All Roll Calls
Yes: 232 • No: 78
Sponsored By: Briana D. Sewell (Democratic)
Became Law
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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3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
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.
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.
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.
Briana D. Sewell
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
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
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0757)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 757 (Effective 7/1/2027)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1234ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Senate substitute agreed to by House (67-Y 30-N 0-A)
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
Local Government Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Committee substitute printed 26109040D-S1
Rules suspended
Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House (76-Y 22-N 0-A)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
committee substitute agreed to
Read second time
Read first time
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
3/13/2026
Substitute
3/3/2026
Substitute
2/6/2026
Introduced
1/14/2026
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