Virginia Administrative Code
Title 24 - TRANSPORTATION AND MOTOR VEHICLES
Agency 5 - VIRGINIA AVIATION BOARD
Chapter 20 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE LICENSING AND OPERATION OF AIRPORTS AND AIRCRAFT AND OBSTRUCTIONS TO AIRSPACE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Part VII - General
Section 24VAC5-20-400 - Appendix A: Airport Safety Zoning Ordinance

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024

PREAMBLE

AN ORDINANCE regulating and restricting the height of structures and objects or natural growth, and otherwise incidentally regulating the use of property in the vicinity of the airports in (-insert name of locality-) by creating the appropriate zones and establishing the boundaries thereof; providing for changes in the restrictions and boundaries of such zones; defining certain terms used herein; providing for enforcement; and imposing penalties.

The ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority conferred by §§ 15.1-427 through 15.1-503 of the Code of Virginia. It is hereby found that an obstruction has the potential for endangering the lives and property of users of the airports and residents in (-insert name of locality-); and that an obstruction may reduce the size of areas available for the landing, takeoff, and maneuvering of aircraft, thus tending to destroy or impair the utility of the airports and the public investment therein. Accordingly, it is declared:

Article 1.

SHORT TITLE.

§ 1.1. This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the (-insert name of locality-) Airport Safety Zoning Ordinance.

Article 2

DEFINITIONS.

§ 2.1. As used in this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Administrator": The official charged with the enforcement of this ordinance. He or she shall be the (-insert title of designated local official-).

"Airport": (-insert name of affected airport or airports-).

"Airport elevation": The highest point on any usable landing surface expressed in feet above mean sea level.

"Approach surface": A surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway centerline, extending outward and upward from the end of the primary surface, and at the same slope as the approach zone height limitation slope set forth in Article 4 of this ordinance. In plan the perimeter of the approach surface coincides with the perimeter of the approach zone.

"Approach, transitional, horizontal, and conical zones": The airspace zones as set forth in Article 3 of this ordinance.

"Conical surface": A surface extending horizontally twenty feet for every one foot vertically from the periphery of the horizontal surface.

"Hazard to air navigation": An obstruction determined by the Virginia Department of Aviation or the Federal Aviation Administration to have a substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of navigable airspace in the Commonwealth.

"Height": For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones set forth in this ordinance and shown on the zoning map, the datum shall be mean sea level (M.S.L.) elevation unless otherwise specified.

"Horizontal surface": A horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter of which in plan coincides with the perimeter of the horizontal zone.

"Nonconforming use": Any preexisting structure or object of natural growth which is inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance or any amendment to this ordinance.

"Obstruction": Any structure, growth, or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height, or penetrates any surface or zone floor, set forth in Article 4 of this ordinance.

"Permit": A document issued by (-insert name of locality-) allowing a person to begin an activity which may result in any structures or vegetations exceeding the height limitations provided for in this ordinance.

"Person": Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or governmental entity. The term includes a trustee, a receiver, an assignee, or a similar representative of any of them.

"Primary surface": A surface, with a specified width as provided in Article 3 of this ordinance, longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specifically prepared hard surface, the primary surface extends 200 feet beyond each end of that runway. The elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway centerline.

"Runway": A specified area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft.

"Structure": Any object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by any person, including but not limited to buildings, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formations, towers, poles, and electric lines of overhead transmission routes, flag poles, and ship masts.

"Transitional surfaces": Surfaces which extend outward perpendicular to the runway centerline extended at a slope of seven feet horizontally for each foot vertically from the sides of the primary and approach surfaces to where they intersect the horizontal and conical surfaces.

"Vegetation": Any object of natural growth.

"Zone": All areas provided for in Article 3 of this ordinance, generally described in three dimensions by reference to ground elevation, vertical distances from the ground elevation, horizontal distances from the runway centerline and the primary and horizontal surfaces, with the zone floor set at specific vertical limits by the surfaces found in Article 4 of this ordinance.

Article 3.

AIRPORT SAFETY ZONES.

§ 3.1. In order to carry out the provisions of this ordinance, there are hereby established certain zones which include all of the area and airspace of (-insert name of locality-) lying equal to and above the approach surfaces, transitional surfaces, horizontal surfaces, and conical surfaces as they apply to (-insert name of airport or airports-). These zones are established as overlay zones, superimposed over the existing base zones, being more specifically zones of airspace that do not affect the uses and activities of the base zones except as provided for in Article 5 of this ordinance. An area located in more than one of the following zones is considered to be only in the zone with the most restrictive height limitation. These zones are as follows:

"Airport zone": A zone that is centered about the runway and primary surface, with the floor set by the horizontal surface.

"Approach zone": A zone that extends away from the runway ends along the extended runway centerline, with the floor set by the approach surfaces.

"Transitional zone": A zone that fans away perpendicular to the runway centerline and approach surfaces, with the floor set by the transitional surfaces.

"Conical zone": A zone that circles around the periphery of and outward from the horizontal surface, with the floor set by the conical surface.

The source of the specific geometric standards for these zones are to be found in Part 77.25, Subchapter E (Airspace), of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or in successor federal regulations. A copy of these standards is found in Appendix A of this ordinance.

Article 4.

AIRPORT SAFETY ZONE HEIGHT LIMITATIONS.

§ 4.1. Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, in any zone created by this ordinance no structure shall be erected, altered, or maintained, and no vegetation shall be allowed to grow to a height so as to penetrate any referenced surface, known as the floor, of any zone provided for in Article 3 of this ordinance at any point.

§ 4.2. The height restrictions, or floors, for the individual zones shall be those planes delineated as surfaces in Part 77.25, Subchapter E (Airspace), of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or in successor federal regulations. A copy of these standards is found in Appendix A of this ordinance.

Article 5.

USE RESTRICTIONS.

§ 5.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this ordinance, and within the area below the horizontal limits of any zone established by this ordinance, no use may be made of land or water in such a manner as to:

Article 6.

NONCONFORMING USES.

§ 6.1. Except as provided in § 6.2 of this ordinance, the regulations prescribed by this ordinance shall not require the removal, lowering, or other change or alteration of any structure or vegetation not conforming to the regulations as of the effective date of this ordinance, or otherwise interfere with the continuance of a nonconforming use. Nothing contained in this ordinance shall require any change in the construction, alteration, or intended use of any structure, the construction or alteration of which was begun prior to the effective date of this ordinance, and is diligently prosecuted.

§ 6.2. Notwithstanding the provision § 6.1, the owner of any existing nonconforming structure or vegetation is hereby required to permit the installation, operation, and maintenance thereon of whatever markers and lights deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Virginia Department of Aviation, or the administrator to indicate to operators of aircraft the presence of that airport obstruction. These markers and lights shall be installed, operated, and maintained at the expense of the airport owners, and not the owner of the nonconforming structure in question.

Article 7.

PERMITS.

§ 7.1. Except as provided in §§ 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 of this Article, no structure shall be erected or otherwise established in any zone created by this ordinance unless a permit therefore shall have been applied for and granted. Each application for a permit shall indicate the purpose for which desired with and sufficient geometric specificity to determine whether the resulting structure would conform to the regulations prescribed in this ordinance. No permit for a structure inconsistent with this ordinance shall be granted unless a variance has been approved as provided in § 7.4.

§ 7.2. No permit shall be granted that would allow the establishment or creation of an obstruction or permit a nonconforming use or structure to become a greater hazard to air navigation than it was on the effective date of this ordinance or any amendments thereto other than with relief as provided for in § 7.4.

§ 7.3. Whenever the administrator determines that a nonconforming structure has been abandoned or more than fifty percent destroyed, physically deteriorated, or decayed, no permit shall be granted that would enable such structure to be rebuilt, reconstructed, or otherwise refurbished so as to exceed the applicable height limit or otherwise deviate from the zoning regulations contained in this ordinance, except with the relief as provided for in § 7.4.

§ 7.4. Any person desiring to erect or increase the height or size of any structure not in accordance with the regulations prescribed in this ordinance may apply for a variance from such regulations to the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-). Such application shall be properly advertised and be reviewed and considered through a public hearing. Prior to being considered by the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-) the application for variance shall be accompanied by a determination from the Virginia Department of Aviation as to the effect of the proposal on the operation of air navigation facilities and the safe, efficient use of navigable airspace. Such variances shall only be allowed where it is duly found that a literal application or enforcement of the regulations will result in unnecessary hardship and relief granted will not be contrary to the public interest, will not create a hazard to air navigation, will do substantial justice, and will be in accordance with the spirit of this ordinance. Additionally, no application for a variance to the requirements of this ordinance may be considered by the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-) unless a copy of the application has been furnished to the airport owner for advice as to the aeronautical effects of the variance. If the airport owner does not respond to the application within fifteen days after receipt, the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-) may act independent of the airport owner's position to grant or deny the variance.

§ 7.5. Any permit or variance granted may, if such action is deemed advisable to effectuate the purpose of this ordinance and be reasonable in the circumstances, be so conditioned as to require the owner of the structure in question to install, operate, and maintain, at the owner's expense, such markings and lights as may be deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Virginia Department of Aviation, or the administrator. If deemed proper with reasonable cause by the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-), this condition may be modified to require the owner of the structure in question to permit the airport owner, at his own expense, to install, operate, and maintain the necessary markings and lights.

Article 8.

ENFORCEMENT.

§ 8.1. The administrator shall administer and enforce the regulations prescribed in this ordinance. He or she shall be vested with the police power incumbent to carry out and effectuate this ordinance, including the action of injunction, prosecution and other available means through the (-insert name of circuit court having jurisdiction in the locality-). Applications for permits and variances shall be made to the administrator on a form published for that purpose.

Article 9.

APPEALS.

§ 9.1. Any person aggrieved, or any officer, department, board, or bureau of (-insert name of locality-) affected by a decision of the administrator may appeal such decision to the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-).

Article 10.

JUDICIAL REVIEW.

§ 10.1. Any person aggrieved or any taxpayer adversely affected by any decision of the (-insert board of zoning appeals or other entity-) may appeal to the (-insert name of circuit court having jurisdiction in the locality-).

Article 11.

PENALTIES.

§ 11.1. Each violation of this ordinance or of any regulation, order, or ruling promulgated under this ordinance shall constitute a misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of no more than five hundred dollars. Each day on which a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.

Article 12.

CONFLICTING REGULATIONS.

§ 12.1. Where there exists a conflict between any of the regulations or limitations prescribed in this ordinance and any other regulations applicable to the same subject, where the conflict is with respect to the height of structures or vegetation and the use of land, or any other matter, the more stringent limitation or requirement shall govern.

Article 13.

SEVERABILITY.

§ 13.1. Should any portion or provision of this ordinance be held by any court to be unconstitutional or invalid, that decision shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole, or any part of the ordinance other than the part held to be unconstitutional or invalid.

Article 14.

ADOPTION.

§ 14.1. Be it resolved that this ordinance has been properly drawn, legally advertised, and presented through a public hearing before the governing body of (-insert name of locality-) on (-insert month, day, year-). Be it further resolved that the effective date of this ordinance is (-insert month, day, year-) and that the ordinance from that date forward carries the full weight of law within (-insert name of locality-) until and unless altered otherwise by the governing body.

Statutory Authority

§§ 5.1-2.2 and 5.1-2.15 of the Code of Virginia.