Bill Commons

VA SB 454

in committee

Zoning; by-right multifamily residential development.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper

Description

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.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Status date
—
Latest action
2026-03-10 — Left in Counties, Cities and Towns
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Schuyler T. VanValkenburgprimary
  • Kannan Srinivasancosponsor
  • Saddam Azlan Salimcosponsor
  • Danica A. Roemcosponsor
  • Angelia Williams Gravescosponsor
  • Jennifer D. Carroll Foycosponsor
  • Jennifer B. Boyskocosponsor
  • Stella G. Pekarskycosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102035D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Local Government

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-22

    Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/22/2026 12:59 pm)

  4. 2026-02-02

    Senate committee offered

  5. 2026-02-02

    Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 4-N 3-A)

    committee-passage

  6. 2026-02-02

    Committee substitute printed 26106475D-S1

    substitution

  7. 2026-02-03

    Rules suspended

  8. 2026-02-03

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  9. 2026-02-03

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  10. 2026-02-03

    Passed by for the day

  11. 2026-02-04

    Read second time

    reading-2

  12. 2026-02-04

    Local Government Substitute agreed to

  13. 2026-02-04

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

    substitution

  14. 2026-02-05

    Engrossment reconsidered by Senate

  15. 2026-02-05

    Floor offered Senator VanValkenburg Amendments

  16. 2026-02-05

    Reading of amendments waived (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-02-05

    Senator VanValkenburg Amendments agreed to

    amendment-passage

  18. 2026-02-05

    Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  19. 2026-02-05

    Rules suspended

  20. 2026-02-05

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-02-05

    Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  22. 2026-02-10

    Placed on Calendar

  23. 2026-02-10

    Read first time

    reading-1

  24. 2026-02-10

    Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

    referral-committee

  25. 2026-02-26

    House committee offered

  26. 2026-02-27

    Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (11-Y 10-N)

    committee-passage

  27. 2026-02-27

    Committee substitute printed 26108775D-H1

    substitution

  28. 2026-03-03

    Read second time

    reading-2

  29. 2026-03-04

    Floor substitute printed 26109131D-H2 (Helmer)

  30. 2026-03-04

    Floor offered Delegate Helmer Substitute

  31. 2026-03-04

    Passed by for the day

  32. 2026-03-04

    Reconsideration of passed by for the day

  33. 2026-03-04

    Motion to rerefer to Counties, Cities and Towns agreed to

  34. 2026-03-04

    Rereferred to Counties, Cities and Towns

    referral-committee

  35. 2026-03-10

    Left in Counties, Cities and Towns

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from Local Government with substitute

    2026-02-02 · pass · 8-4

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: abstain
    • David R. Suetterlein: abstain
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: abstain
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed R

    2026-02-03 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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: not voting
    • 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

  • Reconsider R

    2026-02-05 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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

    2026-02-05 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • 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

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading)

    2026-02-05 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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

  • Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute

    2026-02-27 · pass · 11-10

    Member-level votes (21)
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: no
    • Irene Shin: no
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Marty Martinez: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Nicole Cole: no
    • Margaret A. Franklin: no
    • Garrett McGuire: no
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB454

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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