Portsmouth city, VA zoning map, flood zone and property lines by address
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Flood zone by address
ParcelSheet reads FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer at the lot: the zone, whether it is a high risk area where lenders ask for flood insurance, and the base flood elevation where FEMA lists one. FEMA has 45 FIRM panels covering Portsmouth city, the newest effective July 2026; coastal V zones, where waves add to the flood, are mapped along its shore.
The official panel and any Letter of Map Amendment are at FEMA's Map Service Center. An elevation certificate for a Portsmouth house comes from a licensed surveyor and is often on file with the county or city building office.
Property lines
The parcel outline, parcel number and mapped size come from the Virginia statewide parcel layer (Virginia Geographic Information Network, from each locality), so a Portsmouth lot shows the same lines the real estate assessor draws. Portsmouth city covers about 21,313 acres of land and 8,564 acres of water.
Mapped lines are approximate. The Portsmouth city real estate assessor keeps the parcel record (Portsmouth city website); a licensed surveyor sets the true corners.
Zoning
In Portsmouth city zoning is set by the city itself, an independent city outside any county. ParcelSheet shows the use code on the lot's parcel record and the municipality it sits in; the city planning office has the district, the uses it allows and the lot size it needs.
ADU and guest houses
Under Virginia's zoning law (Code of Virginia Title 15.2, Chapter 22), the city itself, an independent city outside any county can allow an accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a house. Whether a Portsmouth lot can add one depends on its district; the city planning office has the rule. ParcelSheet shows the mapped lot size and the ground's slope, the first two things the question turns on.
Setbacks
Setbacks in Portsmouth city come from the zoning district: the front, side and rear distances a house must keep. ParcelSheet does not draw setback lines; the city planning office gives them for the lot's district.
Hazards that apply
- Storm surge. Portsmouth city has coastal V zones on its FEMA map, so storm surge reaches its shore. The county's evacuation zones are on its emergency management site; ParcelSheet shows the FEMA zone and the 3 ft sea level rise map at the lot.
- Wetlands and wildfire. ParcelSheet shows the National Wetlands Inventory near a Portsmouth lot and the Forest Service wildfire hazard rating at it.
Questions
Is my house in a flood zone in Portsmouth city?
Type the address in the box above and ParcelSheet reads FEMA's flood zone at the lot's center. FEMA has 45 flood map panels covering Portsmouth city, the newest effective July 2026. A lender or insurer uses the official FIRM panel; FEMA's Map Service Center has it.
How do I find property lines in Portsmouth city?
Open the Virginia map, type the address, and the parcel outline from the Portsmouth city real estate assessor shows on the map with its parcel number and mapped size. Mapped lines are approximate; only a licensed surveyor sets the true corners.
What is my property zoned in Portsmouth city?
Zoning in Portsmouth city is set by the city itself, an independent city outside any county. ParcelSheet shows the use code on the parcel record and names the municipality; the city planning office has the final word.
Can I build an ADU in Portsmouth city?
Under Virginia's zoning law (Code of Virginia Title 15.2, Chapter 22), the city itself, an independent city outside any county can allow an accessory dwelling unit, and each sets its own rules. In Portsmouth city ask the city planning office for the lot's district first; ParcelSheet shows the lot size as mapped so you can see the room you have.
What can I build on 5 acres in Portsmouth city?
Zoning in Portsmouth city is set by the city itself, an independent city outside any county. The zoning district decides the uses, how many homes and the smallest lot it allows on 5 acres. ParcelSheet shows the lot size as mapped and the use code on the parcel record; the city planning office has the district and its rules. See the Portsmouth city website.
What are the residential setbacks in Portsmouth city (2026)?
Setbacks in Portsmouth city come from the zoning code of the municipality the lot sits in: the front, side and rear distances depend on the lot's district. ParcelSheet does not draw setback lines or give a number it did not read; the city planning office gives them for the district. See the Portsmouth city website.
Next to Portsmouth city: Chesapeake city, Hampton city, Newport News city, Norfolk city, Suffolk city.
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