Wythe County officials are asking for feedback from residents about a proposed ordinance that would establish zoning in unincorporated areas of the county for the first time during a community meeting Monday.
The meeting, at 6 p.m. at the Fort Chiswell High School gym, is the first in a series that will discuss the proposed land-use classification ordinance and preliminary zoning map, which have been in the works for nearly three years, according to Allyson Williams, the county’s public information officer. At least two additional meetings will be held; there is no current time set for consideration of the ordinance by county officials, she said.
Twice before, the county has considered, and rejected, zoning — most recently more than 20 years ago, and also about 10 years before that, she added.
Virginia does not require counties to zone land, but most do. In far Southwest Virginia, four other counties have no countywide zoning — Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell — although some of their towns do, according to the Virginia Zoning Atlas. The tool is part of the National Zoning Atlas, which launched in late 2025.
In Wythe County, there is zoning in the towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat.
So far, reaction to the possibility of zoning has been mixed, according to Williams, though she noted that most people were more immediately concerned about how it would affect their own property rather than its overall impact.
The ordinance was recommended by the county’s planning commission to its board of supervisors, which requested public outreach before moving forward, she said.
Following the development of large solar projects and with concerns about industrial growth in the future, there has been more talk about whether zoning is needed, according to a county news release.
The proposed ordinance was drafted by Matt Hankins, the deputy county administrator, in collaboration with the planning commission.
“We have already had a lot of discussion about zoning, and we want to make sure residents have clear, accurate information about what this draft would and would not do,” Hankins said in the release. “Our goal has always been to develop a light-touch ordinance that strongly respects property rights while giving the county a practical tool to guide future growth. We encourage citizens to review the draft, ask questions and help ensure it reflects the values of our community.”
The purpose of the ordinance would be to guide future development while respecting private property rights and preserving Wythe County’s rural character, the county news release states. It would also set up a process for special-use permits.
This draft ordinance would divide the unincorporated areas of the county into districts, such as residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial, and spell out which uses are allowed in each area.
“There is no desire to rush the process,” Williams wrote in an email. “Both the board and county staff are committed to hearing from residents and fully considering all perspectives.”
Changes are expected, and if they are significant, the ordinance would likely go back to the planning commission for further review and a public hearing, she said.
Monday’s meeting will be informal so that residents can ask questions of members of the planning commission and board of supervisors. Those attending are encouraged to view the ordinance, map and other information on the county’s website at wytheco.org/zoning.
