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Counties, Cities and Towns

Passed

P HB61

Courthouses; construction and repair. Requires a panel to determine that a danger to health, welfare, and safety of court employees or the public exists before a judge can issue an order requiring a county or city to construct a new courthouse or to repair or secure an existing courthouse.
Patron - Morgan

P HB106

Posting of certain statement. Authorizes boards of supervisors and city or town councils to post prominently in a conspicuous place in their primary local government administrative building for all citizens to read the phrase "In God We Trust," which is the national motto of the United States pursuant to 36 U.S.C. § 186 (1999). In addition, the Office of the Attorney General is required to intervene on behalf of local governments and to provide legal defense of this provision. An enactment clause authorizes local governments to accept contributions in cash or in-kind from any person (defined to include individuals, companies, organizations, and other legal entities) to defray the costs of implementing this provision.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

P HB124

Mandatory provisions of subdivision ordinances. Clarifies that "such facilities" refers to facilities specifically mentioned in the statute.
Patron - Hull

P HB182

Local advisory boards; compensation. Raises the amount that localities can compensate members of advisory boards from $50 to $75 for regular meetings, not to exceed one meeting per month. Also, localities may provide compensation for training.
Patron - Parrish

P HB185

Tree canopy bank. Provides that certain localities may by ordinance provide for an off-site tree canopy bank to meet a portion of a development's tree canopy requirements in instances where its local ordinance allows for reasonable exceptions to or deviations from standard tree canopy requirements during the development process. This bill is identical to SB 76.
Patron - Parrish

P HB225

Liens for local water and sewer charges; Goochland County. Allows Goochland County to provide that charges for water or sewers or use thereof shall be a lien on the real estate served by such waterline or sewer. Where residential rental real estate is involved, no lien shall attach (i) unless the user of the water or sewer services is also the owner of the real estate or (ii) unless the owner of the real estate negotiated or executed the agreement by which such water or sewer services were provided to the property.
Patron - Janis

P HB227

Service districts; property assessment. Provides that any locality imposing a tax pursuant to service district authority may base the tax on the full assessed value of the taxable property within the service district, notwithstanding any special use value assessment of property within the service district for land preservation, provided the owner of such property has given written consent. This bill is identical to SB 275.
Patron - Janis

P HB344

Open-space special districts. Allows local governments to create, by ordinance, a service district with the authority to acquire interests in real property in order to preserve open-space land. Currently, such service districts are limited to purchasing development rights that are to be dedicated as easements for conservation and open-space purposes.
Patron - Albo

P HB346

Clustering of single-family dwellings so as to preserve open space. Provides that a locality may provide in its zoning or subdivision ordinance standards, conditions and criteria for clustering of single-family dwellings and the preservation of open space developments. In establishing such standards, conditions and criteria, the governing body may include any provisions it determines appropriate to ensure quality development, preservation of open space and compliance with its comprehensive plan and land use ordinances. If proposals for clustering of single-family dwellings and the preservation of open space developments comply with the locality's adopted standards, conditions and criteria, the development and open space preservation shall be permitted by right under the local subdivision ordinance. The implementation and approval of the cluster development and open space preservation shall be done administratively by the locality's staff and without a public hearing. No local ordinance shall require that a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for such developments. However, any such ordinance may exempt developments of two acres or less. In any instance where the proposed density is greater than the density permitted in the applicable land use ordinance, the locality may continue to require approval of a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit or rezoning. Localities that currently provide for clustering of simple-family dwellings upon approval of a special exception shall have until July 1, 2004, to comply with the provisions of this bill.
Patron - Albo

P HB349

Immunity from annexation. Prohibits cities from commencing an annexation under provisions allowing property owner-initiated annexations. Such actions are currently prohibited by the annexation moratorium imposed under § 15.2-3201.
Patron - Rapp

P HB377

Service districts; nuisance animals. Allows the Town of Front Royal, through its service district, to construct, maintain and operate facilities, equipment and programs as may be necessary or desirable to control, eradicate and prevent the infestation of rats and removal of skunks and the conditions that harbor them.
Patron - Athey

P HB474

Volunteer inspectors in certain cities. Allows the City of Chesapeake to utilize supervised trained and qualified volunteers to issue notices of noncompliance for certain types of property maintenance and zoning violations. Currently, only the City of Virginia Beach has such authority.
Patron - Suit

P HB477

Advertisement of zoning amendments. Amends the existing advertisement requirements for certain zoning amendments to include changes to the applicable zoning ordinance text regulations affecting use or development density.
Patron - Suit

P HB479

Boards of zoning appeals. Allows an alternate member of the board to be appointed for votes in which a regular member will have to abstain.
Patron - Suit

P HB495

Preliminary subdivision plat approval. Provides that once a preliminary subdivision plat is approved, it shall be valid for a period of five years, provided the subdivider (i) submits a final subdivision plot for all or a portion of the property within one year of such approval and (ii) thereafter diligently pursues approval of the final subdivision plot.
Patron - Orrock

P HB566

Mutual aid agreements for law enforcement. Allows localities and other law-enforcement entities in noncontiguous localities, excluding agencies of state-supported institutions of higher learning, to enter into mutual aid agreements. The current law requires entities to have contiguous boundaries. This bill is identical to SB 493 and HB 894.
Patron - Byron

P HB588

Transportation district commissions. Provides that the bonds of such commissions shall be filed with the Department of the Treasury's Division of Risk Management rather than the Comptroller.
Patron - Reid

P HB619

Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority Act. Allows the Counties of Essex, Gloucester, King William, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, and the Towns of West Point, Tappahannock and Urbanna by resolution to declare that there is a need for a public access authority to be created. If an operating agreement is developed for the purpose of establishing or operating a public access authority for any such localities, these localities may form the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (Authority). The Authority's duties shall include: 1. Identifying land, either owned by the Commonwealth or private holdings that can be secured for use by the general public as a public access site; 2. Researching and determining ownership of all identified sites; 3. Determining appropriate public use levels of identified access sites; 4. Developing appropriate mechanism for transferring title of Commonwealth or private holdings to the Authority; 5. Developing appropriate acquisition and site management plans for public access usage; 6. Determining what holdings should be sold to advance the mission of the Authority; and 7. Performing other duties required to fulfill the mission of the Authority. The Authority shall be governed by a board of directors with authority to (i) acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip, operate and regulate any public access site within the territorial limits of the participating political subdivisions; (ii) construct, install, maintain, and operate facilities for managing access sites; (iii) determine fees, rates, and charges for the use of its facilities; (iv) apply for and accept gifts or other financial assistance; (v) appoint, employ or engage such officers and employees as may be necessary or appropriate, and to fix their duties and compensation; (vi) contract with any participating political subdivision for such subdivision to provide legal services, engineering services, depository and investment services; and (vii) borrow money and incur debt. Whenever it shall appear to the Authority that the need for the Authority no longer exists, the Authority, or in the proper case, any such subdivision, may petition the circuit court of a participating political subdivision for the dissolution of the Authority.
Patron - Morgan

P HB735

Route 28 transportation improvement districts. Allows property to be included in multiple districts, authorizes the Commonwealth Transportation Board to receive and disburse funds from transportation improvement districts under agreements entered into pursuant to the Public Private Transportation Act of 1995, and eliminates the procedure for abolishing districts through petition by owners of land within the districts.
Patron - Black

P HB847

Local government attorney. Allows such attorneys to be paid at an hourly rate and recover reasonable expenses.
Patron - Stump

P HB868

Solid waste disposal fees; discounts for seniors and disabled. Provides authority for Wise County (described by population) to discount solid waste fees for persons aged 60 years or older and disabled persons based on ability to pay.
Patron - Phillips

P HB894

Mutual Aid Agreements for Law Enforcement. Allows localities and other law-enforcement entities in non-contiguous localities, excluding agencies of state-supported institutions of higher learning, to enter into mutual aid agreements. The current law requires entities to have contiguous boundaries. This bill is identical to SB 493 and HB 566.
Patron - McDougle

P HB939

Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act. Prohibits smoking in any part of the interior of any public elementary, intermediate, and secondary school. Present law allows smoking in certain designated areas after student activities have been concluded.
Patron - Morgan

P HB977

Appointment of boards of zoning appeals. Adds localities in the fifteenth circuit to those where the board of zoning appeals may be appointed by the chief judge of the circuit court rather than by the circuit court generally.
Patron - Pollard

P HB990

Industrial development authorities. Clarifies that whenever an IDA is given authority to finance through bonds, it may also refinance such bonds. Also, the City of Richmond is given authority to call its IDA an economic development authority. This bill is identical to SB 432.
Patron - Hall

P HB993

Revocation of special exceptions. Clarifies that a board of zoning appeals may only revoke a special exception that has been granted by the board of zoning appeals, and that a governing body that issues special exceptions may revoke such special exceptions in the same manner as the board of zoning appeals.
Patron - Councill

P HB994

Land use applications; delinquent taxes. Includes building permits and erosion and sediment control permits as types of permits that localities may issue subject to payment of delinquent real estate taxes.
Patron - Councill

P HB1031

Designation of police to enforce trespass violations. Grants lessees, custodians, and persons lawfully in charge of real property authority to designate the local law-enforcement agency as a "person lawfully in charge of the property" for the purpose of forbidding another to go or remain upon the property. Current law only gives this authority to owners of real property.
Patron - Moran

P HB1072

Hampton Roads Sports Facility Authority. Continues numerous provisions within the act creating the Authority by changing the sunset date from January 1, 2002, to January 1, 2005, but that bonds shall be issued only upon approval by the National Hockey League or National Basketball Association of a team to be located in the City of Norfolk. The purpose of the Authority is to facilitate the attraction and operation of a National Basketball Association or National Hockey League franchise. Additional changes clarify that a temporary facility may be treated the same as the permanent facility for the purposes of certain tax benefits. This bill is identical to SB 580.
Patron - Jones, J.C.

P HB1078

County manager plan; employee benefits. Allows any county with the county manager plan of government (currently, only Arlington County), to provide for the use of funds, other than state funds, to provide grants for county and school board employees to purchase or rent residences, for use as the employee's principal residence, within the county.
Patron - Brink

P HB1094

County manager plan; applicant preemployment information. Allows Arlington County to require applicants for county employment to submit to fingerprinting and a criminal records check.
Patron - Brink

P HB1174

Dual office holding by local officers. Allows dual office holding by a part-time assistant attorney for the Commonwealth with the consent of the respective attorneys for the Commonwealth and the Compensation Board.
Patron - Hogan

P HB1178

Notice of zoning amendments. Provides that if the provisions of a recorded plat or final site plan, which was specifically determined by the governing body, and not its designee, to be in accordance with the zoning conditions previously approved, conflict with any underlying zoning conditions of such rezoning approval, the provisions of the recorded plat or final site plan shall control, and the zoning amendment notice requirements of § 15.2-2204 shall be deemed to have been satisfied.
Patron - Hull

P HB1180

Residency requirements. Extends a sunset clause from July 1, 2002, to July 1, 2004, thereby allowing the Cities of Hopewell and Petersburg to continue using residency as a basis for participation in local police or fire cadet programs or local homesteading programs.
Patron - Ingram

P HB1189

Mandatory connection to water and sewage systems. Adds Buckingham County, Halifax County, and Nelson County to those counties with authority to require connection to their water and sewage systems by owners of property that may be served by such systems.
Patron - Abbitt

P HB1190

Release of performance guarantees. Requires that should a governing body, an administrative agency, the Virginia Department of Transportation, or other political subdivision choose to inspect any proposed public facility constructed by a subdivider or developer that is the subject of any performance guarantee required by the governing body or the Virginia Department of Transportation, the inspection shall be based solely upon conformance with the terms and conditions of the performance agreement.
Patron - Hull

P HB1282

Deputies, appointees and employees of constitutional officers; political activities. Provides that no locality shall prohibit deputies, appointees and employees of county and city treasurers, sheriffs, attorneys for the Commonwealth, clerks of circuit courts and commissioners of revenue from participating in political activities while off duty, out of uniform and not on the premises of their employment with the locality. Existing law extends this provision to firefighters, emergency medical technicians and law-enforcement officers.
Patron - Ingram

P HB1299

Nonconforming use; manufactured housing. Provides that the nonconforming use statute shall not be construed to prevent removal of a valid nonconforming manufactured housing unit from property and replacement of that unit with another comparable manufactured housing unit that meets current HUD standards. Such replacement unit shall retain the valid nonconforming status of the prior unit.
Patron - Jones, J.C.

P HB1301

Certification of law-enforcement officers. Extends from July 1, 2001, to July 1, 2003, the date by which all entry level law-enforcement officers, in order to obtain certification, shall successfully complete statewide certification examinations developed and administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Patron - Griffith

P HB1343

Regional criminal justice training academies. Authorizes the Division of Capitol Police to become a party to an agreement creating an academy or to join an existing academy.
Patron - Sherwood

P SB76

Tree canopy bank. Provides that any locality with a population density of at least 75 persons per square mile may by ordinance provide for an off-site tree canopy bank to meet a portion of a development's tree canopy requirements in instances where its local ordinance allows for reasonable exceptions to or deviations from standard tree canopy requirements during the development process. This bill is identical to HB 185.
Patron - Colgan

P SB181

Moratorium on city annexation and county immunity notices and proceedings. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2004, cities may undertake annexation proceedings and counties may request immunity from annexation when actual appropriations to local governments for law-enforcement expenditures are less than the amount statutorily required.
Patron - Trumbo

P SB215

County manager plan; applicant preemployment information. Requires applicants for employment with Arlington County to submit to fingerprinting and a criminal records check. The bill also requires the county to notify the applicant if information obtained from the Central Criminal Records Exchange contributes to denial of the applicant.
Patron - Ticer

P SB234

Affordable housing. Grants Albemarle County greater flexibility in administration of its affordable dwelling program by placing the County's authority under the broader enabling provisions currently applying only to Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Arlington County. The bill also eliminates the population bracket reference to Loudoun County and inserts a reference by county name.
Patron - Hanger

P SB248

Municipal deed restriction on certain property in Virginia Beach. Clarifies that "municipal recreational purposes" include entering into a public-private partnership for improvements to any golf course located on tracts that were conveyed to the City by the Commonwealth.
Patron - Stolle

P SB269

Contracting for provision of water and waste services. Provides that localities and water and waste authorities may contract for, and contract to provide, meter reading, billing and collections, leak detection, meter replacement and any related customer service functions.
Patron - Puckett

P SB275

P SB276

Localities incurring obligations for school improvement; tenants in common with school boards. Makes the local governing body of a locality a tenant in common with the local school board in instances where the locality has incurred a multi-year financial obligation to fund the acquisition, construction or improvement of public school property. Created by operation of law, such tenancy in common arises when the local governing body incurs the financial obligation, and terminates upon the payment of the obligation in full. No recordation of any deed of conveyance is required by this bill. These provisions shall not confer to the local governing body any additional powers over school board decisions relative to school board property. The bill further allows the local governing body to elect, by resolution, not to acquire tenancy in common to some or all public school property in the locality. The bill provides for an emergency enactment.
Patron - Stosch

P SB300

Granting franchises for operation of vehicular ferry transportation systems. Provides that the authority of localities for the granting of franchises shall include the authority to grant an exclusive franchise for the operation of a vehicular ferry transportation system in Northumberland County. The locality may regulate such systems, including the establishment of fees and rates.
Patron - Chichester

P SB359

Solid waste depositories; localities' authority; penalties. Grants all localities the authority to limit the use of waste depositories or receptacles, owned or maintained by the locality, to the disposal of garbage and other solid waste originating from within the boundaries of such locality. Any locality adopting such an ordinance may provide penalties for its violation.
Patron - Reynolds

P SB363

Volunteer inspectors in certain cities. Allows the Cities of Chesapeake and Richmond to utilize supervised trained and qualified volunteers to issue notices of noncompliance for certain types of property maintenance and zoning violations. Currently, only the City of Virginia Beach has such authority.
Patron - Blevins

P SB369

Competitive purchasing; schools. Requires the governing body of a county to obtain the approval of the school board before including the school board in the county's centralized competitive purchasing of supplies.
Patron - Blevins

P SB406

Sheriffs' processing fee. Provides that any county or city may by ordinance authorize a sheriff to impose a processing fee not to exceed $25 on any individual admitted to the county or city jail following conviction. The fee shall be ordered as a part of court costs collected by the clerk and shall be used by the local sheriff's office to defray the costs of processing arrested persons into local jails.
Patron - Rerras

P SB432

Industrial development authorities. Clarifies that whenever an IDA is given authority to finance through bonds, it may also refinance such bonds. Also, the City of Richmond is given authority to call its IDA an economic development authority This bill is identical to HB 990.
Patron - Marsh

P SB492

Economic development authorities. Adds Bedford County to those localities that may choose to refer to their industrial development authority as an economic development authority.
Patron - Newman

P SB493

Mutual aid agreements for law enforcement. Allows localities, and other law-enforcement entities in non-contiguous localities, excluding agencies of state-supported institutions of higher learning, to enter into mutual aid agreements for the use of law-enforcement forces. The current law requires entities to have contiguous boundaries. This bill is identical to HB 566 and HB 894.
Patron - Newman

P SB510

Police retirement system; Fairfax County. Increases from five to seven the number of members on the policemen's pension and retirement board for any county having the executive form of government and modifies the required make-up of such board. The bill also contains some technical amendments.
Patron - Saslaw

P SB576

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Revises statutory provisions dealing with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority by substituting provisions recommended by the Joint Subcommittee Studying Creation of a Northern Virginia Regional Transportation Authority (the "Barry Commission") for 2001 legislation that created the Authority.
Patron - Barry

P SB580

P SB589

Local recycling and waste disposal; civil penalties. Authorizes localities to provide civil penalties for the unauthorized use of or failure to use solid waste management facilities and appurtenances for the collection, management, recycling and disposal of solid waste, recyclable materials, and other refuse. Current law states only that localities may provide "penalties" for such unauthorized or failed usage. The bill also precludes localities from bringing both criminal and civil charges against an individual for the same offense.
Patron - Wagner

P SB593

Local control of firearms. Provides that a statute that does not refer to firearms or ammunition shall not be construed to provide express authorization for localities to regulate firearms. From and after January 1, 1987, no locality shall adopt any ordinance, resolution, or motion, nor take any administrative action governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof other than those expressly authorized by statute. The bill provides a locality is not prohibited from adopting workplace rules relating to "terms and conditions of employment."
Patron - Hanger

P SB652

Noise attenuation standards. Provides that in addition to subdivision plans, all recorded surveys and final site plans must include a statement giving notice that the property either partially or wholly lies within an airport noise overlay zone. The bill also contains a technical amendment
Patron - Blevins

P SB660

Southside Virginia Tourism Development Authority. Establishes a tourism development authority for the West Piedmont and the Southside Planning District Commissions. The Authority shall inventory attractions and events and market, promote, expand and develop the tourism industries of these tobacco-producing localities as a whole. The Authority shall have the power to (i) borrow money and to accept contributions, grants and other financial assistance from the United States of America and agencies or instrumentalities thereof, the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision, agency, or public instrumentality of the Commonwealth; (ii) formulate a tourism development and marketing agenda for each locality in the West Piedmont and Southside Planning District Commissions; (iii) receive and expend moneys on behalf of tourism marketing and development; and (iv) coordinate the individual tourism efforts of the localities who choose to be members of the Authority.
Patron - Hawkins

P SB679

Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Act. Amends the Act by making a number of technical changes and clarifications to provisions related to board vacancies, alternate board members, board meetings, loans, and the issuance and validity of bonds.
Patron - Trumbo

Failed

F HB93

Commission on Local Government; regulations for disclosure of highway improvement costs. Requires the Commission to promulgate regulations that require each locality to disclose to each commercial building permit applicant that the applicant may be responsible for certain highway improvement costs. The Commission shall develop a disclosure form that shall be signed by every commercial building permit applicant.
Patron - Dudley

F HB121

Clustering of dwellings. Requires localities to include in their subdivision and zoning ordinances provisions allowing the clustering of single-family detached dwellings on lots of lesser size so as to preserve open space. No ordinance shall require that a special use permit be obtained for such clustering. This bill is incorporated into HB 346.
Patron - Hull

F HB166

Civil penalties for zoning violations. Raises the civil penalty for subsequent zoning violations from $150 to $250. Also, specified violations arising from the same operative set of facts may be charged once every five days rather than 10 days, and the maximum civil penalty of $3,000 is changed to $5,000.
Patron - Petersen

F HB204

Impact fees for residential development. Provides that certain high-growth localities may adopt an ordinance providing for payment of impact fees for residential development. The impact fee shall be in an amount representing the proportional total or partial cost of capital improvements reasonably related to the transportation, education, and public safety needs for public facilities generated by the additional residential development. No impact fee shall be assessed unless the capital improvements related to the additional development have been included in the locality's capital improvement program. All impact fees collected shall be used by the locality for the purpose of completing capital improvements specified in the ordinance.
Patron - Cole

F HB205

Partial release of certain performance bonds by localities. Provides that when localities make partial releases of performance bonds, such partial releases shall not exceed fifty percent of the original amount until sufficient public uses are established for acceptance, unless a maintenance agreement and indemnifying bond have been posted in accordance with subdivision 5 of § 15.2-2241.
Patron - Cole

F HB206

Adequate public facilities. Provides that in any high-growth locality, a zoning ordinance may include reasonable provisions allowing the locality to determine whether public facilities are adequate to support the services that will be required under the new zoning classification. Approval of a proposed rezoning may be made contingent upon a finding by the governing body of adequate public facilities. However, such locality's comprehensive plan shall clearly identify public facility needs in a given area prior to disapproval of such zoning request.
Patron - Cole

F HB207

Adequate public facilities. Provides that in any high-growth locality, a subdivision ordinance may include reasonable provisions allowing the locality to determine whether public facilities are adequate to support the services that will be required by a new subdivision. Approval of a proposed subdivision may be made contingent upon a finding by the governing body of adequate public facilities. However, such locality's comprehensive plan shall clearly identify public facility needs in a given area prior to disapproval of such subdivision request.
Patron - Cole

F HB262

Licensing of all-terrain vehicles. Allows localities to license all-terrain vehicles, prescribe a licensing fee, and dispose of such vehicles that remain unclaimed after 30 days.
Patron - McQuigg

F HB376

Service districts; eradication of nuisance animals. Allows service districts to control and eradicate rats, skunks and other nuisance animals, and the conditions that harbor them.
Patron - Athey

F HB481

Nonconforming uses. Reduces from two years to six months the period of time that the use of a nonconforming sign may be discontinued before losing its valid nonconforming use status.
Patron - Suit

F HB483

Public comment at meetings of governing bodies and school boards. Requires governing bodies and school boards to provide a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to comment on matters of concern prior to taking official action.
Patron - Suit

F HB496

Downzoning of property under use value assessment. Provides that when the owner of property requests and is granted a downzoning of property that, at the time of the downzoning, was subject to a special use value assessment pursuant to Article 4 (§ 58.1-3229 et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 58.1, the assessing locality shall, for a period of 10 years, for purposes of valuation, assessment and taxation continue to treat such property as if no change in use has occurred.
Patron - Orrock

F HB603

Notice of rezoning. Requires all rezoning notices to be sent by registered or certified mail at least 21 days, rather than five days, prior to the public hearing. Currently, if a proposed zoning amendment involves more than 25 parcels of land, the notice may be sent by first-class mail. This bill is incorporated into HB 477.
Patron - Black

F HB750

Urban county executive form of government; commission on human rights. Adds "sexual orientation" as prohibited discrimination with regard to actions and investigations by a human rights commission in a county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government. Currently, only Fairfax County has adopted such form of government.
Patron - Plum

F HB976

Granting franchises for operation of a vehicular ferry transportation systems. Provides that the authority of localities for the granting of franchises shall include the authority to grant an exclusive franchise for the operation of a vehicular ferry transportation system in Northumberland County. The locality may regulate such systems, including the establishment of fees and rates.
Patron - Pollard

F HB980

Bounties for coyotes and groundhogs. Allows for localities to pay bounties, out of any available funds, for the killing of groundhogs. Current law only provides for bounties for killing coyotes.
Patron - Pollard

F HB981

Revocation of special exceptions. Clarifies that a governing body that issues special exceptions may revoke such special exceptions in the same manner as the board of zoning appeals. This bill is incorporated into HB 993.
Patron - Pollard

F HB1063

Capital Region Airport Commission. Adds one member from Petersburg and one member from Dinwiddie County to the Commission.
Patron - Bland

F HB1130

Mandatory connection to water and sewage systems. Allows an owner of undeveloped land located in a county with the authority to require connection to the county's water system to elect to use a well for providing a supply of water so long as such well meets applicable health requirements and county ordinances. Such an owner choosing to use a well shall not be required to pay a connection fee, a frontage fee, or a monthly nonuser service charge. In addition, owners of a non-potable water source located in a locality with mandatory water connection requirements may use such water source for irrigation purposes. The bill also states that its provisions shall not affect the rights and powers of Water and Waste Authorities.
Patron - Bryant

F HB1351

Preservation of monuments and memorials. Provides that certain monuments or memorials that are erected on public property of the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions shall not be relocated, removed, disturbed or altered. However, the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions may temporarily relocate or remove a monument or memorial in order to perform necessary construction or maintenance on streets, highways or utilities. No street, bridge, structure, park, preserve, reserve, or other public area of the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions dedicated in memory of or named for any historic figure or historic event may be renamed or rededicated. No person may prevent the public body from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation, and care of these monuments, memorials, or nameplates.
Patron - Reid

F SB171

Compensation Board; allowance for deputy sheriffs. Provides that the Compensation Board shall increase its allowance for deputy sheriffs serving sheriffs concurrently with the appointment of an additional judge to the general district or circuit court served by such sheriff. This increase will allow sheriffs to hire an additional full-time deputy sheriff concurrent with the judicial appointment, with reimbursement from the Compensation Board. The bill also provides that in subsequent fiscal years, the allowance for deputy sheriffs for the respective sheriff's office shall provide for the compensation of the additional full-time deputy sheriff.
Patron - Colgan

F SB384

Grants for home ownership. Allows localities to make grants of local funds to employees of the locality or of the school board for the purchase of a house, apartment or condominium in the locality. The house, apartment or condominium purchased must be used as the principal residence of the grant recipient.
Patron - Whipple

F SB424

Possessing dangerous weapons in certain county facilities; penalty. Provides that the governing body of any county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government may, by ordinance, make it unlawful for any person to possess a dangerous weapon upon the property, including buildings and grounds, of any county-owned or county-operated facility, violation of the ordinance to be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Patron - Byrne

F SB427

County manager plan; employee benefits. Allows any county with the county manager plan of government (currently, only Arlington County) to (i) provide for the use of funds, other than state funds, to provide incentives for county and school board employees to purchase or rent residences for use as the employee's principal residence within the county, and (ii) offer health insurance benefits to other members of the county employee's households, as defined by ordinance.
Patron - Ticer

F SB443

Regulation of commercial kennels. Requires localities adopting and enforcing zoning ordinances to provide that prior to approval of construction or expansion of any commercial kennel, a majority of property owners residing within a 1,500-foot radius of the kennel shall be required to approve of such use.
Patron - Williams

F SB495

Civil penalties for violations of certain local ordinances. Provides for civil penalties, not to exceed $100 for a single violation and $3,000 for multiple violations, for violations of certain local ordinances related to removal of trash, cutting of weeds and the keeping of inoperable motor vehicles.
Patron - Edwards

F SB626

Local telecommunications services. Allows a locality, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority in certain underserved areas to offer qualifying telecommunications services, or enter into public-private partnerships to offer such qualifying telecommunications services. A "qualifying telecommunications service" is defined as a telecommunications service, that shall include but is not limited to high-speed data service and Internet access service, of general application, that is not otherwise generally and competitively available in the geographic area in which the service will be offered by an entity other than the county, city, town, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority. Such services may be provided only after approval by the State Corporation Commission. This bill is incorporated into SB 245.
Patron - Hanger

F SB630

Mandatory connection to water and sewage systems. Provides that an owner of undeveloped land, located in a county with the authority to require connection to the county's water and sewer systems, may elect to use private systems for providing a supply of water and for the disposal of sewage so long as such systems meet the requirements of the Virginia Department of Health. Such owner shall not be required to pay a connection fee, a frontage fee, or a monthly nonuser service charge.
Patron - Hanger

Carried Over

C HB16

Local government taxing authority. Equalizes city and county taxing authority by granting counties the same authority available to cities and towns through the uniform charter powers.
Patron - Hull

C HB105

Conservation of trees during localities' development. Adds to current law provisions for the conservation and preservation of existing trees during the development process in localities with a population density of at least 75 persons per square mile.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

C HB122

Potomac Region Transportation Development Authority. Creates the Potomac Region Transportation Development Authority, representing the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. The Authority is empowered to issue bonds in accordance with applicable law, including the issuance of bonds and other evidences of debt, in order to finance or assist in the financing of transportation projects undertaken pursuant to the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 (§ 56-556 et seq.) within one or more of the Potomac Region localities represented in the Authority.
Patron - Hull

C HB131

C HB256

Rezoning property to previous zoning designation in counties. Allows a county to include in its zoning ordinance provisions that permit the county to grant any rezoning with a condition requiring that an approved site plan or final subdivision plan be obtained for the development within a specified period of not less than 10 years. If no such approval is obtained during the specified period, the county may rezone the property to its previous zoning designation. If a county rezones such property to its previous zoning designation, the county shall compensate the property owner through use of a tax credit equal to the amount of excess real estate taxes that the landowner has paid due to the higher zoning classification.
Patron - McQuigg

C HB271

Local outdoor lighting standards and regulations. Grants all localities authority to establish by ordinance outdoor lighting standards and regulations for the purpose of controlling exterior illumination levels, incidence of glare, light trespass or urban sky-glow, or for the purpose of conserving energy.
Patron - Callahan

C HB480

Mandatory connection to public water and sewer; attorneys' fees in Virginia Beach. Provides that when legal action is required to compel a property owner in Virginia Beach to comply with any mandatory water and sewer connection ordinance, a locality shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees from hiring outside counsel in any action to compel such connection.
Patron - Suit

C HB482

Disposal of trash or cutting of weeds. Allows localities to prescribe civil penalties for violations of ordinances related to the disposal of trash and the cutting of grass and weeds.
Patron - Suit

C HB608

Lighting level ordinances; Augusta County. Grants Augusta County authority to provide by ordinance for the regulation of maximum upward exterior illumination levels of buildings and property zoned or used for commercial or business purposes. Exceptions are made for outdoor advertising and VDOT lighting.
Patron - Saxman

C HB712

Virginia Shell Building Initiative. Provides that the Virginia Economic Development Partnership shall promulgate regulations whereby the state shall guarantee the interest on a locality-owned shell building up to one million dollars per year in economically stressed localities.
Patron - Armstrong

C HB769

Restriction on number of adults residing in a dwelling unit. Provides that any locality may include in its zoning ordinance restrictions on the number of adults residing in a dwelling unit based on the lot size and the zoning category. Such an ordinance shall provide (i) exceptions for the temporary presence of adults who have a legal residence elsewhere, (ii) for at least three adults in any dwelling unit, (iii) for a cap of no less than eight adults in any dwelling unit in an area zoned for lots of one acre or larger; and (iv) that the provisions of such ordinance do not apply to group homes and residential facilities as defined in § 15.2-2291.
Patron - Watts

C HB996

Plat approval. Requires the planning commission to identify all deficiencies in a plat that cause disapproval and identify all modifications or corrections as will permit approval of the plat. The local planning commission shall act on any proposed plat within 45 days of submittal, rather than 60 days. The failure to act within 45 days or to state the reasons for disapproval shall cause the plat to be deemed approved. The commission shall act on any proposed plat that it has previously disapproved within 30 days after the plat has been resubmitted for approval.
Patron - McDonnell

C HB1013

Grants for home ownership. Allows localities to make grants of local funds up to $3,000 to local employees for the purchase of a house, apartment or condominium in the locality. The house, apartment or condominium purchased must be used as the principal residence of the grant recipient.
Patron - Scott

C HB1017

Prohibition on possession of handguns in certain county-owned buildings; penalty. Provides that any county with urban county executive form of government may, by ordinance, make it unlawful for any person to possess a handgun in any county-owned building, violation of the ordinance to be punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Patron - Scott

C HB1212

Zoning; manufactured housing. Provides, under certain circumstances, that certain manufactured homes shall be deemed the same as site-built homes for purposes of zoning regulatory standards.
Patron - Suit

C HB1367

Zoning amendments. Provides that no amendment to the zoning map shall be instituted without the written consent of or just compensation to the landowner whose property is the subject of such amendment.
Patron - Black

C SB100

Local outdoor lighting standards and regulations. Grants all localities authority to establish, by ordinance, maximum outdoor lighting standards and regulations for the purpose of controlling exterior illumination levels, incidence of glare, light trespass or urban sky-glow. Such standards and regulations shall not affect or be applied to agricultural or silvicultural operations. The provisions of this act will expire on July 1, 2005.
Patron - Howell

C SB475

Lighting level regulations; City of Chesapeake. Grants the City of Chesapeake authority to provide by ordinance for the regulation of maximum exterior illumination levels of buildings and property. Such ordinances shall not apply to agricultural or silvicultural activities, or to outdoor advertising signs owned by a person licensed by the Department of Transportation.
Patron - Quayle

C SB484

Conservation of trees during localities' development. Increases current 20 percent tree canopy requirements for certain localities adopting local tree conservation and replacement ordinances from 15 to 20 percent tree canopy for residential sites zoned between 10 and 20 units per acre, and from 20 to 30 percent for residential sites zoned for 10 or less sites per acre. Permits localities to include tree conservation provisions in their ordinance and sets forth requirements for such provisions. Such tree conservation ordinances may include provisions for the reduction of tree canopy requirements or the granting of tree cover credit in consideration for the preservation of certain trees, and shall provide for exceptions to and deviations from tree preservation requirements where the locality determines the requirements would preclude or significantly hinder uses otherwise allowed by the local zoning ordinance. Locality may by ordinance disallow certain types of trees from being planted to meet minimum tree canopy requirements. Provides that new law does not invalidate 10-year minimum tree cover standards adopted by cities established before 1780, or 20 minimum tree cover replacement standards adopted by localities after July 1, 1990.
Patron - Howell

C SB566

Dog recreation facilities. Prohibits localities from establishing dog recreation facilities within 1,500 feet of public elementary schools. "Dog recreation facility" means any park, recreation facility or other property acquired for public use and established for the primary purpose of allowing dog owners or custodians to run dogs unrestricted or off-leash within the confines of such facility.
Patron - Byrne

C SB613

Inoperable motor vehicles. Defines "shielded or screened from view," for purposes of keeping inoperable vehicles, as shielded from ordinary public view by means of a solid rigid six-foot opaque fence composed of standard fencing materials, or a landscape arrangement of non-deciduous trees or shrubs, sufficient in height, spacing, density, and circumference to shield the vehicle, or any combination of fencing or landscaping that meets this definition. "Shielded from ordinary public view" means not visible by someone standing at ground level from outside of the property on which the inoperable vehicle is located.
Patron - Trumbo

C SB616

Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Authority. Changes references to the City of Clifton Forge to the Town of Clifton Forge to reflect the Town's recent reversion. Also, provisions requiring contribution of a portion of the machinery and tools tax are made optional for a period of two years if Alleghany County and certain localities agree to commit resources to economic development in an amount greater than or equal to that required by current law.
Patron - Deeds

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