VirginiaSB772026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Repairs or maintenance of property; entering adjoining property, petition for entry.

Sponsored By: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Repairs or maintenance of property; entering adjoining property; petition for entry. Allows an owner of real property who seeks to repair or maintain the exterior of his property to petition the circuit court for a right of entry to an adjoining property for the purpose of performing the repairs or maintenance when the property is so situated that it is impossible to perform the repairs or maintenance without entering such adjoining property and permission to enter such adjoining property has been denied. The bill requires the petition and affidavits to contain specific information including the nature of the repairs and what efforts were made by the owner to obtain permission. The bill also provides that the petitioner shall be required to return the adjoining property to its previous condition and shall be liable to the adjoining owner or his lessee for actual damages occurring as a result of the entry. This bill is identical to HB 803.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Court-approved entry to neighbor's property for repairs

The law lets a property owner ask the circuit court to enter a neighbor’s land to do exterior repairs or maintenance. This applies when the work is impossible without entry and the neighbor denied permission or set unreasonable conditions. Your petition must list the repairs, your efforts to get consent, why entry is needed, the date, who will enter, and proof the worker is licensed and insured. You must serve the petition on the neighbor under Virginia service rules, and a judge must find you acted in good faith. After a hearing, the court can allow entry, set conditions, and require a bond. Entry allowed by the court is not trespass. You must return the property to its prior condition and pay for any actual damage. The state court office provides a standard form.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 179 • No: 33

House vote 2/23/2026

Passed House

Yes: 74 • No: 22

House vote 2/18/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 18 • No: 4

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 34 • No: 5

Senate vote 1/21/2026

Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/20/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/20/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/19/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 13 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0429)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 429 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  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. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB77)

    2/24/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB77ER)

    2/24/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    2/24/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    2/24/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/24/2026House
  10. Passed House (74-Y 22-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026House
  11. Read third time

    2/23/2026House
  12. Read second time

    2/20/2026House
  13. Reported from Courts of Justice (18-Y 4-N)

    2/18/2026House
  14. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/3/2026House
  15. Read first time

    2/3/2026House
  16. Placed on Calendar

    2/3/2026House
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB77)

    1/28/2026Senate
  18. Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 5-N 0-A)

    1/22/2026Senate
  19. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

    1/21/2026Senate
  20. Committee substitute printed 26105696D-S1

    1/21/2026Senate
  21. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

    1/21/2026Senate
  22. Read second time

    1/21/2026Senate
  23. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/20/2026Senate
  24. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/20/2026Senate
  25. Rules suspended

    1/20/2026Senate

Bill Text

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