STATE BILLVA SB 531PASSED

Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units, delayed effective date.

Commonwealth of Virginia

Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units. Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinances for single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as defined in the bill, as a permitted accessory use. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from the locality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the person meets certain requirements enumerated in the bill, and restricts the fee for such permit to $500 or less. The bill prohibits the locality from requiring (i) setbacks for the ADU that are greater than the setback required for the primary dwelling or the setback required for accessory structures on the residential lot, whichever is less; (ii) conditions for ADUs that are more restrictive than those for single-family dwellings within the same zoning area with regard to height, rear, or side setbacks, lot size or coverage, or building frontage; or (iii) consanguinity or affinity between the occupants of the ADU and the primary dwelling. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Status
Passed
Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date
Apr 13, 2026
213 days ago
Current chamber
Senate
Session
2026 Regular Session
VA SB 531 · PassedApr 13

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Bill details

Last action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0895) · Apr 13, 2026

Sponsors

KSKannan SrinivasanSenator · Democrat · SD-032Primary sponsor
SSSaddam SalimSenator · Democrat · SD-037

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 13, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0895)
Apr 13, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 895 (Effective 7/1/2027)
Mar 14, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Mar 14, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Senate
Mar 10, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate
Mar 10, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse
Mar 10, 2026Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB531ER)Senate
Mar 10, 2026EnrolledSenate
Show 21 earlier actions
Mar 4, 2026Passed House (62-Y 37-N 0-A)House
Mar 4, 2026Read third timeHouse
Mar 3, 2026Read second timeHouse
Feb 27, 2026Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (13-Y 8-N)House
Feb 17, 2026Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3House
Feb 17, 2026Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsHouse
Feb 17, 2026Read first timeHouse
Feb 17, 2026Placed on CalendarHouse
Feb 12, 2026Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 11, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 11, 2026Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 11, 2026Read second timeSenate
Feb 10, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate
Feb 10, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate
Feb 10, 2026Rules suspendedSenate
Feb 9, 2026Committee substitute printed 26107523D-S1Senate
Feb 9, 2026Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)Senate
Feb 9, 2026Senate committee offeredSenate
Jan 21, 2026Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Local Government (15-Y 0-N)Senate
Jan 13, 2026Referred to Committee on General Laws and TechnologySenate
Jan 13, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105326DSenate

Recorded votes

Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Local Government (15-Y 0-N)Jan 21, 2026 · Senate · 15 yea · 0 nayPassed
Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)Feb 9, 2026 · Senate · 8 yea · 7 nayPassed
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 10, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Feb 12, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (13-Y 8-N)Feb 27, 2026 · House · 13 yea · 8 nayPassed
Passed House (62-Y 37-N 0-A)Mar 4, 2026 · House · 62 yea · 37 nayPassed

Read the bill at the source

This page follows the bill as the legislature records it. For the bill's full text and the official record, use the legislature's own site.

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