Arlington County Zoning and Site Plan Review Timelines
In Arlington County, site plan and major zoning amendment applications must be submitted at least 120 days prior to a public hearing, with the Zoning Administrator required to schedule the hearing within 180 days of the application filing. Administrative reviews for permanent sign permits are typically completed within five work days of a complete submittal, while temporary sign permits are processed within one business day. Once a building or land use is completed in accordance with Arlington County regulations, a certificate of occupancy is generally issued within 10 days of a written request.
Review Timeframes for Development Projects
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance establishes specific lead times and processing windows for various levels of development review, ranging from complex special exception site plans to administrative sign permits.
| Review Process Type | Arlington County Filing Requirement | Decision or Notification Window |
|---|---|---|
| Site Plan Approval | Minimum 120 days before public hearing | Hearing scheduled within 180 days of filing |
| Major Site Plan Amendment | Minimum 120 days before public hearing | Hearing scheduled within 180 days of filing |
| Zoning Map or Text Amendment | Minimum 120 days before public hearing | Dependent on Board scheduling |
| Certificate of Appropriateness (Clarendon) | Referred to HALRB 45 days before hearing | Determined at County Board hearing |
| Permanent Sign Permit | 1 business day for completeness check | Approved/rejected within 5 work days |
| Temporary Sign Permit | 1 business day for completeness check | Approved/rejected within 1 business day |
| Certificate of Occupancy | Following completed construction/use | Issued within 10 days of written request |
Site Plan and Amendment Procedures
Filing and Scheduling
Every applicant for a site plan approval or a major site plan amendment in Arlington County must file a written application with the Zoning Administrator a minimum of 120 days before the public hearing [Section 15.5.2]. Once a completed site plan or major site plan amendment is filed, the Zoning Administrator must notify the applicant of the scheduled date for the public hearing, which must occur no later than 180 days after the filing date [Section 15.5.3].
Public Hearings and Referrals
Zoning amendments and site plans in Arlington County are referred to the Planning Commission for review [Section 15.3.1]. Public hearings for these applications are held during the first regularly scheduled County Board meeting of each month, though the Arlington County Board may establish alternative times by its own motion [Section 15.5.3].
For projects located within the Clarendon Revitalization District that involve the preservation of identified structures, the County Manager must send the project to the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) for review at least 45 days in advance of the Arlington County Board public hearing [Section 9.2.1.A].
Administrative and Sign Review Processes
Sign Permits
Arlington County maintains an expedited timeline for sign-related administrative reviews. If an application for a sign permit is found to be incomplete, the Zoning Administrator must return it to the applicant within one business day with a checklist of missing items [Section 15.8.2.D].
- Permanent Signs: Arlington County must approve or reject a complete application for a permanent sign within five work days [Section 15.8.2.E].
- Temporary Signs: A complete application for a temporary sign requiring a permit must be approved or rejected within one business day of receipt [Section 15.8.2.F].
Certificates of Occupancy
No land or building in Arlington County may be occupied or experience a change of use until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Zoning Administrator [Section 15.2.1]. After an applicant submits a written request for a certificate of occupancy, the Zoning Administrator must issue the certificate within 10 days, provided it is determined that the building or use complies with the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance and all relevant laws [Section 15.2.1].
Development Time Limits
Once a use permit or variance is granted by the Arlington County Board or the Board of Zoning Appeals, construction or operation must generally commence within one year of the approval date. If the use is not established within this year, the permit becomes void, although the Arlington County Board may extend this period up to three years [Section 15.4.5, Section 15.6.5].
Sections Cited
- Section 9.2.1.A, Preservation of identified structures
- Section 15.2.1, Certificates of Occupancy, General
- Section 15.3.1, Map and Text Amendments, General
- Section 15.3.2, Map and Text Amendments, Review procedure
- Section 15.5.2, Site Plans, Application requirements
- Section 15.5.3, Site Plans, Scheduling
- Section 15.8.2, Sign Permits, Application
- Section 15.4.5, Use Permits, Period of validity
- Section 15.6.5, Board of Zoning Appeals, Time limits