| Bills | Committee | Last action | Date |
| HB 208 - Simonds - Comprehensive plan; locality may consider adopting a healthy communities strategy. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Authorizes localities, beginning July 1, 2024, to adopt a healthy communities strategy as part of its next and any subsequent reviews of the comprehensive plan. The bill provides that the locality's strategy may include identifying (i) major sources of pollution or hazardous waste sites within the locality, (ii) policies to mitigate the unique or compounded health risks to residents that may be caused by such pollution sources or hazardous waste sites, (iii) objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in public decision-making processes by residents, (iv) objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that promote healthy communities, and (v) objectives and policies that encourage linking public transit with community and health services and siting or co-locating health services in unconventional settings to ensure convenient access for all community members. Senate cognate is SB595. | |||
| HB 338 - Thomas - Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (S) Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology (9-Y 3-N 3-A) | 02/28/24 |
| notes: Allows a locality, prior to any approval for the siting of a data center, to perform a site assessment to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions within the locality. | |||
| HB 368 - McClure - Uniform Statewide Building Code; Board of HCD to convene advisory group to evaluate. | (H) Committee on General Laws (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0384) | 04/04/24 |
| notes: Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development (the Board) to convene a stakeholder advisory group to evaluate and recommend revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to permit Group R-2 occupancies to be served by a single exit, provided that the building has not more than six stories above grade plane. The bill requires the stakeholder advisory group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Board and to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology no later than December 1, 2024. Senate cognate is SB195. | |||
| HB 459 - Sullivan - Trees; conservation during land development process in certain localities. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0691) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Expands authority of certain localities to adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacement of trees during the development process by allowing a tree canopy fund that currently applies to the planting of trees on public property to include maintenance of trees on public property and planting and maintenance of trees on private property. The bill removes a provision that requires that any funds collected for the purposes of the tree canopy fund be returned to the original contributor if not spent within five years but maintains the requirement that such finds be spent within five years. The bill also includes an expansion of the canopy credit. Senate cognate is SB121. | |||
| HB 529 - Hope - Trees; conservation and replacement during development process. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Expands certain existing local government authority to conserve or replace trees during the development process by expanding such authority statewide. The bill allows localities to establish higher tree canopy replacement percentages based on density per acre. The bill also alters the current process for granting exceptions to a local ordinance by altering a provision that requires the granting of an exception when strict application of the ordinance would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer and replacing it with a requirement that the locality concur with such determination. The bill permits localities to monitor and assess the condition and coverage of tree canopies at development sites during the time period up to 20 years' maturity of the planted trees. The bill makes numerous technical amendments. | |||
| HB 636 - Sullivan - Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission. | (H) Committee on Labor and Commerce | (H) Continued to 2025 in Labor and Commerce | 02/08/24 |
| notes:
Establishes a procedure under which an electric utility or independent power provider (applicant) is able to obtain approval for a certificate from the State Corporation Commission for the siting of an energy facility rather than from the governing body of a locality. Under the bill, applicants are authorized to submit an application to the Commission if (i) the locality fails to timely approve or deny an application; (ii) the application complies with certain requirements for Commission approval, but a host locality denies the application; or (iii) the locality amends its zoning ordinance after it has notified the applicant that its requirements are compatible with the requirements for Commission approval, and the amendment imposes additional requirements that are more restrictive. The bill provides that an applicant who is issued a certificate by the Commission for an energy facility is exempt from obtaining approvals or permits, including any land use approvals or permits under the regulations and ordinances of the locality. The bill applies to any solar energy facility with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, any wind energy facility with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, and any energy storage facility with a nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts or more and an energy discharge capability of 200 megawatt hours or more. Senate cognate is SB597 |
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| HB 646 - Coyner - Zoning; certified recovery residence. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns | (H) Continued to 2025 in Counties, Cities and Towns | 02/09/24 |
| notes: To be Studied by Housing Commission - Requires that a locality's zoning ordinances for all purposes shall consider a certified recovery residence in which individuals with substance use disorder reside as residential occupancy by a single family. The bill specifies that no conditions more restrictive than those imposed on residences occupied by persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption shall be imposed on such certified recovery residence. | |||
| HB 650 - Coyner - Zoning; solar photovoltaic and energy storage projects. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0301) | 04/02/24 |
| notes: Provides that the conditions of a special exception or special use permit may include a period of validity; however, in the case of a special exception or special use permit for residential and electrical generation projects, the period of validity shall be no fewer than three years. The bill provides that for so long as a special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit remains valid, no change or amendment to any local ordinance, map, resolution, rule, regulation, policy, or plan adopted subsequent to the date of approval of the special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit shall adversely affect the right of the developer or his successor in interest to commence and complete an approved development in accordance with the lawful terms of the special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit unless the change or amendment is required to comply with state law or there has been a mistake, fraud, or a change in circumstances substantially affecting the public health, safety, or welfare. | |||
| HB 755 - Walker - Industrial and commercial areas; civil penalties for certain local property violations. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0731) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Allows localities by ordinance to charge enhanced civil penalties for certain local property violations on property that is zoned or utilized for industrial or commercial purposes. | |||
| HB 878 - Bulova - Affordable housing; purchase of development rights. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (S) Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N) | 02/28/24 |
| notes: Permits any local government to purchase development rights or accept the donation of development rights in an effort to preserve and provide affordable housing. The bill grants local governments the powers necessary to carry out the purchase of such development rights. The bill prohibits the conversion or diversion of such affordable housing once the development rights are purchased unless the local government determines that such diversion is essential to the development and growth of the locality and in accordance with the locality's comprehensive plan. | |||
| HB 900 - Srinivasan - Zoning; developmental and use of accessory dwelling units. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns | (H) Committee substitute posted to LIS only 24106777D-H1 | 02/02/24 |
| notes: To be Studied by Housing Commission - Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinances for single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as defined in the bill, as a permitted accessory use. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from the locality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the person meets certain requirements enumerated in the bill, and restricts the fee for such permit to $100 or less. The bill prohibits the locality from requiring (i) dedicated parking for the ADU; (ii) lot sizes or setbacks for the ADU greater than that of the primary dwelling; (iii) consanguinity or affinity between the occupants of the ADU and the primary dwelling; and (iv) redundant water, sewer, or septic capacity for the ADU. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025. | |||
| HB 947 - Lopez - Local government; regulation by ordinance for locations of tobacco products, etc. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0536) | 04/05/24 |
| notes: Allows a locality to regulate the retail sale locations of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, alternative nicotine products, or hemp products intended for smoking, for any such retail sale location and may prohibit a retail sale location on property within 1,000 linear feet of a child day center or a public, private, or parochial school. | |||
| HB 1100 - Carr - Trees; Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia), conservation during land development process. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Expands current provisions that provide that certain localities in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) may, by ordinance, require conservation of trees during the land development process by making such provisions available to localities statewide. This bill incorporates HB 170 and HB 534. | |||
| HB 1124 - Carr - Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act; construction of affordable housing. | (H) Committee on General Laws | (H) Continued to 2025 in General Laws | 02/06/24 |
| notes: To be Studied by Housing Commission - Permits a religious organization, defined in the bill, to construct affordable housing on real estate owned by such religious organization (i) on or before January 1, 2024, or for a period of not less than five years, and (ii) for which the religious organization retains a majority ownership interest. Same as SB233. | |||
| HB 1236 - Marshall - Local government actions related to comprehensive plans, etc.; approval process. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns | (H) Left in Counties, Cities and Towns | 02/13/24 |
| notes: To be Studied by Housing Commission - Makes several changes to local government land use approval processes, including (i) prohibiting use of the comprehensive plan as the basis, in whole or in part, for the disapproval of a site plan that is otherwise in conformity with duly adopted standards, ordinances, and statutes and (ii) allowing automatic approval of certain land use applications rather than a right to petition the circuit court, as provided under current law, if a locality does not approve or disapprove the application within the required timeframe. The bill also reduces from 12 months to four months the time within which a locality must initially act upon certain proposed zoning ordinance amendments and requires a locality to act on all such proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance or map that it has previously disapproved within 45 days after an amended proposal has been resubmitted for approval. | |||
| HB 1395 - Hope - Historic preservation; filing of a historic designation application. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0752) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Provides that the filing of a historic designation application shall stay a locality from issuing any permit to raze or demolish a proposed historic landmark, building, or structure until 30 days after the rendering of the final decision of the governing body of the locality. The bill also specifies that the affected property owner, the applicant, or any resident of the locality who provided public input on the locality's historic district plan may appeal to the circuit court for review of any final decision of the governing body pursuant to such application. | |||
| HB 1461 - Mundon King - Short-term rental property; locality's ability to prohibit lessee or sublessee operator. | (H) Committee on General Laws (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0700) | 04/08/24 |
| notes:
Localities may, by ordinance, establish a short-term rental registry and require operators within the locality to register annually. The registration shall be ministerial in nature and shall require the operator to provide (i) the complete name of the operator and, (ii) the address of each property in the locality offered for short-term rental by the operator, and (iii) an attestation that the property owner has granted permission for use of such property as a short-term rental if the operator is a lessee or sublessee. No local ordinance shall prohibit an operator from offering a property as a short-term rental solely on the basis that such operator is a lessee or sublessee, provided that the property owner has granted permission for such property's use as a short-term rental. Localities may enact an ordinance that limits a lessee or sublessee to one short-term rental within the applicable locality. |
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| HB 1488 - Henson - Local government; standardization of public notice requirements for certain meetings, hearings, etc. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0225) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Standardizes the frequency with which and length of time in which notices of certain meetings, hearings, and other intended actions of localities must be published. The notice provisions included in the bill are organized into three groups: (i) publication required at least seven days before a meeting, hearing, or intended action; (ii) publication required twice, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before a meeting, hearing, or intended action; and (iii) publication required three times, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the meeting, hearing, or intended action. The bill also standardizes descriptive information in such notices related to (a) proposing, amending, or repealing ordinances; (b) local budget adoption; and (c) zoning ordinances and planning-related actions. Senate cognate is SB413. | |||
| SB 121 - Subramanyam - Trees; conservation during land development process in certain localities. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0702) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Expands authority of certain localities to adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacement of trees during the development process by allowing a tree canopy fund that currently applies to the planting of trees on public property to include maintenance of trees on public property and planting and maintenance of trees on private property. The bill removes a provision that requires that any funds collected for the purposes of the tree canopy fund be returned to the original contributor if not spent within five years but maintains the requirement that such funds be spent within five years. The bill also includes an expansion of the canopy credit. House cognate is HB459. | |||
| SB 195 - VanValkenburg - Uniform Statewide Building Code; Board of HCD to convene advisory group to evaluate. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0385) | 04/04/24 |
| notes: Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development (the Board) to convene a stakeholder advisory group, including firefighting processionals, to evaluate and recommend revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to permit Group R-2 occupancies to be served by a single exit, provided that the building has not more than six stories above grade plane. The bill requires the stakeholder advisory group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Board and to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology no later than December 1, 2024. House cognate is HB368. | |||
| SB 233 - Hashmi - Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act; construction of affordable housing. | (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (S) Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N) | 01/24/24 |
| notes: To be Studied by Housing Commission - Permits a religious organization, defined in the bill, to construct affordable housing on real estate owned by such religious organization (i) on or before January 1, 2024, or for a period of not less than five years, and (ii) for which the religious organization retains a majority ownership interest. Same as HB1124. | |||
| SB 296 - VanValkenburg - Local planning commission; action on proposed plats, site plans, and development plans. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0346) | 04/02/24 |
| notes: Requires local planning commissions to use the same approval process for residential development projects as is currently required for commercial development projects. | |||
| SB 304 - Salim - Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (H) Continued to 2025 with substitute in Counties, Cities and Towns | 02/23/24 |
| notes: To be Studied by Housing Commission - Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinances for residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as defined in the bill, as a permitted accessory use. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from the locality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the person meets certain requirements enumerated in the bill, and restricts the fee for such permit to $250 or less. The bill prohibits the locality from requiring rear or side setbacks for the ADU greater than that of the primary dwelling or consanguinity or affinity between the occupants of the ADU and the primary dwelling. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. | |||
| SB 339 - Salim - Blockchain technology, digital asset mining, etc.; Jt. Commission on Technology & Science to study. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0707) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Directs the Bureau of Financial Institutions of the State Corporation Commission to convene a work group to study and make recommendations relating to blockchain technology, digital asset mining, and cryptocurrency. The bill requires the members of such work group to include five members of the House of Delegates, five members of the Senate, and three nonlegislative members appointed by the Bureau. The bill requires the Bureau to submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of the work group's findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly. | |||
| SB 413 - Head - Local government; standardization of public notice requirements for certain meetings, hearings, etc. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0242) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Standardizes the frequency with which and length of time in which notices of certain meetings, hearings, and other intended actions of localities must be published. The notice provisions included in the bill are organized into three groups: (i) publication required at least seven days before a meeting, hearing, or intended action; (ii) publication required twice, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before a meeting, hearing, or intended action; and (iii) publication required three times, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the meeting, hearing, or intended action. The bill also standardizes descriptive information in such notices related to (a) ordinance proposal, amendment, or repeal; (b) local budget adoption; and (c) zoning ordinance and planning-related action. House congnate is HB1488. | |||
| SB 544 - Bagby - Short-term rental property; locality's ability to prohibit use of accessory dwelling unit. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0792) | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Prohibits a locality from barring the use of or requiring that a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for the use of a residential dwelling as a short-term rental where the dwelling unit is also legally occupied by the property owner as his primary residence | |||
| SB 567 - Deeds - Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission. | (S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (S) Continued to 2025 in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) | 02/09/24 |
| notes: Establishes a procedure under which an electric utility or independent power provider (applicant) is able to obtain approval for a certificate from the State Corporation Commission for the siting of an energy facility rather than from the governing body of a locality. Under the bill, applicants are authorized to submit an application to the Commission if (i) the locality fails to timely approve or deny an application; (ii) the application complies with certain requirements for Commission approval, but a host locality denies the application; or (iii) the locality amends its zoning ordinance after it has notified the applicant that its requirements are compatible with the requirements for Commission approval, and the amendment imposes additional requirements that are more restrictive. The bill provides that an applicant who is issued a certificate by the Commission for an energy facility is exempt from obtaining approvals or permits, including any land use approvals or permits under the regulations and ordinances of the locality. House cognate is HB636. | |||
| SB 595 - Bagby - Comprehensive plan; locality may consider adopting a healthy communities strategy. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (S) Passed by for the day | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Authorizes a locality, beginning July 1, 2024, to adopt a healthy communities strategy as part of its next and any subsequent reviews of its comprehensive plan. The bill provides that the locality's strategy may include identifying (i) major sources of pollution or hazardous waste sites within the locality, (ii) policies to mitigate the unique or compounded health risks to residents that may be caused by such pollution sources or hazardous waste sites, (iii) objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in public decision-making processes by residents, (iv) objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that promote healthy communities, and (v) objectives and policies that encourage linking public transit with community and health services and siting or co-locating health services in unconventional settings to ensure convenient access for all community members. House cognate is HB208. | |||
| SB 597 - McPike - Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority, comprehensive plan. | (H) Committee on General Laws (S) Committee on Local Government | (S) Passed by for the day | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Authorizes any locality in the Commonwealth to provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program by amending the zoning ordinance of such locality. Current law restricts such authorization to counties with an urban county executive form of government or county manager plan of government and certain other localities. This bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. | |||
| SB 697 - VanValkenburg - Solar and energy facilities; local regulation. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (H) Continued to 2025 in Counties, Cities and Towns | 02/28/24 |
| notes: Prohibits a locality from including in an ordinance (i) limits on the total amount, density, or size of any ground-mounted solar facility or energy storage facility until such time that the total area under panels within the locality exceeds four percent of the total area within the locality or (ii) any prohibitions on the use of solar panels that comply with generally accepted national environmental protection and product safety standards, provided that such installation is in compliance with any provisions of a local ordinance that establishes criteria and requirements for siting. | |||
| SB 701 - French - Vested rights; building permits. | (H) Committee on General Laws (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0605) | 04/05/24 |
| notes: Provides that if a locality has issued a building permit, despite nonconformance with the zoning ordinance, and a property owner, relying in good faith on the issuance of the building permit, incurs extensive obligations or substantial expenses in diligent pursuit of a building project that is in conformance with the building permit and the Uniform Statewide Building Code, the locality shall not treat such building as an illegal use but rather as a legal nonconforming use. Current law requires that such project be completed and a certificate of occupancy issued in order to receive such protection. | |||