Publications

Community Development & Planning Department is responsible for updating, interpreting, and enforcing the Town's zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, official zoning maps, and certain sections of the Town Code.  These documents collectively guide the Town's decision-making on planning, zoning, land use, and development-related matters.  These documents (found below) and their purposes include the following:

Zoning Ordinance: adopted in 1999 and amended thereafter, it contains development standards pertaining to private and public land development within the corporate limits.  The cost of purchasing a hard copy of this document is $35.

Subdivision Ordinance: adopted in 2000 and amended thereafter, it contains standards pertaining to the subdivision, consolidation, and re-subdivision of land within the corporate limits.  The cost of purchasing a hard copy of this document is $25.

Comprehensive Plan (2022): the Comprehensive Plan contains such useful tools as the future land use map, and serves as a means of "guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted, and harmonious development,” as outlined in the Code of Virginia.  The cost of purchasing a hard copy of this document is $35.

Official Zoning Map: this is a map that illustrates all lots within the Town limits, and which indicates the zoning district(s) in which the lots are located.  Contact Town staff for a cost to purchase this document.

Town Code: the Town's full collection of ordinances and regulations.  Contact Town staff for a cost to puchase this document.

Historic District Guidelines (2006): These guidelines serve as a reference material for property owners within the Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) who wish to conduct additions/alterations, etc. to their historic properties.  The cost of purchaseing a hard copy of this document is $5.

Historic Preservation Overlay Map & Inventory (2022) and interactive HPO Map.: This is a map and tiered listing of all addresses and properties located within the HPO, organized by the properties’ levels of significance.  The cost of purchasing a hard copy of this document is $5.

Entrance Corridor Design Guidelines (2005): These guidelines serve as a reference material for property owners within the Entrance Corridor Overlay who wish to conduct additions/alterations, etc. to their properties.  The cost of purchasing a hard copy of this document is $5.

Design Standards for Water Distribution & Sanitary Sewer Systems (2020): This document outlines all standards pertinent to the new construction, maintenance, and/or repair of water distribution and sanitary sewer systems in the Town.  The cost of purchasing a hard copy of this document is $25.

There are also several publications from agencies outside of the Town of Smithfield that are in common circulation in the Town:

Smithfield, Virginia National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Historic District Nomination Form (1973): This document contains the inventory of historic properties located within the Smithfield, Virginia NRHP Historic District, an honorary district that encompasses much of the same area as the Town's Historic Preservation Overlay.  Properties listed as "contributing," or which are already individually listed on the NRHP, may be elligible for tax credits through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR), as all NRHP listings in Virginia are automatically listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register.  For more information, please contact DHR at 1-(757)-482-6446.

Riparian Buffers Modification & Mitigation Guidance Manual (2003): This is a document that was originally published by the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, but is now commonly circulated and cited by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).  It outlines the measures necessary for the appropriate treatment of the one-hundred foot (100') Resource Protection Area on properties subject to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act of 1988.  For more information, please contact DEQ at 1-(757)-518-2000.