Land Development Division

To apply for zoning approval, you may apply online via ePortal or in-person.

To apply online, please visit ePortal. When you are logged into your ePortal account, go to "Apply", select "Plans", and select “Zoning Approval – Certificate of 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 from 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 the close of business.

Please note:

• Family Day Home (Childcare) is handled by the Zoning Administration. If you are applying for Zoning Approval for a Family Day Home (Childcare), please follow the steps to obtain a Home Occupation Certificate – Family Day Home (HOC-2). For more information, call (703) 792-3340 or email [email protected].
  • Zoning Ordinance Section 32-300.02.15 – Family Day Homes
  • Family Day Home (Childcare) Application
• If you are applying for Zoning Approval for a Group Home, the number of residents allowed to occupy the dwelling is subject to Sec. 32-300.13. - Limitation on occupancy of a dwelling unit with a max allowable limit of eight (8) people per Section 15.2-2291 of the Code of Virginia.
  • No more than eight individuals with mental illness, intellectual disability, or developmental disabilities reside, with one or more resident or non-resident staff persons, as residential occupancy by a single family.
  • No more than eight aged, infirm, or disabled persons reside, with one or more resident counselors or other staff person, as residential occupancy by a single family.
  • Mental illness and developmental disability shall not include current illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance as defined in Virginia State Code § 54.1-3401.
  • Elderly occupants of a group home must be ambulatory, whether or not special accommodations are required.
  • For a Group Home to qualify as a residential facility, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or the Department of Social Services must be the licensing authority. If your facility is not regulated by either of these authorities, you do not qualify as a group home.
• Group Homes are not intended for people committed to custody by any court upon conviction of any crime.
• Group Homes are not granted in association with adult day centers, recovery homes, shelters for the homeless, sponsored residential, foster homes, and other programs not granted by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or Department of Social Services licensing authorities.
• If the house uses a well to supply water and a private septic system to discharge waste, check with the VA State Health Department before proceeding. The VA State Health Department may have additional requirements. For more information, call (703) 792-6310 - Option 2.
• Group Homes are regulated by the Building Development Division under Section 313.4 of the ICC. After Zoning Approval is issued, applications for Group Homes must be submitted to the Building Development Division for review. For more information, visit Building Development Division, call (703) 792-6930 or email [email protected].
  • The Applicant needs to supply license information by the Social Services or Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
  • An inspection by the Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office is required.
• 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.

• Provide a completed Zoning Application Form.
• Provide proof of ownership of the property or provide a valid Special Power of Attorney Affidavit.
• Provide confirmation of who the licensing authority for the Group Home will be.
• Review Step 3 below to check if other requirements may apply to your property or project.
• 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.
  • The document must be filled out (no blank spaces).
  • The document must grant permission to the requesting individual (not the company or business).
  • The document must be notarized by the property owner.
    • If the residence is owned by a business, provide documentation that the individual signing the document has authority to represent the business.
• If other home improvement projects have been completed on the property without prior zoning approval, review of those improvements may be required before issuance of new zoning approvals.
• Zoning Administration or non-conforming use review may be required at the time of review due to lot size, setbacks, structure, verifications, recertifications, determinations, or use. For more information, email [email protected].

• To research your property, visit the County Mapper to find the zoning district, environmental impacts, and any overlay districts.

Group Home Definition:

• Group home, as defined by Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2291, (formerly residential human care facility), shall mean a group home, appropriately licensed and approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia and Prince William County, providing a residence consistent with Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2291; provided that such group home is not for alcohol and/or substance abusers and not for persons committed to custody by any court upon conviction of any crime. The term shall also include group residences for ambulatory elderly persons, whether or not special accommodations are required.
• Other useful resources can be found at: Prince William County, Virginia – Code of Ordinances / Chapter 32 - Zoning