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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 454

Zoning; by-right multifamily residential development.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (7)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE

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. 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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Feb 27, 2026
House		Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
Senate		Reconsider RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 3, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 2, 2026
Senate		Reported from Local Government with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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