Temporary Camping PresentationSEC. 35-86. PARKING AND STORAGE OF CERTAIN VEHICLES
Major recreational equipment as defined for purposes of these regulations includes travel trailers,
pickup campers, motorized dwellings, tent trailers, beats and boat trailers, house boats and the like,
and cases or boxes used for transposing such recreational equipment, whether occupied by such
equipment or not.
No major recreational equipment shall be used for living, sleeping or other occupancy when parked
or stored on a residential lot or in any other location not approved for such use.
No buses or renovated buses shall be used for living, sleeping or other occupancy when parked or
stored on a residential lot or in any other location not approved for such use.
SEC. 35-87. TEMPORARY CAMPING
A. Major recreational equipment as defined by Sec. 35-86 may be used for living, sleeping or
other occupancy when such a use is in conjunction with an event held on property zoned for
such an event and a Temporary Camping Permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator.
Fees for Temporary Camping Permits shall be set by the Board of Supervisors. Major
recreational equipment shall be located on the same property as the event and may be permitted
for a period that shall not exceed 24 hours prior to the start of the event and 24 hours after the
conclusion of the event. A Temporary Camping Permit shall be issued by the Zoning
Administrator prior to any event for a period not to exceed twenty-one (21) consecutive days
or one hundred-eighty (180) days per calendar year. Prior to the issuance of a Temporary
Camping Permit, the following shall be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator:
1) Site plans shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator identifying major recreational
equipment parking locations, utility hookups and/or dump stations, bathhouses, and any
other amenities that will be offered as an incidental use.
2) A plan for adequate sanitation facilities and garbage, trash, and sewage disposals shall be
approved by the Zoning Administrator prior to a permit being issued. This plan shall
meet the requirements of all state and local statutes, ordinances, and regulations.
3) A plan for adequate fire protection shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of
Public Safety. This plan shall meet the requirements of all state and local statutes,
ordinances, and regulations.
No such permit shall be issued for events held within residential zoning districts.
B. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Ordinance, one recreational vehicle, as defined in
Sec. 35-86 may be used as a temporary residence in the event that the permanent dwelling on
the property is damaged or destroyed by events beyond the control of the property owner
and/or occupant, resulting in the structure being deemed uninhabitable by the Pittsylvania
County Code Official, subject to the following conditions:
1) The recreational vehicle shall be located on the same lot on which the primary residence
is/was located and meet all applicable setbacks;
2) Such temporary residential use shall be allowed for a period not to exceed six (6) months
with an active building permit issued to make the necessary repairs to the permanent
residential structure.
3) The recreational vehicle must be operable and have a current state inspection sticker and
licenses or be marked as a rental unit from a rental agency, insurance company or
governmental entity;
4) There shall be no delinquent personal property taxes owed on the recreational vehicle,
and no delinquent property taxes on the subject property, and it shall be registered in
Pittsylvania County unless it is marked as a rental unit from a rental agency, insurance
company or governmental entity.
5) The recreational vehicle shall have available onboard electrical service, plumbing, and
waste management facilities;
6) Proper building, well, and septic permits shall have been issued for the property;
7) The appropriate paperwork shall be completed, required inspections performed, and fee
paid for a Safe, Adequate, and Proper (“SAP”) to be obtained from the Virginia
Department of Health prior to any connections to the existing septic system being made;
and
8) The recreational vehicle shall be hooked up to a permanent permitted water supply, a
permanent permitted waste disposal system, and a permitted temporary electrical power
source for the duration of the time it is used as a temporary residence.
This shall not apply to situations where the primary residence was substantially damaged or
destroyed as a result of any criminal act or negligence within the control of the owner.
Furthermore, this shall not apply to new construction or renovations that are not a direct
result of damage beyond the property owner/occupant’s control.
SEC. 35-138. CAMPGROUNDS AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/CAMPER AREAS
1. Definitions
These developments should be established to provide locations for campgrounds or travel trailer
parks which shall be used only by travel trailers, pick-up coaches, motor homes, recreational vans,
camping trailers, and other vehicular accommodations all suitable for temporary habitation.
Campground includes but is not limited to a travel camp, recreation camp, family campground,
camping resort, recreational vehicle park and camping community. The definition does not include
a summer camp for children, migrant labor camp, or park or subdivision for mobile homes as
defined in the Code of Virginia and this Ordinance.