What is the Industrial Deep Water district?

A district covering roughly 1,923 acres naming deep water access in the district identity. It identifies land whose value lies in berth depth, exactly the right distinction in a port city.

How large is the military zoning?

The Military Installation district covers roughly 4,511 acres, the second largest classification, making the naval footprint explicit rather than folding it into public land.

How does Norfolk distinguish residential fabric?

Between suburban and traditional. Single family suburban districts at 2, 4, 6 and 10 cover roughly 8,009 acres, and a Single Family Traditional district covers about 1,781.

What is the Multifamily Neighborhood Scale district?

A district covering roughly 1,520 acres naming the scale of development rather than a density figure, which describes the intended built form directly.

How are the business park districts split?

By use: Business And Commerce Park Industrial at roughly 451 acres and Business And Commerce Park Office at about 222.

Norfolk Zoning Intelligence

Zoning, permitted uses, and development potential for Norfolk, Virginia. 72 districts with their permitted uses and building controls.

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City Context

How is Norfolk zoned?

Norfolk regulates land through 72 zoning districts, and the Military Installation district at roughly 4,511 acres is the second largest classification.

In a city hosting one of the largest naval bases in the world, zoning the installation as its own district makes that footprint explicit rather than folding it into public or institutional land.

The Industrial Deep Water district at roughly 1,923 acres is the more distinctive classification. Naming deep water access in an industrial district identifies the land whose value lies in its berth depth, which is exactly the right distinction in a port city.

The residential districts distinguish suburban from traditional fabric: single family suburban at 2, 4, 6 and 10 covering roughly 8,009 acres, and a Single Family Traditional district at about 1,781. A Residential Coastal district covers roughly 553 acres.

A Multifamily Neighborhood Scale district covers roughly 1,520 acres, naming the scale rather than the density.

The Business And Commerce Park districts split by use: industrial at roughly 451 acres and office at about 222.

An Institutional Campus district covers roughly 605 acres alongside a general Institutional district at about 1,372.

Open Space And Preservation covers roughly 1,660 acres and an Airport district about 947. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.

Zoning Districts

Norfolk, Virginia Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?

Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Norfolk's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.

Zone Code	Zone Type	Area
SF-6 Residential Single Family Suburban	-	4,927.9 ac
MI Military Installation	-	4,511.1 ac
I-DW Industrial Deep Water	-	1,923 ac
SF-10 Residential Single Family Suburban	-	1,792.5 ac
SF-T Residential Single Family Traditional	-	1,780.6 ac
OSP Open Space And Preservation	-	1,659.6 ac
MF-NS Residential Multifamily Neighborhood Scale	-	1,519.7 ac
IN Institutional	-	1,372.2 ac
C-C Community Commercial	-	1,171.2 ac
SF-4 Residential Single Family Suburban	-	1,001.2 ac
A Airport	-	947.4 ac
I-L Industrial Light	-	775.6 ac
IN-C Institutional Campus	-	605.3 ac
C-R Regional Commercial	-	605.2 ac
R-C Residential Coastal	-	553.3 ac
I-G Industrial General	-	553.1 ac
BC-I Business And Commerce Park Industrial	-	450.6 ac
SF-2 Residential Single Family Suburban	-	287.6 ac
BC-O Business And Commerce Park Office	-	222.2 ac
O Office	-	169.9 ac

Building Controls

What are the building controls in Norfolk?

Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Norfolk zoning districts.

Building height
Coverage
Density
FAR
Front setback
Lot
Lot width
Multi
Pervious
Rear setback
Side setback

Other Virginia cities

Norfolk zoning: frequently asked questions

What is the Industrial Deep Water district?: A district covering roughly 1,923 acres naming deep water access in the district identity. It identifies land whose value lies in berth depth, exactly the right distinction in a port city.
How large is the military zoning?: The Military Installation district covers roughly 4,511 acres, the second largest classification, making the naval footprint explicit rather than folding it into public land.
How does Norfolk distinguish residential fabric?: Between suburban and traditional. Single family suburban districts at 2, 4, 6 and 10 cover roughly 8,009 acres, and a Single Family Traditional district covers about 1,781.
What is the Multifamily Neighborhood Scale district?: A district covering roughly 1,520 acres naming the scale of development rather than a density figure, which describes the intended built form directly.
How are the business park districts split?: By use: Business And Commerce Park Industrial at roughly 451 acres and Business And Commerce Park Office at about 222.

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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Norfolk planning department before acquisition or design.