VirginiaHB13162026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Removal of clutter; cutting of grass; agricultural use exemption; Planning District 19.

Sponsored By: Kimberly Pope Adams (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Removal of clutter; cutting of grass; agricultural use exemption; Planning District 19. Exempts localities located in Planning District 19 from provisions that exclude agricultural land from requirements relating to the removal of clutter and cutting of grass when such land is one acre or less and located in an area that is used for a residential purpose. This bill is identical to SB 742.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.

Fines and repeat‑offender charges

Localities can fine you up to $50 for a first offense and up to $200 for later, different offenses within 12 months. Each business day a violation continues counts as a new offense. Total fines in 12 months are capped at $3,000, or $6,000 for industrial or commercial property. Normally these are civil fines, not crimes. But after three civil penalties in 24 months for the same or similar issue (not from the same incident), later violations can be charged as a Class 3 misdemeanor, and no civil fine can be added for that same act.

Farm‑zoned land: broad exemptions

In Planning Districts 6, 19, and 22, land zoned for agriculture is generally exempt from local clutter and cutting rules. The exemption ends if the lot is one acre or less and is used as a home. In Planning District 19, clutter‑removal rules follow the same one‑acre residential exception. This protects most larger farm parcels from these local requirements.

Local cleanup and yard upkeep rules

Localities can require you to remove trash and clutter from your property and to dispose of it only in approved bins or facilities. They can also require you to cut grass, weeds, running bamboo, and other growth. For vegetation, one written notice per growing season is enough before the locality may cut and bill you. Farm‑zoned or active farming land is generally exempt. If you do not pay cleanup or cutting charges, the unpaid amount becomes a lien like local property taxes; a lien can be waived only for an unrelated buyer with no business ties, and the debt remains your personal obligation from when it was imposed.

Where county rules apply

County rules under this law do not apply inside a town’s corporate limits. In counties with fewer than 500 people per square mile, county rules only apply in platted subdivisions or areas zoned residential, business, commercial, or industrial. This limits where counties can enforce nuisance and yard rules.

Broader trimming rules in PD23

In Planning District 23, local rules can require you to cut overgrown shrubs and trees, not just grass and weeds. If you do not keep vegetation trimmed under local timelines, the locality can arrange cutting and bill you.

Cemetery land must be mowed

Owners of land used to bury human remains must cut grass, weeds, and running bamboo when the locality sets the times. One written notice each growing season is enough before the locality may cut and bill the owner, with costs recoverable as taxes. This rule does not apply if the land is owned by an individual, a family, a property owners’ association, or a church.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kimberly Pope Adams

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 206 • No: 20

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

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

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Local Government

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 80 • No: 18

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

Yes: 19 • No: 2

House vote 1/28/2026

Referred from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0294)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 294 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  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. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1316ER)

    3/11/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/11/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  9. Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  10. Read third time

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

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

    3/3/2026Senate
  13. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  14. Reported from Local Government (13-Y 0-N)

    3/2/2026Senate
  15. Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Local Government (14-Y 0-N)

    2/24/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

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

    2/13/2026Senate
  18. Read third time and passed House (80-Y 18-N 0-A)

    2/12/2026House
  19. Read second time and engrossed

    2/11/2026House
  20. Read first time

    2/10/2026House
  21. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (19-Y 2-N)

    2/6/2026House
  22. Referred from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)

    1/28/2026House
  23. Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

    1/26/2026House
  24. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    1/16/2026House
  25. Presented and ordered printed 26105635D

    1/16/2026House

Bill Text

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