ZOA-2026-01: Fort Myer Heights North Special District - Site Plan Approval Standards
Initiated September 16, 2025 (view initiating resolution)
Adopted January 24, 2026 (view amended text(PDF, 641KB))
Effective immediately
This amendment brought the Fort Myer Heights North Special District's site plan approval regulations into closer alignment with similar standards in the Zoning Ordinance's other place-based districts. Previously, site plan applications within this District required project proposals to address all goals and recommendations specified in the Fort Myer Heights North Plan. This distinction was not intentional; the consistent premise across other place-based district standards enables the County Board to approve site plans when some, but not necessarily all, plan goals or recommendations are addressed by the proposed project.
ZOA-2026-02: Sign Regulations Strategic Update - Phase 2
Initiated May 10, 2025 (view initiating resolution)
Adopted March 14, 2026 (view amended text(PDF, 1MB))
Effective immediately
This amendment considered proposed updates to Article 13 (Signs) focused on off-premises advertising within public rights-of-way including, but not limited to, sidewalk signs. The study was conducted as part of Arlington's Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative (CMRI) to support the public and the County's economic well-being. Sign regulation updates were surfaced during community conversations that occurred in an initial phase, along with on-going engagement opportunities.
ZOA-2026-03:Electric Vehicle (EV Charging)
Initiated January 24, 2026 (view initiating resolution)
Adopted June 13, 2026 (view amended text(PDF, 987KB))
Effective immediately
Electric vehicles (EVs) and their associated charging equipment have enjoyed widespread deployment in recent years, but the ACZO had not been modernized to account for EV's unique needs. For example, EV chargers are categorized as structures, and the ACZO generally prohibits structures within required setbacks. In situations where parking spaces are located within a required street setback, EV chargers could not be sited where cars would be parked.
To support the growing market for EVs, the Zoning Ordinance was amended to clarify applicable requirements and remove unreasonable restrictions for installing EV charging infrastructure. The amendment implemented objectives in the Community Energy Plan (CEP), which calls for the County to “promote and encourage electric vehicles in the private and commercial sectors including supporting convenient charging stations throughout Arlington”. The amendment's intended outcome is to enable EV charging installations in a predictable, functional, and context-appropriate manner across a variety of development types.