VirginiaHB14632026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Zoning; nonconforming uses, manufactured homes.

Sponsored By: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Zoning; nonconforming uses; manufactured homes. Provides that a land owner or home owner may place a manufactured home that meets the current HUD manufactured housing code upon any open lot in a valid nonconforming mobile or manufactured home park regardless of whether a valid nonconforming manufactured home is currently located on such lot. The bill also provides that, for the purposes of determining whether a use has been continuous, an existing mobile or manufactured home shall be considered a valid nonconforming mobile or manufactured home regardless of whether such mobile or manufactured home has been occupied during the preceding two-year period.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Development rights locked after approvals

Your development rights are vested once three things are true: you received a clear government approval for a specific use, you relied on it in good faith, and you spent or obligated substantial money to pursue the project. Later zoning changes do not take those rights away. Qualifying approvals include rezoning with proffers, special-use permits, variances, preliminary or final plat or site plan approvals, and a final written zoning decision that is no longer appealable.

Easier rebuilding after disasters

You can repair, rebuild, or replace a damaged home or business without a zoning variance after a natural disaster or act of God. You must reduce or remove nonconforming features when you can. If damage is over 50% and the only fix restores the old nonconforming condition, you may restore it. Work must meet the State Building Code and local floodplain rules and be finished within two years, with two extra years if there is a federal disaster declaration.

Easier replacement of manufactured homes

In a nonconforming mobile home park, you can replace a valid nonconforming home with a comparable HUD‑code home. Single‑section replaces single‑section, and multi‑section replaces multi‑section. You can also place a HUD‑code home on an open lot in the park. Outside parks, you can replace a valid nonconforming manufactured or mobile home with a newer HUD‑code home, and it keeps its nonconforming status even if it sat empty for two years.

Nonconforming buildings kept legal

A building is treated as nonconforming, not illegal, if it was built under a valid permit and got a certificate, you relied on a permit and spent a lot in good faith, or you paid local taxes on it for more than 15 years. The locality can require work to meet the State Building Code, but that does not erase nonconforming status. Uncorroborated oral statements by an official are not enough to prove compliance.

Tighter limits on nonconforming uses

Local governments can limit nonconforming uses. If a nonconforming use stops for more than two years, it can be ended. If you enlarge square footage or make structural changes, you can be required to meet current zoning rules. Localities can also ban any expansion of a nonconforming use and stop you from moving a nonconforming building to a lot that is not zoned for it.

Fee waiver for long-time businesses

If your business has a local license, has operated at the same site for at least 15 years, and paid all local taxes, you can apply for rezoning or a special‑use permit without paying local filing fees.

Remove abandoned signs after two years

If a business has not operated for two years, its nonconforming sign is abandoned. After reasonable notice, the locality can order removal, remove it if you do not, and charge you the cost, or get a court order.

Replace septic or connect to sewer

You can replace an existing on‑site sewage system in the same general spot, even if a new one would not normally be allowed there. If public sewer is available, you must connect to it instead. Any new on‑site system must meet current Department of Health rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joshua E. Thomas

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 221 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Local Government

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 1/30/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0471)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 471 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  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 (HB1463ER)

    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 (15-Y 0-N)

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

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

    2/13/2026Senate
  17. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

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

    2/11/2026House
  19. Read first time

    2/10/2026House
  20. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (21-Y 0-N)

    2/6/2026House
  21. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

    1/30/2026House
  22. Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #1

    1/28/2026House
  23. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

    1/23/2026House
  24. Presented and ordered printed 26105044D

    1/23/2026House

Bill Text

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