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HB356 • 2026

Local housing policy; expands the range of changes that are required.

An Act to amend and reenact § 36-139.9 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Housing and Community Development; local housing policy; report to Department.

Housing Land
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Thomas
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what happens if a locality fails to submit the required report or how compliance will be enforced by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Expanding Local Housing Policy Reporting

This act requires localities with more than 3,500 residents to report changes in housing policies, ordinances, and regulations annually to the Department of Housing and Community Development.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires local governments with populations over 3,500 to submit an annual report detailing any changes in housing-related policies, ordinances, or regulations to the state's Department of Housing and Community Development.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governments with populations over 3,500
  • The Department of Housing and Community Development

Terms To Know

Comprehensive Plan
A long-term plan that guides the development and growth of a community.
Zoning Ordinance
Rules set by local governments to control land use, such as where homes or businesses can be built.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a locality fails to submit the required report.
  • It is unclear how the Department of Housing and Community Development will enforce compliance with this reporting requirement.
  • The exact forms and requirements for submitting these reports have yet to be developed by the Department.

Amendments

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

HB356ASC1

2026-02-25

General Laws and Technology Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the deadline for a report from August to September.

  • Changes the due date of a report from August to September.
  • The text does not provide details about what specific report is being referred to.
HB356AS1

2026-03-05 • Committee

General Laws and Technology Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the deadline from August to September for a report related to local housing policy.

  • Changes the due date of a report from August to September.
  • The exact nature and content of the report are not specified in the provided text.
HB356EDOC

2026-03-10 • Senate

Senate Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the deadline from August to September for a report related to local housing policy.

  • Changes the due date of a report from August to September.
  • The exact nature and content of the report are not specified in the provided text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 121 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 121 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0121)

  4. 2026-04-01 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB356)

  5. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  7. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  10. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  11. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  12. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  13. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  14. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB356ER)

  15. 2026-03-11 House

    Senate amendment agreed to by House (74-Y 24-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  17. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  18. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  19. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  20. 2026-03-10 General Laws and Technology

    General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  21. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  23. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  24. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Rules suspended

  25. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  26. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  28. 2026-03-04 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

  29. 2026-02-25 Housing

    Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  30. 2026-02-25 Housing

    Senate subcommittee offered

  31. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  32. 2026-02-03 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  33. 2026-02-02 House

    Read third time and passed House (86-Y 13-N 0-A)

  34. 2026-01-30 House

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  35. 2026-01-30 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  36. 2026-01-29 House

    Read first time

  37. 2026-01-27 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

  38. 2026-01-23 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB356)

  39. 2026-01-22 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  40. 2026-01-19 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

  41. 2026-01-12 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104973D

  42. 2026-01-12 General Laws

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Department of Housing and Community Development; local housing policy; report to Department.
Expands the range of local housing policy changes that are required to be submitted annually in a report to the Department of Housing and Community Development by any locality with a population greater than 3,500. This bill is identical to SB 665.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend and reenact §
36-139.9
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Housing and Community Development; local housing policy; report to Department.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
36-139.9
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
36-139.9
. Local housing policy; report to Department.
A. Any locality with a population greater than 3,500 shall submit annually to the Department a report
summarizing the adoption or amendment of
detailing
any
changes to
local policies, ordinances,
regulations,
or processes affecting the development and construction of housing during the preceding fiscal year. Such report shall contain a description of the following items and, if available, a reference to where additional information can be found on the locality's website:
1. Adoption or amendment of a local proffer policy enacted by the locality pursuant to §
15.2-2298
,
15.2-2303
, or
15.2-2303.1
, including any changes to cash proffer schedules
;
2. Adoption or amendment of any provisions of the zoning ordinance affecting the development, redevelopment, or construction of single-family or multifamily housing
, including changes related to density, height, lot coverage, minimum lot size, setbacks, use permissions, parking requirements, or design standards
;
3. Adoption or amendment of any provisions of the subdivision ordinance affecting the development, redevelopment, or construction of single-family or multifamily housing;
4. Revisions to the comprehensive plan affecting the location, density, or character of single-family or multifamily housing;
5. Adoption or amendment of any ordinances, incentives, or policies designed to encourage the development, redevelopment, or construction of housing, including accessory dwelling unit ordinances, affordable dwelling unit ordinances pursuant to §
15.2-2304
,
15.2-2305
, or
15.2-2305.1
, fee waivers, density bonuses, waiver or reduction of local parking requirements, new construction or rehabilitation tax incentives, and development standard modifications;
and
6. Changes to any local fees associated with the reviewing, permitting, and construction of residential development activities
;

7. Adoption or implementation of any legislation enacted by the General Assembly during the preceding legislative session affecting residential land development or construction;

8. Any studies, reports, or analyses, if any, that were prepared by or for the locality during the preceding fiscal year and that relate to (i) local housing market conditions; (ii) projected residential development; (iii) housing shortages, gaps, or needs by unit type, tenure, or affordability level; (iv) housing demand, supply, or production trends; (v) build-out potential or other analyses estimating the amount of residential development permissible under existing zoning; (vi) infrastructure or utility capacity, including engineering assessment of water, sewer, transportation, or school systems needed to accommodate residential growth; and (vii) regional or multi-jurisdictional housing analyses prepared by a planning district commission, including studies of housing needs, growth patterns, or opportunities for policy coordination; and
9. The total number of residential development applications submitted during the preceding fiscal year, including rezoning and other residential land-development applications requiring legislative approval and by-right residential development applications submitted for administrative review. For all applications, the locality shall report the number submitted, approved, and denied and the number of residential units proposed, approved, and denied. For purposes of this subdivision, residential development applications shall be treated as denied if a completed application for such development is pending approval for at least 12 months and has not otherwise been delayed at the request of the applicant. To the extent available, the locality shall also report proposed unit types, tenure, expected affordability or income targeting, and the permitted density or intensity
.
B. Reports submitted by localities pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the Department annually by September

1 for the preceding fiscal year. Reports shall be submitted in accordance with any forms and requirements developed by the Department, in consultation with stakeholders. The Department shall make all reports available to the public on its website.