people are more sensitive than others to chemicals. Individuals who have health concerns should seek medical advice from their healthcare providers.

The length of this temporary process of “free chlorine conversion” will be approximately 30 days. Crews will continue the system-wide flush for an additional 30 days after the “free chlorine conversion” ends. In 2021 - The free chlorine conversion will take place from March 15 - April 16, 2021.

Some people may notice a slight change in the taste or odor of their water during the flushing period

When a hydrant is opened, there will always be temporary incidences of discolored water containing fine sediment particles making the water appear brown or rust-colored. In addition, fine air bubbles may be introduced into the water giving it a milky appearance. There is no health hazard associated with discolored water. Allow a few hours for discoloration to dissipate. To verify the water has settled, allow your cold water tap to run a few minutes. If the discoloration persists for more than six hours, please contact Stafford’s Department of Public Works at (540) 658-8695.

• Virginia Department of Health

  https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/chloramines/

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_disinfection.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fhealthywater%2Fdrinking%2Fpublic%2Fchlorine-disinfection.html

The Stafford County Government Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM.

Individual departments may have differing hours. Please check their departmental webpage for accurate hours.

Our Department of Economic Development is here to help you find what you need to get your business running. Visit our Economic Development page today to get started.

Yes, visit our Open Data Page to view Applications, Download/Query GIS Layers:  http://data-staffordva-gis.opendata.arcgis.com

Yes, visit our Open Data Page to view Applications, Download/Query GIS Layers:  http://data-staffordva-gis.opendata.arcgis.com

At the point, it was decided that high quality, less restrictive, community based-services would be provided to these children if the funds were managed at the local level. There is a local case match required to access the state CSA funds.

The Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) is comprised of the supervisory level staff from the same agencies as the CPMT as well as the parent and private providers. These teams work with the families to develop the Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP). If the services needed are beyond what is available in the participating agencies and there are no other family or community resources available, the team may choose to purchase them with local CSA pool funds.

In the County of Stafford, "non-mandated" funds are available for identified children. These funds are limited and the County of Stafford is not required to appropriate sufficient funds to serve this population.

Stafford County allows the Department of Social Services, Stafford County Public Schools, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, the Court Services Unit to make referrals for potential funding. Stafford County will accept a parental referral but requires one of the mandated agencies to case manage and be the point of contact between the FAPT and the family. For more information, please contact the CSA office staff at (540) 658-4622 or (540) 658-4619.

Anyone who has the authority of the owner can apply for a building permit online.  Applicants that are not licensed to perform the work must provide an affidavit from a license contractor or an owner affidavit if applicable.

Contact us at eplans@staffordcountyva.gov to register for an online account.

Application requirements vary depending on the work being performed.  Please visit the Building section of the Public Works page to for an application specific checklist.

Please see our ePlans User's Guide for Building Permits or our Quick Start Guide for information on uploading your plans.

You can pay fees online using an eCheck or credit card, payments made by credit card are subject to a convenience fee of 2% + $1.00.  You can also pay permit fees in person or by mail.  We are unable to process payments over the phone.

To amend a permit that was submitted online send an email to eplans@staffordcountyva.gov noting the permit number and describing the changes.  Our staff will edit your permit application and notify you when you need to pay fees and upload amended files.

No.  Applications submitted online follow a different workflow process than those submitted on paper and are not interchangeable. 

While you do have the ability to see individual reviewers comments, you must wait until all reviews are complete before responding to comments.  This process is different than our paper submission process, where you respond to each reviewer separately.

You have the ability to add view-only users to your applications so that they can view review comments, these users will not have access to alter your application or resubmit plans for you.  To add them you simply enter their name and email address from your task page.  

No. You do not have to apply online; you can apply in person at the Community Development Service Center or by mail.

Information about individual parcels of land located in Stafford County may be obtained from the Commissioner of the Revenue's Office at (540) 658-4124.

The location of the property to be discussed, identified by tax map and parcel numbers, is useful information you may want to supply when making an appointment for a conference.

The planner you meet with will inform you of the application procedures and deadlines, as well as tentative hearing dates. The first public hearing usually takes place within 3 months of the application submission deadline. The rezoning process generally takes 4 to 6 months to complete.

Please see online forms for updated fees and information on rezoning and conditional use permits.

Call the Department of Planning and Zoning at (540) 658-8668, if you have any additional questions.

All vendors interested in doing business with Stafford County or Stafford Public Schools should register with the Commonwealth’s electronic procurement system, eVA to receive notices of solicitations. 

Complete guidance for Vendor Registration is available on the eVA’s Vendor Registration page or by calling eVA Customer Care at 1-866-289-7367.

Purchasing posts all formal solicitations on eVA, the Commonwealth of Virginia's electronic procurement portal.  You can download a copy from eVA or may pick up copies in person in our office.

Duns #: 08-900-5672

Stafford County does not require a business license. However, there is a business registration process. For more information, visit

Whenever you construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, or demolish a structure, a permit is required prior to starting the work. If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, please contact the Building Division at (540) 658-8650.

The following are examples of work that require a building permit (see USBC 108.1):

• Alteration of any required means of egress

• Building a new house

• Building an addition onto an existing house or attached garage

• Converting an existing deck or screened porch into a sunroom

• Building an attached or detached garage or carport

• Converting a garage to a habitable space or enclosing a carport

• Building a porch, screened porch, deck, associated steps, ramp, pergola, portico, or gazebo

• Building or installing a tool shed over 256 square feet in area- Please note that a zoning permit is required for all sheds.

• Finishing off an unfinished attic, basement, or room over the garage

• Installing a flag pole over 30’ in height, please note that a Zoning permit is required for all flag poles

• Moving or removing a load bearing wall or partition

• Retaining wall which support 3 or more feet of unbalanced fill

• Bulkheads, piers, and docks

• Repairing, altering, enlarging or modifying any structural element of the house, including any damaged structural element, such as load bearing stud walls, columns, piers, footings, foundations, floor joists, rafters, beams or girders

• Replacing/adding fuel fired equipment

• Enlarging or adding a door opening or window opening

• Changing the use of the structure (example: change from residential use to business use)

• Installing a pool, hot tub or spa greater than 150 square feet, 5000 gallons, OR 24" deep

• Re-roofing commercial buildings

• New electrical wiring or circuits

• Movement of lot line that increases hazard or safety of existing structure

• Removal or disturbance of any material containing asbestos for demolition or alteration of a building

• Demolition of an existing structure The building code allows some work to be done without obtaining a permit. While a permit is not required, the work must be in compliance with the code.

Some examples of work that does not require a permit include (see USBC 108.2):

• Making ordinary repairs and improvements, including, but not limited to:

  • Painting the inside or outside of the house or detached structures

  • Repairing drywall, plaster, exterior siding, etc.

  • Installing new floor coverings, such as vinyl, carpet, or hardwood 

  • Installing or refurbishing cabinetry

  • Repairing or replacing porch or deck flooring boards Please note a permit is required to repair or replace the joists or girders.

  • Repairing or replacing handrails on a porch

  • Installing or replacing doors and windows, including storm windows, where no structural changes are performed

  • Installing or replacing exterior siding

  • Residential re-roofing: Old shingle roof can be left in place provided that there are not more than two previous layers of shingles and that the existing shingles are not water saturated.

  • Installing or replacing gutters and downspouts

  • Repairing or replacing siding

• Installing driveways or sidewalks

• Constructing or installing a storage shed, playhouse, etc, 256 square feet or less in area Zoning permit required.

• Adding a fence (which is not part of a swimming pool enclosure) and which is 6’ or less in height Refer to subdivision covenants (if applicable)

• Building recreational equipment, such as swings, skateboard ramps, jungle gyms, etc.

• Adding roof insulation

• Installing any wiring or equipment which operates at less than 50 volts

• Installing a security alarm system

• Replacing existing electrical water heater with a new electric water heater

• Replacing electrical fixtures, such as switches and receptacles •Installing or replacing a ceiling fan to a pre-wired switch

• Replacing plumbing fixtures, such as sinks

• Replacing or repairing existing mechanical appliances (of equal size and type) This exception is not applicable to gas and oil-fired appliances.

• Temporary ADA ramps with less than 30” rise for residential properties

Construction plans are a critical aspect of the construction process. The complete construction drawings serve many capacities including but not limited to: •Outlining materials and methods of construction •Clarifying the scope of work for the understanding of all parties involved (contractor, owner/occupant, inspector, etc.) •Serve as an archived record of the proposed work (as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia) •Serve as a means of confirmation of structural adequacy by the plan reviewer correcting a deficiency after installation is often difficult and costly; a detailed set of plans greatly reduces the potential for this to occur. A good set of construction plans benefits everyone involved in the construction process.

There are several reviews your application must go through before it can be approved, each of which are completed by a different department or division:

• Environmental
• Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control and Drainage
• Zoning
• Utilities or Health Department
• Application Review

Economic and seasonal influences can effect review times significantly. It is our priority to review your plan quickly and efficiently.

2015 USBC, however applicants have the option of using the 2012 USBC until September 4, 2019.

The Building Inspectors are able to give estimated arrival times. The inspector makes many stops at different job sites during the day; often problems occur where the inspector cannot leave the job site due to the permit holder having other questions, or there could be emergencies where an inspector must abandon the route set in the morning to attend to the emergency call. Rather than commit to an exact time when the inspector will be at your job site, and not be able to meet the commitment due to unforeseen circumstances, the Building Division will supply a two hour window of arrival. You can find your estimated arrival time on the IWR or by calling the inspections office at (540) 658-8950 after 7:30am the morning of your inspection.

• Holdovers from the previous day
• Homeowners (as many take time from work to meet the inspector)
• Concrete pours as the concrete delivery is scheduled and anticipated
• Final inspections for new homes (as this affects closing dates and moving plans)
• Ditches/ trenches that pose a hazard
• Electrical service inspections that require power interruptions

As you can see there are many circumstances that require a sense of urgency. We appreciate your patience as we make every effort to provide efficient service to Stafford County residents and contractors.

more info here

Use the myStafford Portal to view taxes paid online.  Once you search your Real Estate or Personal Property accounts, you can use the filters under the Invoice History section to view taxes paid for any given year.  Make sure you click Filter Results once you have made the year selection. Below is an example screen shot for your reference.

The Stafford County Treasurer’s Office makes every effort to produce and publish the most current and accurate property tax information possible. No warranties, expressed or implied, are provided for the data herein, for its use, or its interpretation. Neither Stafford County nor the Treasurer’s Office assumes any liability associated with use or misuse of this data.

Click Here For Taxes Paid

Real Estate and Personal Property taxes are typically due each year on June 5th and December 5th. If the fifth falls on a weekend, taxes are due on the next business day.

Real Estate, Personal Property, Water/Sewer bills and Dog Licenses may be paid online. Online we accept: MasterCard and Visa Credit/Debit, Discover, American Express and E-check.

*All credit card payments are subject to a convenience fee imposed by the provider

• NADA value of $20,000 = $10,000 in county assessed value
• NADA value of $1,000 = $500 in county assessed value

Vehicles that qualify for tax relief, as explained above, received a reduced bill. For vehicles with a NADA value of $1,000 or less ($500 county assessed value), the tax has been eliminated.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Credit online, in the office, or by phone. Pay online through myStafford Portal. 

Pay by phone: 1-844-817-9045 and follow the prompts.

*All credit card payments are subject to a convenience fee imposed by the provider

I just paid off my mortgage; who do I need to contact regarding tax bills? If you just paid off your mortgage and would like the tax bills sent to your current address, please call the mortgage clerk at (540) 658-8700 or email lbroger@staffordcountyva.gov to update our records. Please include the property address or map number. Real Estate taxes are billed bi-annually; due dates June 5 and December 5. Tax bills are typically mailed the first week of May and the first week of November. 

Why did I receive my real estate tax bill in the mail when my mortgage company escrows for my taxes? If you received your real estate tax bill in the mail and you believe your mortgage company is responsible for payment, contact your lender, write your loan number on the bill and forward it to the mortgage company. You can contact the Treasurer’s Office at (540) 658-8700 to verify payment has been received.

If your vehicle is improperly qualified or you are uncertain whether your vehicle would be eligible for car tax relief because it is used part of the time for business purposes, contact the Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue at (540) 658-4132 or email to commrev@staffordcountyva.gov.

When you pay your Stafford County taxes on qualified vehicles, you are certifying that personal property tax relief is given only to personal use vehicles.

Your PIN can be found on your Personal Property or Real Estate tax bill. For further inquiry on Personal Property call (540) 658-8700 and for Real Estate visit Assessments Online.

You may also call the Commissioner of the Revenue at (540) 658-4132. myStafford Portal

You may also call the Commissioner of the Revenue at (540) 658-4132. myStafford Portal

The Stafford County Treasurer’s office contracts with our bank to provide Lockbox services to accept paper remittances for Utilities payments.  Our lockbox provides 2 very important services to the County and our citizens:

1. Improved staff productivity by automating manual processes, allowing our staff to maximize their time in serving the public.

2. Disaster Recovery/Continuity of Operations; in the event of a natural disaster or state of emergency, through our partnership with the bank, we can ensure payments are still processed.

A written application is required for any water and/or sewer service to be initiated at a property address. The application and required documents can be emailed, mailed or brought into our office.  The email address, mailing address and physical address are all listed at the bottom of this page.  Please make sure all required documents are provided. 

 Applicants need to provide the following:

1. Completed and signed application.
2. If leasing the property, you will need to provide either a signed copy of the lease that states you are responsible for utilities or the Owner Authorization Form (which needs to be filled out by the owner of the property).  A copy of the entire lease is not necessary. The page that lists the owners and renters, the address and the start date (usually the first page) and the signature page are both needed.  All names listed on the lease are required to be on the water and sewer account.
3. If you are buying or own the property, you will need to provide proof of ownership. (A closing disclosure is an acceptable document.)  If you have owned the property for a year or more, we should be able to use Commissioner of Revenue records to validate your ownership of the property. 
4. Please note all persons listed as property owners or as tenants must complete and sign the water/sewer application.

 There is an $170.00 fee required to obtain water and sewer service. This fee is not a deposit.  It covers the following:

$10.00 Administrative fee for water service (non-refundable).

 $10.00 Administrative fee for sewer service (non-refundable).

 $75.00 Water advance service fee.

 $75.00 Sewer advance service fee.

 The water and sewer service advance payments are applied towards your final bill.  The $75.00 advance service fees apply to 5/8" and 3/4" meters.  Larger meters will require higher advance service fees.

 The administrative fees will be on your first monthly bill. The advance payments will be divided equally amongst your first five monthly bills.

 Office Location:

1300 Courthouse Road, #249 Stafford, VA 22554
   Hours:    Monday          8:00am - 4:30pm
               Tuesday          8:00am - 4:30pm
               Wednesday     8:00am - 4:30pm
               Thursday         9:00am - 4:30pm
                Friday             8:00am - 4:30pm
Fax (540)658-4082

E-mail: utilcustservice@staffordcountyva.gov 

If you send the documents by email, you will receive a reply once the documents have been received.

You have several options to pay your bill:

•GO PAPERLESS – CREATE YOUR mySTAFFORD ACCOUNT. Register your Utilities account to enroll in electronic notifications and view billing and payment history. Visit http://staffordcountyva.gov/mystafford. •Water and sewer bills may be paid by telephoning 1-844-817-9045 and following the prompts. Please note: Payments made will be posted to county records the following business day. •You may make your payment by bank draft at no cost to you. To obtain a Bank Draft Authorization Form, contact the Utilities Department at 658-8625 or 658-8616 or go to staffordcountyva.gov/departments/Utilities/forms to download the form. •You may make your payment by mail. (See bill for address). •You may make your payment at the Treasurer’s Office on the second floor of the Stafford Administration Center. A computer terminal is also available in the Treasurer’s office to make payments. If county offices are closed, you may place your payment in the drop-box located on the wall at the main entrance of the building. •You may make payments online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: staffordcountyva.gov/treasurer. Payments must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by 12:00 noon on the due date to be considered paid on time. Please allow for a few days for the delivery if paying by mail. Bills for water and sewer service are mailed each month and are due and payable when you receive them. They become past due 25 days from the billing date shown on the bill. A late payment, or no payment at all, will result in the following: •A penalty of ten percent (10%) will be applied to your bill. •Service may be discontinued if bills are not paid within the 60 days after the bill becomes past due. •If service is discontinued because the bill was not paid within the time limit, the amount the account is in arrears must be paid plus an additional fee of $30.00 to have service reinstated. An additional $25 fee is charged if water is required to be turned back on after 4:30p.m.

To determine if you have a leak in your water service line, close off the main valve to your house and look at your water meter. If the indicator on the meter is turning, this is an indication that you have a leak in the pipe between your water meter and the main valve (though it could also mean that the main valve is not shutting off the water completely).

If the indicator on your water meter was turning but stopped when you shut the main valve, this indicates that something inside is using water. With the main valve open (and the indicator on the meter turning), turn off the valve to individual fixtures (toilets, sinks, etc.) one at a time. Check the indicator each time you turn off a fixture valve to see if it stops turning. If it does, the last fixture turned off is the culprit!

Toilets can often be the cause of a "mystery" water leak. Open the cover on the tank. If the water level is above the overflow tube, there is a problem. The water level should be approximately 1/2- inch or so below the top of the overflow pipe. Adjust the float level, so that the water is turned off at that level. If the valve controlled by the float is leaking, it may need to be replaced.

Toilet leaks can also be due to a leak at the flapper valve that lets water flow into the toilet bowl. To test for this, put a drop or two of food coloring into the tank (not the bowl). Wait for about 10 minutes and see if the colored water shows up in the bowl. If it does, your flapper valve may need to be replaced.

Periodic high pressure may be caused by a backflow preventer installed at your water meter or inside your building. As the water heater heats the water, the water expands. Since the expanding water can’t flow backwards through the backflow preventer, the water pressure increases. If the water pressure returns to normal shortly after turning on a faucet, this is most likely the cause of your high water pressure. You may need to reduce the temperature somewhat on your hot water heater and/or you may need to have an expansion tank installed. For more information, call your plumber or call us at 658-8695.

Please call an Engineer at (540) 658-8630.

Please call the Health Department at (540) 288-9018.

Please call our office at (540) 658-8695 and we will send a crew out to inspect your meter.

When a utility company is scheduled to perform work, the first thing they must do is call Miss Utility of Virginia notification system. This alert requires all utility companies to respond and locate their lines with paint. If you would like to know what work is going to be done on your property, visit the 811 website at http://www.va811.com, then go to ticket search and search by street address for more information. You may also dial 811.

Please contact the Operations Office at (540)658-8695. We will notify the Maintenance Mechanics and they will respond as soon as possible to investigate the Pump Station for any problems

Zoning permits are required for all uses, primary and accessory structures.   Refer to the main Zoning Page for zoning applications.   Zoning Ordinance Section 28-182 for more information concerning zoning permits.  

 Zoning Applications

Complaints are received by phone, walk-in or email.   Please contact the Zoning Department at (540) 658-8668.   Please note that all complaints are confidential.  Once a violation has been identified and an investigation is being performed Stafford County Zoning Office is the complainant. 

Violation Types

A Zoning Determination is provided on an application form requesting a determination from the Zoning Administrator as described in Section 28-295 of the Zoning Ordinance.  Zoning Ordinance Section 28-295 

Zoning Determination Application

Contact Citizens Assistance  (540) 658-4516 or the Zoning Department at (540) 658-8668 to report the address or location of concern.  

Chapter 24 Vegetation

The Sheriff’s department (540) 658-4400 Non-Emergency Number.  County Code Chapter 16 defines noise regulations.  

Chapter 16-Noise

A setback is the line on a lot, parallel or symmetric to a lot line, located a sufficient distance there from to provide the minimum yards required by this chapter.  Each Zoning District has defined setbacks for each lot as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance Section 28-35.  To Identify your Zoning district please use the Zoning Map to locate your property and Zoning District or call (540) 658-8668.  The link below will provide you access to the interactive maps through GIS.   Please provide your parcel address or your tax map identification to locate your property.  

GIS Maps 

County Zoning Map

Zoning Ordinance Section 28-25.-Definitions of specific terms.  Vehicle, commercial;  Any truck-tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, garbage truck, dump truck, cement truck, or similar vehicles or equipment with any gross weight; or any vehicle with a gross weight of more than ten thousand five hundred (10,500) pounds which is not owned, leased, or operated by the occupant of the property at which it is parked.  

Section 28-25 Definitions of specific terms

Zoning Ordnance Section 28-38 (c)  No accessory building or structure shall be located within ten (10) feet of any property line on any lot greater than one acre; no accessory building or structure shall be located within five (5) ft of any property line on any lot of one acre or less; no accessory building and/or structure, except for walls, fences and signs shall be located in any front yard or street facing side yard.   Zoning Ordinance Section 28-38 - Performance Regulations (c).

Zoning Ordinance Section 28-25 Definition of Accessory use, building/structures/ A use, building or structured that is subordinate in area, extent and purpose to a principle use or structure.   

Section 28-38 (c)

Section 28-25

An attached addition will be required to meet the house setbacks in accordance with your Zoning District as outlined in Zoning Ordinance Section 28-35 table of uses and standards.  Please visit the online GIS Interactive Maps to identify your Zoning District of your property and then utilize the online Zoning Ordinance to access the setback requirements for your Zoning District. 

GIS Interactive Map

County Zoning Map

Zoning Ordinance Section 28-25 Definitions, Dwelling, accessory; An ancillary dwelling unit limited to such uses as a family member apartment, guest house (for occasional visits by family or friends), or maids quarters and shall conform to the following:

1. An accessory dwelling shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total gross floor area of the principle dwelling unit. 
2. There shall be no more than one accessory dwelling per lot. 
3. When an accessory building is located in the principal dwelling, the entry to the unit and its design shall be such that the appearance of the building shall remain as a single family residence. 
4. An accessory dwelling shall have the same address as the principal dwelling. 
5. This term shall not include carriage house. 
6. An approved Accessory Dwelling affidavit and Residential Change Permit are required prior to work being done.   After approval and all inspections a certificate of occupancy permit is needed for legal use. 

Zoning Ordinance Section 28-25 Definitions, defines two types of family daycare uses.

1. Family daycare home, group; A residence where child care is proved for more than five (5), but fewer than twelve (12) children under the age of thirteen (13), exclusive of the providers own children and any children that reside in the home as residential occupancy by a single family and which is subject to state licensing on a paid basis.  Please Contact Social Service in Richmond for licensing, www.dss.virginia.gov apply to Stafford County using the Home Daycare application located within the Building Department Page, Forms and Checklist .
2. Family daycare home, small; an activity carried on by an occupant of a residence as an accessory use, in which childcare is provided for five (5) or fewer children under the age of thirteen (13), exclusive of the providers own children and any who reside in the home as residential occupancy by a single family on a paid basis.   

Application

Permitted with a Conditional Use Permit in the B2 Urban Commercial, M1 Light Industrial and M2 Heavy Industrial Zoning Districts.  

Zoning Ordinance Section 28-35 General District Uses & Standards lists such use as; Motor Vehicle Sales,   For additional information please contact the Zoning Department at (540) 658-8668.

RPA is an acronym for Resource Protection Area an CRPA is Critical Resource Protection Area.   Both consist of: 

1. Tidal wetlands;
2. Non-tidal wetlands connected by surface flow and contiguous to tidal wetlands or water bodies with perennial flow;
3. Tidal Shores;
4. A one hundred-foot vegetated buffer area located adjacent to and landward of the components listed in subsection 1-3 of this section, and is along both sides of any water bodies with perennial flow.  For further information, please refer to Chapter 27B Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area or call Department of Public Works (540) 658-5109.

An easement is an interest of land that is in the possession of another, which permits a limited use of the land.  No building or structure shall be permitted within any public easement of right of way without written consent by the holder of the easement or right of way. 

Stafford County has no authority to remove trees from private property.  This would be a civil matter between the property owners. 

A fence does not require a permit but has height restrictions in the front yard setback of the property.  The fence must be located on your property and out of any type of easement unless the easement holder grants permission of construction in writing.  Please see: Stafford County Zoning Ordinance Section 28-39 (a); Fences, walls and hedges.   

1. A fence affidavit is required for fences. Fence Affidavit  

Above ground or in ground pools are considered accessory structures and must meet the minimum setback for your property.   To determine your setback you must identify your Zoning District from the online Zoning Maps link.   Once your Zoning District has been determined, please use the online Zoning Ordinance Section 28-38 Performance Standards (c) 

Yes, however: No sign shall be located within the VDOT Right of Way, on utility poles, traffic signs, attached to vegetation.   Please reference Zoning Ordinance Section 28-121 through 131 for sign regulations. 

Article VII Signs

Sign Permit Application

A referendum is a general vote by the electorate on a single ballot question. The County is required by state law to obtain voter approval to issue its general obligation bonds. Voters will have an opportunity to vote YES or NO on the 2019 transportation bond referendum question during the General Election on November 5, 2019.

Bond financing is a long-term financial obligation used by most local governments to borrow money to pay for public facilities and infrastructure. Once issued, bonds require annual payments for the cost of debt service (principal and interest) by the County.

The annual debt service on a $50 million bond would be approximately $4.2 million each year. The County has eight years to access the bond funding and will not issue all $50 million at one time. The selected project list could be completed with the bond amount in conjunction with other funding sources. Stafford County enjoys a Triple-AAA bond rating and, as a result, should be able to obtain competitive interests rates on its bonds. The debt payments associated with the bond package fit within the County’s current debt capacity.  The County has four revenue streams dedicated to transportation, including gasoline sales tax, state recordation tax, interest earnings and transportation impact fees.  If these funds are insufficient to pay the debt service, money would come from the General Fund. The debt service is spread out over several years based on the timing of construction, as the County only issues bonds as needed.  

Stafford is among only 47 counties in the nation that have the highest credit rating possible for a local government from Moody’s Investors Service Inc.; from Standard & Poor’s; and from Fitch Ratings. The County’s Triple-AAA bond rating lowers its borrowing costs. The County’s financial guidelines state that the annual debt service should not exceed 10% of General Government expenditures and total outstanding debt should not exceed 2.75% of the total market value of the taxable real property. The proposed bond package stays within these guidelines, maintaining a balance between operating expenses and long-term capital needs.

Proceeds from the sale of the transportation bonds, by law, are authorized only for the transportation projects listed in the ballot question. The County did submit the ballot question to the Circuit Court without the Hope Road road-widening project listed. Hope Road is still listed on the 35 road-widening projects list. The County intends to complete the Hope Road project with alternative transportation funding sources, as bond proceeds cannot be used for this road. As for Woodstock Lane, the road was incorrectly mislabeled as Woodstock Road on the ballot question, but that does not affect that bond issuing status for the project.

The projects were identified through an objective Comprehensive Road Study performed by Stafford County that studied roads most in need of improvement throughout the County, over and above the construction already planned by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) who is the primary entity responsible for roads construction and maintenance throughout the County.

Within the Comprehensive Road Study, road evaluations with traffic counts above 1,700 vehicles per day (vpd) were considered as major reconstruction candidates. Whereas, roads with counts under 1,700 vpd were considered for safety and widening improvements. As part of the evaluation, several factors focused on recommended improvements, cost estimates and the assessments of the practicality of implementation.

The Comprehensive Road Study identified possible sources of funding. The Board of Supervisors felt that the amount of identified funding was insufficient and held several transportation work sessions to determine and evaluate multiple funding options. After narrowing down the final list of road projects, the Board came to a consensus to ask the citizens of Stafford County to consider a $50 million bond referendum on the November 5, 2019, general election ballot.

The project costs are estimates derived from the Comprehensive Road Study (www.staffordcountyva.gov/roadstudy).  The County worked alongside the Virginia Department of Transportation, the agency responsible for building, maintaining and operating the state's roads, bridges and tunnels. These estimates also include preliminary engineering, right of way acquisition, utility relocation and the coordination of VDOT’s repaving schedule for road widening projects.

Stafford County bond packages are planned to fund specific road projects and are issued, as needed, in increments until 2027. These projects take a number of years to complete with the goal to complete them as quickly as possible. Prudent financial management dictates that the proportionate amount of bonds be issued to coincide with the annual cash flow requirements for construction costs associated with the respective capital projects.

Stafford recently adopted its first Strategic Plan with a priority of achieving a “Responsible Transportation System.” This Board is dedicated to transportation system improvements.  If the bond does not pass, work on the road projects will not begin until a funding source is identified, which could delay some or all of them indefinitely.

From the 2008 transportation bond referendum, 15 projects were completed at a total cost of $140 million, which is an 80 percent completion rate of the proposed 19 road projects. Voters approved a bond amount of $70 million; only $24 million worth of bonds were issued. As bonds are only issued as the money is needed, which resulted in authorized but unissued bonds. Those remaining bonds are now expired. Approximately $100 million was leveraged from state and federal funds with $16.4 million from additional County funds outside of bond proceeds. Out of 55 total lane miles proposed for improvement, the County was able to complete 43.5 lane miles during one of the country’s worst economic recessions.

Over the last eight years, the County has initiated and helped fund 22 road improvement projects, including Youth Driver Task Force projects, with an investment of $57 million of County funds, which might never have happened without voter support for the 2008 referendum. The status of completed, current and future road projects may be found on the Transportation Projects page of the County’s website: www.staffordcountyva.gov/1549/Road-Projects.