The Locals · 6 min read
The Harrisonburg & Rockingham County field guide.
Who the boards are, when they meet, where the official records live, and how to get someone on the phone. Bookmark this one.
The people who decide
Four groups do most of the work on any land-use decision. Knowing which one is handling your issue tells you where to show up.
Reviews and recommends
Planning Commission
A citizen board (appointed, not elected) that studies land-use applications and makes recommendations to City Council or the Board of Supervisors. Where the real technical debate happens.
Final vote
City Council / Board of Supervisors
The elected body that has the final say on rezonings, special use permits, and comprehensive plan changes. Council for the city, Supervisors for the county.
Variances & appeals
Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
Handles variance requests and appeals of zoning administrator decisions. Smaller board, narrower scope, but decisions are legally binding on the spot.
Staff review
Planning Department
The professional planners and reviewers who read every application, write comment letters, and shepherd projects through the process. Your first call for questions.
The official record
When you need the source of truth - a filed application, a meeting agenda, a legal notice - start here. These are the official pages the localities maintain.
City of Harrisonburg
Planning, zoning, permits, code enforcement.
Meeting agendas, minutes, and application packets.
Council meetings, agendas, and video archives.
Official parcel viewer with zoning, ownership, and assessment data.
All public boards and commissions in one place.
Rockingham County
County planning, zoning, and building.
Agendas, packets, and staff reports.
Meeting schedule, agendas, and video.
Interactive county parcel and zoning map.
How to actually do things
Find out what’s planned near you
- 01Open the What The Lot map and zoom to your neighborhood.
- 02Click any parcel with an active pin to see the case file.
- 03For the official version, follow the link back to the city or county record.
Read a case before a public hearing
- 01Check the Planning Commission or Council agenda for the meeting date.
- 02Download the staff report - it summarizes the request, the code analysis, and staff’s recommendation.
- 03Skim the site plan and any proffer statement attached to the packet.
Speak at a public meeting
- 01Show up 5-10 minutes early and sign the speaker card at the front.
- 02You typically get 3 minutes. Say your name, your neighborhood, and your specific concern.
- 03Written comments emailed ahead of time also become part of the record - use both.
Ask staff a question
- 01Call or email the planning department directly - listed on each locality’s Community Development page.
- 02Have the parcel address or tax map number ready.
- 03Staff will not give legal advice but will explain the code and the process.