The Planning and Land Use Office is responsible for enforcement and administration of the Lancaster County Zoning Ordinance, Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance, Environmental Ordinance and Wetlands Ordinance, and also handles enforcement of the Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance and Inoperable Vehicle Ordinance.

Other areas of responsibility include the Comprehensive Plan and the Capital Improvements Program, both of which are reviewed and updated periodically to conform to the changing needs of Lancaster County and its citizens.

This office also provides administrative support for the Lancaster County Planning Commission, Wetlands Board and Board of Zoning Appeals.

Staff Includes:

• Director - Olivia Hall
• Planner - Andrea Pruett
• Administrative Assistant - Cassie Ruby

Downloading and Submitting Permit Applications

Permit applications can either be emailed to build@lancova.com, faxed to (804) 462-0031 or mailed to 8311 Mary Ball Rd. Lancaster, VA 22503, Attention: Permits Department. Fillable permit application forms are available under "Downloads" (please fill out all required information). Payments can be made by check mailed to above address and online at www.webfeepay.com (a convenience fee of 2.45% will be added to each transaction). Please do not make a payment until a permit number and amount to pay is sent to you.

Please email any plans, plats, applications and/or requested information to build@lancova.com or contact our office at (804)462-5220.

Chesapeake Bay Preservation

The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are one of the most important and productive estuarine systems in the world, providing economic and social benefits to the citizens of Lancaster County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The health of the bay is vital to maintaining Lancaster County's economy and the welfare of its citizens.

The Chesapeake Bay waters have been degraded significantly by many sources of pollution, including non-point source pollution from land uses and development. Existing high-quality waters are worthy of protection from degradation to guard against further pollution. Certain lands that are proximate to shorelines have intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform. Other lands have severe development constraints from flooding, erosion, and soil limitations. With proper management, they offer significant ecological benefits by providing water quality maintenance and pollution control, as well as flood and shoreline erosion control. These lands together, designated by the board of supervisors as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas (CBPAs), need to be protected from destruction and damage in order to protect the quality of water in the bay and consequently the quality of life in Lancaster County and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

It is the intent and purpose of this article to support the goals and objective of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and the Lancaster County comprehensive plan by protecting and improving the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, buffer areas and other sensitive environmental lands by minimizing the potential adverse effects of human activity upon these areas.

Performance Standards for Development & Redevelopment

Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Planning

In 2020, Lancaster County participated in the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) organized by the Northern Neck Planning District Commission and conducted by the Universities of Virginia, Old Dominion, and William and Mary. The actions/projects identified in the RAFT were incorporated as hazard mitigation actions in the 2023 Northern Neck Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). As part of an effort funded through the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), the Northern Neck Planning District Commission and Lancaster County worked with DCR to incorporate resilience elements into the HMP that led to its approval and subsequent adoption as the County’s Resilience Plan in October of 2023.

Tree Cutting

Any person planning to cut or direct the cutting of trees within 100 feet of tidal waters or wetlands must contact the Lancaster County Planning and Land Use Office, (804) 462-5220, prior to doing so.