Lancaster County planning commission sends manufactured-home code updates to public hearing

At its June 18 meeting the Lancaster County Planning Commission voted to send proposed amendments to the county Land Development Code to a public hearing in September, aiming to implement recent changes in the Virginia Code that affect manufactured homes.

Planning staff presented draft language to comply with Virginia Code sections 15.2-2247 and 15.2-2290 (changes enacted in the 2026 General Assembly and signed into law March 31, 2026) and summarized how the county’s zoning rules would need to change. Staff said the state law expands the requirement that localities permit manufactured homes in areas zoned for single-family site-built housing and prohibits local regulations that treat manufactured homes more restrictively than single-family site-built dwellings. "The bill provides that locality shall not adopt or enforce any zoning land use or development regulation that treats manufactured homes differently or more restrictively than a single family site built dwelling allowed in the same zoning district," planning staff said while reviewing the draft language.

Staff noted that, under the new state code, the county can no longer prohibit manufactured homes from the waterfront overlay district. The package presented includes changes to multiple articles and definitions in the Lancaster County Land Development Code so that terms such as "dwelling," "manufactured home," and "manufactured home park or subdivision" align with the new state definitions.

The county attorney (Jim Cornwell) advised that, in his opinion, a manufactured home may be used as a guest house in the same manner a site-built guest house is allowed so long as it meets the criteria established in the updated code. Planning staff told the commission that manufactured homes remain limited to residential dwelling uses and cannot be permitted by right for non-dwelling accessory uses (for example, an art studio or storage use); the county’s zoning regulations continue to require that a manufactured home obtain a certificate of occupancy for residential use.

Staff said the county currently controls multiple manufactured homes on a single parcel through the manufactured-home-park definition (for example, two or more manufactured dwellings on one parcel is considered a manufactured-home park and is subject to special-exception rules). Staff also noted additional state code changes affecting accessory dwelling-unit definitions are expected in 2027 and will require further review.

After the presentation a commissioner moved that the recommended amendments come before the commission for a public hearing at the next available meeting in September 2026; the motion passed by voice vote and the public hearing will be scheduled for that month (voice tally not specified). Staff indicated the discussion at June’s meeting was intended as a work session and that further refinements may follow before the September public hearing. Audrey Puit, who researched the draft changes and prepared materials for the packet, was not present but her work was cited by staff.

The planning commission’s action on June 18 does not by itself adopt any ordinance; it schedules the county for a public hearing where members of the public may comment before the commission and, if required, the Board of Supervisors considers final action.