Planning Office

Zoning Text Amendments (ZTA) are necessary to keep the Zoning Ordinance current with new uses, to implement new policies, and to ensure that the Zoning Ordinance furthers its purpose of promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the public. A ZTA is formed either by:

1. A directive by the Board of County Supervisors, or
2. Through a request made by the Zoning Administrator.

Once requested, the case is considered at a public meeting by the Board of County Supervisors for initiation. After being initiated, the proposed language is drafted and presented to the DCSM/Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee (DORAC) for review and to ensure the impacts of modifying the Zoning Ordinance are considered in a collaborative process. After being reviewed, the ZTA is considered at public hearings by the Planning Commission and the Board of County Supervisors. When the ZTA is adopted by the Board of County Supervisors it becomes effective immediately. 

The Development Application Processing Schedule (DAPS) report includes amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that have been initiated by the Board of County Supervisors. Cases are sorted by status and remain on the report for 60 days after the final action before being removed from the DAPS report.

Changes to Municode (the online repository for the Prince William County Code) from recently adopted Ordinances approved by the Board of County Supervisors take approximately four (4) months.