Virginia
Buying Land in Hanover County, Virginia
County seat Hanover. Sitting immediately north of Richmond, Hanover zones its rural land under an A-1 Agricultural District and maintains its own family-divisions ordinance for splitting off lots for relatives -- confirm current minimum lot size and use rules directly before you buy.
A-1 Agricultural District and Richmond-adjacent growth pressure
Hanover County's zoning ordinance, codified as Chapter 26 of the county code, includes an A-1 Agricultural District (Division 1 of Article 3) that governs most of the county's rural, unincorporated land. As with any Virginia locality, Hanover adopted this ordinance independently under the state's permissive Zoning Enabling Act, and this page could not confirm the district's specific current minimum lot size from available research -- confirm that figure, along with the complete by-right versus special-exception use list, directly with the county's Planning Department before finalizing a purchase or land-use plan.
Hanover sits immediately north of Richmond, which -- similar to the pattern described for Goochland County to the west -- means land closer to the county's southern boundary tends to see more suburban growth pressure and higher demand than land further north toward the county's more rural interior. Treat proximity to the Richmond metro area as a real variable in your Hanover County land search rather than assuming a uniform rural character across the whole county.
A dedicated family-divisions ordinance
Hanover County has separately adopted a family-divisions ordinance amendment, addressed specifically to its RS (residential/suburban) zoning district, governing how a landowner may split off a lot for conveyance to a family member outside the county's general subdivision process. The terms are specific: an RS-district family division is capped at no more than 4 lots, the district must be served by public water and sewer systems, and "immediate family" is defined precisely as any person who is a natural or legally defined offspring, spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew of the owner. The new lot must still meet the RS district's minimum lot size, and the applicant files a homestead agreement/affidavit alongside the family-division application confirming the conveyance and relationship.
Because this provision is scoped to the already-serviced suburban RS district rather than Hanover's rural A-1 land, it's most relevant to a landowner with an existing suburban parcel who wants to convey a portion of it to a relative -- not a rural land buyer looking to create a new homestead tract from scratch. If your plan fits that pattern, confirm current application requirements and any recent amendments directly with the county's Planning Department before filing.
Septic and well: confirm the local health district directly
As with every Virginia locality, septic and well permitting for a Hanover County parcel is handled by a Virginia Department of Health local health district office rather than a county department -- but this page could not independently confirm which specific district currently serves Hanover County from available research this session. Rather than guess, this page directs buyers to confirm the current health district assignment directly with VDH or the Hanover County Health Department before assuming a specific contact.
Once you've confirmed the correct health district, the general Virginia process applies: a property owner or agent needs a permit to construct a sewage disposal system or private well before the county will issue a building permit, and a typical single-family system's combined well-and-septic construction permit is generally valid for about 18 months statewide. Confirm site-specific feasibility with the health district directly before counting on a specific Hanover County parcel being buildable.
Who to Call Before Buying Land in Hanover County
Direct WebFetch to hanovercounty.gov was not attempted this session; department details reflect WebSearch-indexed content. Confirm the current A-1 district minimum lot size and the local VDH health district assignment directly -- neither was independently confirmed this session.
Planning & Zoning
Hanover County Planning Department
A-1 district lookups, current minimum lot size, family-divisions ordinance requirements, and by-right use questions.
Septic / Onsite Wastewater
Hanover County Health Department (Virginia Department of Health local health district)
Septic and private well permitting -- confirm the current district assignment directly.
Recorder / Clerk / Land Records
Hanover County Circuit Court Clerk
Recorded deeds, easements, and plats for a specific parcel.
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Get local guidanceSources
- DIVISION 1. -- A-1 Agricultural District — Hanover County, VA (Municode) (accessed 2026-09)
- ORDINANCE 15-16, RS DISTRICT FAMILY DIVISIONS Ordinance Amendment Report — Hanover County, VA (accessed 2026-09)
- Application and Procedures for FAMILY DIVISIONS — Hanover County, VA (accessed 2026-09)
- Application and Procedures for FAMILY DIVISIONS: HOMESTEAD AGREEMENT/AFFIDAVIT — Hanover County, VA (accessed 2026-09)
- Zoning Process — Hanover County, VA (accessed 2026-09)
Last reviewed 2026-09