HB1212 • 2026

Zoning; small lot residential districts required.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2286.2, relating to small lot residential zoning district.

Land

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Sewell
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Zoning; small lot residential districts required.

Small lot residential zoning districts.

What This Bill Does

Small lot residential zoning districts.
Requires any locality with a population of 50,000 or more to adopt, maintain, and apply to land within its boundaries at least one zoning district classification that permits a single-family dwelling on a lot with a minimum lot area not exceeding 3,000 square feet.
The bill provides that such zoning district classifications shall not impose minimum lot widths exceeding 30 feet or setback, lot coverage, or density requirements that would preclude construction of eligible dwellings on conforming lots.
The bill's provisions do not apply to areas within a historic district.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1212ASC1

2026-03-02 • Committee

Local Government Amendment

Plain English: OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/02/2026 HB 1212 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1.

OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/02/2026 HB 1212 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1.
Line 11, engrossed, after of strike 20,000 insert 50,000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 2.
Line 13, engrossed, after feet insert .
[a period]

HB1212AS1

2026-03-02 • Committee

Local Government Amendment

Plain English: 3/02/2026 (HB1212) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1.

3/02/2026 (HB1212) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1.
Line 11, engrossed, after of strike 20,000 insert 50,000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 2.
Line 13, engrossed, after feet insert .
[a period]

HB1212EDOC

2026-03-04 • Senate

Senate Amendments

Plain English: 3/04/2026 (HB1212) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1.

3/04/2026 (HB1212) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1.
Line 11, engrossed, after of strike 20,000 insert 50,000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 2.
Line 13, engrossed, after feet insert .
[a period]

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 751 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0751)
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-13 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-13 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-13 House
Enrolled
2026-03-13 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1212ER)
2026-03-06 House
Senate amendments agreed to by House (60-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 House
Reconsideration of Senate amendments agreed to by House
2026-03-06 House
Senate amendments agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-03-04 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-04 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-04 Senate
Engrossed by Senate as amended
2026-03-04 Local Government
Local Government Amendments agreed to
2026-03-04 Senate
Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-03-03 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-03 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-03 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-03 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-02 Local Government
Reported from Local Government with amendments (8-Y 7-N)
2026-03-02 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-13 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-13 Local Government
Referred to Committee on Local Government
2026-02-12 House
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-02-11 House
Read second time
2026-02-11 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-11 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-10 House
Read first time
2026-02-06 Counties, Cities and Towns
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (17-Y 3-N 1-A)
2026-02-06 House
House committee offered
2026-02-06 Counties, Cities and Towns
Committee substitute printed 26107349D-H1
2026-01-28 Subcommittee #2
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
2026-01-21 House
Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/21/2026 2:50 pm)
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104253D
2026-01-14 Counties, Cities and Towns
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

Official Summary Text

Small lot residential zoning districts.
Requires any locality with a population of 50,000 or more to adopt, maintain, and apply to land within its boundaries at least one zoning district classification that permits a single-family dwelling on a lot with a minimum lot area not exceeding 3,000 square feet. The bill provides that such zoning district classifications shall not impose minimum lot widths exceeding 30 feet or setback, lot coverage, or density requirements that would preclude construction of eligible dwellings on conforming lots. The bill's provisions do not apply to areas within a historic district.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
15.2-2286.2
, relating to small lot residential zoning district.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
15.2-2286.2
as follows:
§
15.2-2286.2
. Small lot residential zoning district required.
A. Any locality with a population of 50,000 or more shall adopt, maintain, and apply to land within its boundaries at least one zoning district classification that permits a single-family dwelling on a lot with a minimum lot area not exceeding 3,000 square feet.
B. Such zoning district classifications shall not impose minimum lot widths exceeding 30 feet or setback, lot coverage, or density requirements that would preclude construction of eligible dwellings on conforming lots.
C. A locality shall satisfy the requirements of this section through either (i) the maintenance of one or more existing zoning district classifications already applying to land within the locality's boundaries and meeting the requirements of this section or (ii) the amendment of the requirements of one or more existing zoning district classifications already applying to land within the locality's boundaries to meet the requirements of this section.
D. This section shall not apply to areas within a historic district established pursuant to §
15.2-2306
.