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Zoning ordinance review

The county is reviewing its rules for cell towers

On April 9, the night it approved a 195-foot cell tower in Callao, the Board of Supervisors sent the Zoning Ordinance back to the Planning Commission to look at its cell tower rules and what other counties have in place.

Step 1 of 4: Planning Commission review

Next: Planning Commission meets Thursday, October 15, 7:00 PM

What you can do

Nothing has gone to a public hearing yet, and this is when a voice counts most. Planning Commission meetings open with citizens’ comments, where anyone can speak.

When you can speak: Thursday, October 15, 7:00 PM, Courts Building, General District Courtroom

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Where it stands

The Planning Commission is reviewing it in its work sessions, most recently on its September 17 agenda. No change has gone to a public hearing yet.

  1. 1

    Planning Commission review

    September 17 · Underway

  2. 2

    Planning Commission hearing

  3. 3

    Board of Supervisors hearing

  4. 4

    Board of Supervisors decides

If the Commission drafts a change, it holds a public hearing and recommends it to the Board, which holds its own hearing and decides.

In plain words

The Planning Commission is looking at the cell phone tower rules in the Zoning Ordinance.1 The work is being done "per the Board of Supervisors memo dated 4-10-26", and includes looking at neighboring county's cell phone tower zoning ordinances.2 It was back on the agenda as continued discussions on May 21, 2026, June 18, 2026 and July 16, 2026.3,2,4 The discussion is also on the agendas for August 20, 2026 and September 17, 2026.5,6

Summarized from the county’s records, September 28.

Where each sentence comes from
  1. “Examine Zoning Ordinance regarding cell phone tower regulations”Apr 16, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda
  2. “examine neighboring county’s cell phone tower zoning ordinances, per the Board of Supervisors memo dated 4-10-26” … “Continue discussions on cell phone tower regulations in the Zoning Ordinance”Jun 18, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda
  3. “Continue discussions on cell phone tower regulations in the Zoning Ordinance”May 21, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda
  4. “Continue discussions on cell phone tower regulations in the Zoning Ordinance”Jul 16, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda
  5. “Continue discussion on cell phone tower regulations in the Zoning Ordinance”Aug 20, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda
  6. “Continue discussion on cell phone tower regulations in the Zoning Ordinance”Sep 17, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda

Written automatically from the county’s records. Each sentence has to quote the record it comes from, word for word, or it’s left out. The records have the final say.

The official wording

Continue discussions on cell phone tower regulations in the Zoning Ordinance, examine neighboring county’s cell phone tower zoning ordinances, per the Board of Supervisors memo dated 4-10-26.

How the zoning ordinance is changed

The Board of Supervisors can't amend the zoning ordinance without first referring the change to the Planning Commission for its recommendation. If the Commission doesn't report within 100 days of its first meeting after the referral (or a shorter period the Board sets), that counts as approval.

The Planning Commission and the Board each hold an advertised public hearing. The Board makes the final decision.

The law: Va. Code § 15.2-2285 (Adoption of zoning ordinances and amendments); Va. Code § 15.2-2204 (Advertising public hearings). This describes the general process, not this decision.

The records

Gathered from Northumberland County’s agendas, minutes and notices. Checked October 11.