Temporary Family Healthcare Structure

To apply for zoning approval, you may apply online via ePortal or in person.

To apply online, please visit ePortal. When you are logged into your ePortal account, go to "Apply", select "Plans", and select “Zoning Approval – Building Permit Zoning Approval.” Please follow the instructions on screen.

To apply in-person, please bring all necessary documents and check in at the Early Assistance Desk, Development Services Building, 5 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192, to obtain a service ticket for Zoning Counter services. The Zoning Counter is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Tickets for zoning counter services stop at 2:00 pm to ensure all customers are served by close of business.

Please note:

• Only one temporary family healthcare structure as an accessory use may be placed on a property.
• The lot must be zoned for a single-family detached dwelling. The primary single-family detached dwelling must be owned or occupied by a caregiver as his or her residence.
• Post-zoning approval, a building permit application for the temporary family healthcare structure must be submitted to the Building Development Division for review. For information on Detached Structures and submission requirements, contact Building Plan Review at (703) 792-4040 or email [email protected].
• Written certification by a physician licensed by the commonwealth verifying the mental or physical impairment status of the occupant of the temporary family healthcare structure is required at the time of application.
• Evidence of compliance with the temporary family healthcare structure requirements must be provided yearly on the anniversary date of the initial zoning approval, including a written certification by a physician licensed by the commonwealth.
• Temporary family healthcare structures must be removed within 60 days of the date on which the structure was last occupied by a mentally or physically impaired person.
• This overview is for general information purposes only and may not reflect all aspects of the review process. Site-specific requirements will be discussed at the time of formal review.

• Provide a completed Zoning Application Form.
• A completed Application for a Temporary Family Healthcare Structure
• Documentation of mental or physical impairment from a licensed physician.
• Provide the full-size, 100% to-scale, house location survey plat that clearly shows the surveyor’s seal, signature, and scale used.
• Draw the Temporary Family Healthcare Structure on the house location survey plat.
  • Highlight the structure location.
  • Provide exact dimensions of the structure.
  • Include the location, height, and material of the fence.
  • If applying in-person, provide 2 copies of the 100% to-scale house location survey plat.
• Provide plans of the Temporary Family Healthcare Structure including length, width, and height. The structure shall not exceed 300 square feet in floor area.
• Review Step 3 below to check if other requirements may apply to your property or project.
• Review the Zoning Fee Schedule for the applicable processing fee and pay by credit card.

• A Special Power of Attorney Affidavit is required if the applicant is not the homeowner or a registered Prince William County contractor.
• If other home improvement projects have been completed on the property without prior zoning approval, review of those improvements may be required before issuance of new zoning approvals.
• Zoning Administration or non-conforming use review may be required at the time of review due to lot size, setbacks, structure, verifications, recertifications, determinations, or use. For more information, contact the Zoning Administration at [email protected].
  • A-1 zoned lots less than 10 acres must have a completed approved non-conforming use review on file before zoning review or issuance.
• If the property is identified as having an RPA (Resource Protection Area), 100 Year Floodplain or FEMA floodway area, storm drain/storm sewer easement, conservation or buffer area, the project exceeds 2,500 sq. ft, or any other Public Works impacts, a review by Environmental Management will be needed before zoning approval.
• The structure shall be required to connect to any water, sewer, and electric utilities that are serving the primary residence.
• If the property is on well and septic, approval from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is required for structures with plumbing. Health Department approval is required to be obtained before zoning approval issuance. The Health Department recommends a setback of at least ten (10) feet from the well and drain field.
• Setbacks shall be the same as those that apply to the primary structure. To find the primary structure setbacks, please review the Prince William County Zoning Ordinance. Modified Planned Mixed Residential (PMR) standards may have been approved for individual subdivisions. Zoning staff will verify setbacks before issuing zoning approval.
• Setback examples:
  • A-1 Setbacks
  • SR-1 Setbacks
  • R-4 Setbacks
• Lot coverage allowances are zoning district specific. All structures count towards a property's lot coverage. Lot coverage percentages can be found under the Development Standards for your zoning district's subsection within the Zoning Ordinance. This information may also be found on the original subdivision plans or lot grading plan for your property.
• Lot coverage examples:
  • R-4 Development Standards – 40% max lot coverage
  • SR-1 Development Standards – 25% max lot coverage
  • A-1 Cluster Development Standards – 25% max lot coverage

• To research your property, visit the County Mapper to find the zoning district, environmental impacts, and any overlay districts.
• Temporary family healthcare structures are regulated by the Zoning Ordinance Section 32-210.16

Definition of Temporary Family Healthcare Structure:
Temporary family healthcare structure shall mean a transportable residential structure, providing an environment facilitating a caregiver's provision of care for a mentally or physically impaired person that is primarily assembled at a location other than its site of installation.