VA HB 816
Status unknownZoning; by-right multifamily residential development in areas zoned for commercial use.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did VA HB 816 pass?
The current status of VA HB 816 is not known from the official record. Latest recorded action (2026-03-04): Defeated by Senate
What is VA HB 816 about?
Zoning; by-right multifamily development. Requires a locality to include provisions in its zoning ordinance allowing for the by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses and mixed-use developments that include both residential and commercial uses 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 provides that such provisions shall not (i) apply in underdeveloped areas that are covered by a tree canopy of at least 60 percent; (ii) impose more stringent land use requirements for such development than would otherwise be required; (iii) require that a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for such development; (iv) require a lower height than the greater of the height of the tallest existing building within 500 feet or the height that would otherwise be allowed; (v) require more than one parking space per unit; (vi) require larger setbacks than the existing building in the locality with the smallest setbacks; or (vii) require more costly amenities or design features than would otherwise be required for multifamily or mixed-use buildings.The bill also (a) stipulates that the review and approval of such development shall be done administratively by the locality's staff; (b) requires that the zoning ordinance provisions must exempt any proposed development that converts an existing building to a multifamily residential use from any setback, height, or frontage requirements; (c) prohibits the zoning ordinance provisions to require any proposed development to dedicate some or all of its ground floor space to commercial uses; and (d) provides that any proposed residential development that dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of housing units to affordable housing may be offered application incentives by the locality. The bill also prohibits localities from approving any commercial or business use on a property adjacent to the approved multifamily residential development that is different from the use that had been established at the time the multifamily residential development was approved.
Who sponsors VA HB 816?
Dan I. Helmer is the primary sponsor of VA HB 816, joined by 4 cosponsors.
Description
Zoning; by-right multifamily development. Requires a locality to include provisions in its zoning ordinance allowing for the by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses and mixed-use developments that include both residential and commercial uses 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 provides that such provisions shall not (i) apply in underdeveloped areas that are covered by a tree canopy of at least 60 percent; (ii) impose more stringent land use requirements for such development than would otherwise be required; (iii) require that a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for such development; (iv) require a lower height than the greater of the height of the tallest existing building within 500 feet or the height that would otherwise be allowed; (v) require more than one parking space per unit; (vi) require larger setbacks than the existing building in the locality with the smallest setbacks; or (vii) require more costly amenities or design features than would otherwise be required for multifamily or mixed-use buildings.The bill also (a) stipulates that the review and approval of such development shall be done administratively by the locality's staff; (b) requires that the zoning ordinance provisions must exempt any proposed development that converts an existing building to a multifamily residential use from any setback, height, or frontage requirements; (c) prohibits the zoning ordinance provisions to require any proposed development to dedicate some or all of its ground floor space to commercial uses; and (d) provides that any proposed residential development that dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of housing units to affordable housing may be offered application incentives by the locality. The bill also prohibits localities from approving any commercial or business use on a property adjacent to the approved multifamily residential development that is different from the use that had been established at the time the multifamily residential development was approved.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-13
- Latest action
- 2026-03-04 — Defeated by Senate
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Dan I. Helmerprimary
- Joshua E. Thomascosponsor
- Irene Shincosponsor
- Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
- Alex Q. Askewcosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103929D
filing,introduction
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
referral-committee
2026-01-20
Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/20/2026 3:14 pm)
2026-01-20
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
referral-committee
2026-01-22
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-22
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 1-N)
2026-01-23
House committee offered
2026-01-23
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (14-Y 6-N)
committee-passage
2026-01-27
Read first time
reading-1
2026-01-28
Read second time
reading-2
2026-01-28
committee amendments agreed to
amendment-passage
2026-01-28
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-01-29
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-01-30
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-01-30
Referred to Committee on Local Government
referral-committee
2026-02-27
Senate committee offered
2026-03-02
Senate committee offered
2026-03-02
Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
committee-passage
2026-03-02
Committee substitute printed 26108921D-S1
substitution
2026-03-03
Rules suspended
2026-03-03
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-03
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-04
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-04
Local Government Substitute agreed to
2026-03-04
Floor offered Senator Favola Amendments
2026-03-04
Reading of amendments waived
2026-03-04
Senator Favola Amendments agreed to
amendment-passage
2026-03-04
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended
substitution
2026-03-04
Defeated by Senate
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
2026-01-22 · pass · 6-1
Member-level votes (8)
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- James W. Morefield: not voting
- M. Keith Hodges: no
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s)
2026-01-23 · pass · 14-6
Member-level votes (22)
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Marty Martinez: not voting
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- James W. Morefield: no
- M. Keith Hodges: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
H VOTE:
2026-01-29 · pass · 64-35
Member-level votes (100)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: no
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: no
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Reported from Local Government with substitute
2026-03-02 · pass · 9-6
Member-level votes (15)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
- Tara A. Durant: no
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)
2026-03-03 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-03-04 · fail · 17-22
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: no
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: no
- Christie New Craig: no
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: no
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
- Tara A. Durant: no
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: no
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: no
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: no
- Mamie E. Locke: no
- L. Louise Lucas: no
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
- Mark D. Obenshain: no
- Mark J. Peake: no
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: no
- Todd E. Pillion: no
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: not voting
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Richard H. Stuart: no
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
- David R. Suetterlein: no
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
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