# Virginia SB717: Transit-oriented housing overlay districts; definitions, ordinances, report, sunset.

Virginia SB717, Transit-oriented housing overlay districts; definitions, ordinances, report, sunset., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2026-02-20 (Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB717-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB717
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Transit-oriented housing overlay districts; definitions, ordinances, report, sunset.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-02-20, Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Subcommittee #2
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (128 yes, 45 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Transit-oriented housing overlay districts. Requires certain localities to establish one or more transit-oriented housing overlay districts covering qualifying areas, as defined in the bill, within their boundaries. The bill provides that within such overlay districts, the locality shall permit, by right, a minimum height of six stories and a minimum average density of 30 units per acre within one-quarter of a mile of a major transit stop and allow two units per lot and four units per corner lot between one-quarter of a mile and one mile from a such a stop. The bill further provides that applications for such housing development shall be approved ministerially by the zoning administrator or other designated official and that no public hearing is required for approval. The bill allows certain areas within a locality to be excluded from its provisions and sunsets on September 1, 2030. The bill has a delayed effective date of September 1, 2027.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Saddam Azlan Salim (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-20 | House | Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 20 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Local Government Amendments agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with amendments | pass | 8 | 7 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-02-20: Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-19: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-18: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-17: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-02-10: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-10: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Local Government Amendments agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Senate committee amendments offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Reported from Local Government with amendments (8-Y 7-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Presented and ordered printed 26100854D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2026-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169589.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116027.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116026.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108696.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105547.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092146.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092145.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
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169589.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116027.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116026.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108696.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105547.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092146.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092145.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)
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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB717-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).