HB 419 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Approval of land use applications; residential development.

Summary

Approval of land use applications; residential development. Requires every locality to take final action to approve, approve with conditions, or deny any land use application for the rezoning or development of property that includes residential development within 12 months from the date of submission of such application to the locality.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a substitute version that significantly changes its focus. The original bill (HB 419) aimed to add a new section requiring localities to make final decisions on residential development applications within 12 months. The substitute version instead amends an existing section about zoning ordinances and focuses on conditions for special use permits, particularly regarding affordable housing and alcohol licensees.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from creating a new 12-month timeline requirement for residential development applications to modifying existing provisions about zoning ordinance conditions, particularly for affordable housing and alcohol-related permits.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the new 12-month timeline requirement for localities to approve, approve with conditions, or deny land use applications for residential development.

Changed the bill from adding a new section (§ 15.2-2209.1:3) to amending an existing section (§ 15.2-2286) about permitted provisions in zoning ordinances.

Added specific requirements that conditions on residential special use permits must be consistent with providing affordable housing, and that the approving body must consider how conditions affect housing affordability.

Added provisions allowing Hampton and Norfolk to impose automatic expiration conditions on special exceptions for retail alcohol licensees upon ownership changes or other specified events.

Added provisions allowing Richmond to impose automatic review conditions on special use permits for retail alcohol licensees upon ownership or control changes.

TECHNICAL

The document shows extensive formatting changes and page reorganization typical of legislative committee substitute amendments, but these are primarily technical rather than substantive policy changes.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors