# Virginia HB277: Zoning; wireless facility modifications, application process.

Virginia HB277, Zoning; wireless facility modifications, application process., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Holly M. Seibold (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0376)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB277-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB277
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Zoning; wireless facility modifications, application process.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-09
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0376)
- Sponsor: Holly M. Seibold (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (210 yes, 8 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Zoning; wireless facility modifications; application process. Prohibits a locality from denying an application for the modification of an existing wireless facility if (i) the modification would not substantially change the physical dimensions of the existing wireless facility; (ii) the modification involves the co-location of new transmission equipment, the removal of transmission equipment, or the replacement of transmission equipment; and (iii) the request meets the requirements of the bill. The bill provides that a modification does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the existing wireless facility if it entails the excavation or deployment of transmission equipment within 30 feet, in any direction, of the existing wireless support structure or base station. The bill also provides various requirements for local approval within a specified timeframe, permits any applicant or locality to bring claims related to the bill to any court of competent jurisdiction, and prohibits any party, other than the applicant or locality, from having an actionable appeal for the issuance of permits or authorizations made pursuant to the bill.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Wireless review fees capped at $1,000: benefit, medium. Localities may charge only one-time fees that match their actual direct and reasonable costs to review a modification. For technical consultation and review of a co-location or eligible facilities request, the fee cannot be more than $1,000. Fees may include third-party consultant costs, but not tr…
- Faster approvals for wireless facility upgrades: benefit, low. Localities cannot deny changes to an existing wireless site when the change does not substantially change its size and it is a co-location, removal, or replacement of transmission equipment. Excavation or deployment within 30 feet of the support structure or base station, outside public rights-of-w…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Holly M. Seibold (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government | pass | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 90 | 7 | 1 |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 19 | 1 | 1 |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 0 |   |

## Actions (29)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0376) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 376 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB277ER) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Local Government (13-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (90-Y 7-N 1-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-04: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Committee substitute printed 26106328D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (19-Y 1-N 1-A) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-16: Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/16/2026 7:57 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100554D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217699.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217698.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200767.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200766.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104934.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104933.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100586.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102096.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100585.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102095.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083388.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083387.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217699.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217698.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200767.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1200766.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104934.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104933.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100586.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102096.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100585.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102095.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083388.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083387.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB277-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).