VirginiaHB12342026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Land development; definitions, solar canopies in surface parking areas, delayed effective date.

Sponsored By: Briana D. Sewell (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Land development; solar canopies in parking areas. Provides that any locality may include in its land development ordinances a provision that requires that an applicant must install a solar canopy over designated surface parking areas. Such provisions shall apply only to nonresidential parking areas with 100 or more new off-street contiguous parking spaces and may require coverage of up to 50 percent of the surface parking area. The bill provides that an ordinance adopted pursuant to this bill shall be subject to various additional requirements and shall allow for deviations, in whole or in part, from the requirements of the ordinance when its strict application would prevent the development of uses and densities otherwise allowed by the locality's zoning or development ordinance or when a property owner shows that the solar canopy, if installed as otherwise required under the ordinance, will generate less than 75 percent of the electricity that would be expected, given the nameplate capacity of the solar modules installed on such canopy, if the canopy were to be installed at another location in the locality without surrounding impediments to insolation such as buildings or shading vegetation. Finally, the bill provides that the applicant or owner may use the electric energy generated from such solar canopy to offset the consumption of the parking lot or adjoining building served under the same account. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill incorporates HB 457 and is identical to SB 26.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Localities can require parking-lot solar canopies

Beginning July 1, 2027, localities can require solar canopies over up to 50% of large new surface parking. The rule applies to new or expanded lots with 100 or more new contiguous off-street spaces serving a nonresidential site. It must apply equally to public lots, including localities, schools, and authorities. Mixed-use projects are exempt if 50% or more of new floor area is housing. Deviations are allowed if strict rules block allowed development, or a P90 model shows under 75% expected output. Applicants may install one canopy or several.

Permitting breaks for solar canopies

Beginning July 1, 2027, areas under solar canopies do not count as extra impervious surface if the ground is already impervious and counted for stormwater. The ordinance also drops landscaping and tree-canopy requirements for space covered by canopies. These changes can cut site work and compliance costs.

Own, use, and connect canopy power

Beginning July 1, 2027, canopy ownership can be separate from the land by contract, deed, or lease. Electricity from the canopy may offset the parking lot or an adjoining building if they share the same account. The owner or customer may connect under state rules 20VAC5-314 or 20VAC5-315.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Briana D. Sewell

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 232 • No: 78

House vote 3/6/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 67 • No: 30

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Local Government Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Local Government with substitute

Yes: 8 • No: 7

House vote 2/12/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 76 • No: 22

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0757)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 757 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1234ER)

    3/13/2026House
  6. Enrolled

    3/13/2026House
  7. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  9. Senate substitute agreed to by House (67-Y 30-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026House
  10. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  11. Local Government Substitute agreed to

    3/4/2026Senate
  12. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  14. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate
  15. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  16. Committee substitute printed 26109040D-S1

    3/3/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  18. Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)

    3/2/2026Senate
  19. Referred to Committee on Local Government

    2/13/2026Senate
  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/13/2026Senate
  21. Read third time and passed House (76-Y 22-N 0-A)

    2/12/2026House
  22. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/11/2026House
  23. committee substitute agreed to

    2/11/2026House
  24. Read second time

    2/11/2026House
  25. Read first time

    2/10/2026House

Bill Text

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