VirginiaSB7422026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Lashrecse D. Aird (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 HB 1316.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.

Fines and tax-like liens for violations

Violations can bring civil fines: up to $50 for the first violation (or those from the same facts) and up to $200 for later, different violations within 12 months. Each business day can count as a separate offense. Total fines in 12 months are capped at $3,000, or $6,000 for industrial or commercial property. Unpaid cleanup or cutting charges become a lien equal to a local real estate tax lien and are enforced the same way. A lien can be waived only to help a sale to an unrelated buyer with no business ties; unpaid charges stay the owner’s personal debt. After three civil penalties for the same or similar violation in 24 months, a locality may treat a later violation as a Class 3 misdemeanor instead of a civil penalty.

Where cleanup rules apply and farm exceptions

County rules under this law do not apply inside any town’s corporate limits. In counties with fewer than 500 people per square mile, county rules apply only in platted subdivisions or in areas zoned residential, business, commercial, or industrial. Farmland is exempt: land zoned for agriculture or in active farm use is not covered. In Planning Districts 6, 19, and 22, agricultural land is exempt unless the lot is one acre or less and used for a home. Planning District 19 also keeps most agricultural parcels over one acre exempt from clutter‑removal rules.

Local rules to clear trash and weeds

Your locality can adopt an ordinance that makes you remove trash and clutter and cut grass, weeds, and running bamboo. If you do not, after reasonable notice, the locality can do the work and bill you. One written notice per growing season counts as reasonable notice before the locality cuts. You must dispose of trash only in private receptacles or at authorized sites.

Broader cutting rules in Planning District 23

Localities in Planning District 23 may require cutting overgrown shrubs, trees, and other vegetation, not just grass and weeds, if they adopt an ordinance under this law.

Cemetery owners must cut growth

Owners of land used for burials must cut grass, weeds, and other growth when the governing body sets times. After one written notice per growing season, the locality can cut and charge the owner. This rule does not apply to land owned by an individual, a family, a property owners’ association, or a church.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lashrecse D. Aird

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 189 • No: 23

House vote 2/25/2026

Passed House

Yes: 79 • No: 19

House vote 2/20/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns

Yes: 17 • No: 4

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Reported from Local Government

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0295)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 295 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB742ER)

    2/27/2026Senate
  6. Enrolled

    2/27/2026Senate
  7. Signed by President

    2/27/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    2/27/2026House
  9. Passed House (79-Y 19-N 0-A)

    2/25/2026House
  10. Read third time

    2/25/2026House
  11. Read second time

    2/24/2026House
  12. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (17-Y 4-N)

    2/20/2026House
  13. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

    2/4/2026House
  14. Read first time

    2/4/2026House
  15. Placed on Calendar

    2/4/2026House
  16. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/29/2026Senate
  17. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/28/2026Senate
  18. Read second time

    1/28/2026Senate
  19. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/27/2026Senate
  20. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/27/2026Senate
  21. Read first time

    1/27/2026Senate
  22. Passed by for the day

    1/27/2026Senate
  23. Rules suspended

    1/27/2026Senate
  24. Reported from Local Government (14-Y 0-N)

    1/26/2026Senate
  25. Referred to Committee on Local Government

    1/19/2026Senate

Bill Text

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