VirginiaZoning; by-right multifamily residential development.
What it does
Zoning; by-right multifamily development. Requires local zoning ordinances to permit, on any parcel with an existing tree canopy coverage of at less than 60 percent, located within a city or town having a population of more than 20,000 or within a designated metropolitan planning area, multifamily and mixed-use residential development as a by-right use on at least 75 percent of all land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications, including any land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications that allow for the by-right development and construction of single-family residential uses. The bill stipulates that any application for a proposed development authorized pursuant to the bill shall be reviewed and acted upon administratively by a locality.
More detail
The bill prohibits a locality from (i) requiring that a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for such development or (ii) imposing more stringent land use requirements, enumerated in the bill, for such development than would otherwise be required. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 10Left in Counties, Cities and TownsLatest
- Mar 4Rereferred to Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Mar 4Motion to rerefer to Counties, Cities and Towns agreed to
- Mar 4Reconsideration of passed by for the day
- Mar 4Passed by for the day
- Mar 4Floor offered Delegate Helmer Substitute
- Mar 4Floor substitute printed 26109131D-H2 (Helmer)
- Mar 3Read second timeMinor
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108775D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (11-Y 10-N)Minor
- Feb 26House committee offered
- Feb 10Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Feb 10Read first timeMinor
- Feb 10Placed on Calendar
- Feb 5Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Reconsider R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 5Rules suspended
- Feb 5Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
- Feb 5Senator VanValkenburg Amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 5Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote)
- Feb 5Floor offered Senator VanValkenburg Amendments
- Feb 5Engrossment reconsidered by Senate
- Feb 4Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 4Local Government Substitute agreed to
- Feb 4Read second timeMinor
- Feb 3Passed by for the day
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Feb 3Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 3Rules suspended
- Feb 2Committee substitute printed 26106475D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 2Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 4-N 3-A)Minor
- Feb 2Senate committee offered
- Jan 22Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/22/2026 12:59 pm)
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102035DIntroduced