Land Development Division

To apply online, please visit ePortal. When you are logged into your ePortal account, go to “Apply”, select “Plans”, and select “Zoning Approval - Building Permit Zoning Approval.” Please follow the instructions on screen.

To apply in-person, please bring all necessary documents and check in at the Early Assistance Desk, Development Services Building, 5 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192, to obtain a service ticket for Zoning Counter services. The Zoning Counter is open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Tickets for Zoning Counter services stop at 2:00 pm to ensure all customers are served by close of business.

Please note:

• This overview is for general information purposes only and may not reflect all aspects of the review process. Site specific requirements will be discussed at the time of formal review.
• Fences on commercial sites must be shown on an approved Prince William County site plan. Call the Development Services at (703) 792-6830 for information on how to apply for site plan approval.

• Provide the full-size, to-scale, house location survey plat that clearly shows the surveyor’s seal, signature, and scale used.
• Draw the exact location of the fence, to-scale, on the house location survey plat.
  • Highlight the proposed fence.
  • Provide the height of the fence.
  • Provide the material of the fence.
  • If applying in-person provide 2 copies of the draft drawing.
• Review Step 3 and Step 4 below to check if other requirements may apply to your property or project.
• Provide a completed Zoning Application Form.
• Review the Zoning Fee Schedule for the applicable processing fee and pay by credit card.

• A Special Power of Attorney Affidavit is required if the applicant is not the homeowner or a registered Prince William County contractor.
• If the fence has setback requirements please show the distances from the fence lines to the property lines on the house location survey plat.
• If a project is within any easements, including utility easements, written approval from the easement holder may be required.
• If the property is a Condominium, an approval letter from the Condominium Association is required for processing.
• If other home improvements projects have been completed on the property without prior zoning approval, review of those improvements may be required prior to issuance of new zoning approvals.
• If the property has a private well and septic, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) requires a setback of at least 10’ from the well and drain field. VDH approval is needed prior to zoning issuance if closer than 10’ to those utilities.
• If the property is identified as having an RPA (Resource Protection Area), 100 Year or FEMA floodway area, storm drain/storm sewer easement, conservation or buffer area, the project exceeds 2,500 sq. ft, or any other Public Works impacts, a review by Environmental Management will be needed prior to zoning approval.

Fences, except those used in connection with public use, are governed by the following standards:

Electrified fences (other than underground fences) and fences using barbed wire shall be prohibited in all residential districts and on agricultural lots less than three (3) acres.

In all R-4, R-6, Residential Planned Community (RPC), and Planned Mixed Residential (PMR) zoning districts, the following conditions shall apply:

• Fences shall not exceed six (6) feet in height within the side and rear yards unless the fence is set back from the property line with the ratio of one (1) foot for every one (1) foot in height of the fence.


• On corner lots, fences along the property line of the side yard on the street side of the lot shall not exceed 42 inches in height unless the fence is set back from the property line with the ratio of one (1) foot for every one (1) foot in height of the fence.


• Fences within the front yard shall not exceed 42 inches in height.


• Fences located within the front yard (or on a corner lot, with both the front and side yards adjacent to a street) shall not be of a solid or opaque design of construction, except for fences exceeding 42 inches in height within the side yard of a corner lot adjacent to a street in accordance with above.


• Fences adjacent to a pedestrian facility shall be setback a minimum of two (2) feet from the edge of the facility or the property line, whichever is greater.


• Fences within the front yard, or the side yard of a corner lot adjacent to a street at or within 10 feet of a driveway shall not exceed 42 inches in height and shall not be of a solid or opaque design of construction, unless constructed in accordance to above.

In all other residential districts and on agricultural lots less than three (3) acres, fences shall not exceed six (6) feet in height unless the fence is set back from the property line with the ratio of one (1) foot for everyone (1) foot in height of the fence.

Fences shall not be of temporary or semi-temporary materials, such as silt or non-fabricated plastic, except for erosion or siltation controls during construction.

Retaining walls over two (2) feet in height shall be permitted under the requirements of the Design and Construction Standards Manual, and if greater than four (4) feet in height shall meet the setbacks established in Section 32-300.06.3 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Fences located between the building line (closest to the water) of the principal structure and the waterfront of the waterfront lots shall be limited to a height of 42 inches above natural grade and shall not be of opaque construction.

On waterfront lots of less than two (2) acres, fences located between the dwelling unit building line closest to the water and the waterfront shall be limited to a height of 42 inches, except for fences surrounding swimming pools, in which case the minimum fence height required by the building code shall not be exceeded. Fences on waterfront lots in all residential and agricultural districts shall not be of opaque construction.

No fencing shall be erected to restrict access by emergency equipment to any building.

Fencing shall not be located in a sight distance easement or otherwise restrict clear sight distance.

Fences, landscaping, and other improvements shall be located and maintained in a manner that does not obscure sight distances required by Section 600 of the Design and Construction Standards Manual.

Fences need to be setback ten (10) feet from private well and septic systems

• To research your property, visit the County Mapper to find the zoning district, environmental impacts, and any overlay districts.
• Learn more about House Location Survey Plats.
• To find more information, please visit Section 32-300.02.3 of the Prince William County Zoning Ordinance.