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Planning commission to seek public hearing on required updates to Lancaster County zoning code
Summary
Staff told the Planning Commission that changes to the Lancaster County Land Development Code (Article 14-4) are required to match the Code of Virginia; commissioners voted to forward the proposed language to a public hearing so staff can incorporate the required notice and service provisions.
Lancaster County planning staff told commissioners at the January 2026 meeting that the county must update Part 4 of its Land Development Code (zoning ordinance, Article 14-4) to conform with the Code of Virginia and to ensure enforcement actions stand up in court. Miss Hall, planning staff, said the principal change is an explicit requirement that written orders be sent by registered or certified mail with proof of delivery or be posted, and that notices must inform recipients of a 30-day right to appeal.
"The most important change there would be, the written order sent by registered or certified mail with proof of delivery," Miss Hall said, summarizing the state requirement and staff's proposed insertion to the county code. She cited state code language stating that a notice or written order dated on or after 07/01/1993 must include a statement informing the recipient of a 30-day appeal right and that the appeal period does not commence until the statement is given and the order is sent by registered or certified mail or posted with proof of delivery.
Commissioners asked how service will be carried out when property owners do not live at the property address on record. Miss Hall replied that staff would coordinate with the appropriate local sheriff or police department to post notices and document service when mailing to the property address is insufficient.
After discussion, S1 moved to forward the required update to the Lancaster County Land Development Code (Part 1, zoning ordinance, Article 4-4) to the commission's next meeting for a public hearing; the chair declared the motion carried. The transcript records the motion and the chair's declaration that the motion carries; the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or an individual vote tally for that motion.
What happens next: staff will incorporate the required state language into the draft amendment and place the proposal on the Planning Commission agenda for a public hearing at the next regular meeting, as requested by the commission.
