Virginia Beach has updated its zoning code to formally allow solar generating equipment as a permitted accessory use on residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial properties—giving homeowners, farmers, and businesses a clear legal basis to install panels without special approval in most cases.
City Council adopted Ordinance 3862 on July 7, amending Sections 401, 501, 901, and 1001 of the City Zoning Ordinance to explicitly authorize solar generating equipment—both roof-mounted and ground-mounted—as an accessory structure across agricultural, residential, business, and industrial districts.
What homeowners can do now
For residential properties, the rules are straightforward: you can add solar panels to your roof or install a ground-mounted system in your yard, as long as the panels serve your property.
Ground-mounted systems do have a size ceiling…