Planning & Zoning

Our Mission

The mission of Dinwiddie County Planning and Zoning Department is to promote the county’s progressive vision through planned growth in Dinwiddie County by maintaining a comprehensive planning program which minimizes land use conflicts, coordinates the provision of community facilities and public services, and optimizes the quality of life for all county residents.

Department Activities & Functions

The Planning and Zoning Department manages the county’s Comprehensive Planning Program and coordinates the county’s development review process. The staff administers the County’s Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, Flood Protection Ordinance, Street Naming and Addressing Code, and the Vegetation Code.

Transportation planning is conducted through the Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (Tri-Cities Area MPO) and the planning director serves on the Tri-Cities Area MPO Technical Committee and a Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors member is appointed to represent the County on the Tri-Cities Area MPO Policy Committee.

The Planning and Zoning Department provides technical support to the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and related subcommittees of each. Staff is responsible for processing and reviewing rezonings, conditional use permits, special exceptions, variances, site plans, and subdivisions.

Land Development

Site Plan Review is required prior to the issuance of building permits, land disturbance permits, stormwater permits, occupancy permits, or zoning certificate approval in the following cases:

  • Nonresidential uses, to include, but not limited to, churches, schools or colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, institutional buildings, public buildings, parks, and playgrounds.
  • Any land use or development in multifamily residential, mobile home park, business, and industrial districts.
  • Any nonresidential land use permitted by right in any district.
  • Any land use or development for which a conditional use permit or special exception is required.
  • Planned unit developments.

Land Development Committee

The Planning and Zoning Department's Land Development Committee (LDC) coordinates the plan review of projects that require a range of agency approvals prior to the approval of a project site and construction plans.  The LDC agencies include the:

  • Building Inspections                    
  • Dinwiddie County Water Authority (DCWA)                    
  • Economic Development                    
  • Environmental Department
  • Planning and Zoning Department                    
  • Public Safety                    
  • Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)                    
  • Virginia Department of Health
  • Other federal and state agencies as needed

Zoning Administration

The Office of the Zoning Administrator is responsible for Zoning Interpretations, Zoning Enforcement, Building Permit Review and Project Review of Proposed Development Projects, maintenance of the Dinwiddie County Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance, administering the Flood Protection Ordinance, and staffing the Dinwiddie County Board of Zoning Appeals.