Zoning; small lot residential districts.
Summary
Small lot residential zoning districts. Requires any locality with a population of 50,000 or more to adopt, maintain, and apply to land within its boundaries at least one zoning district classification that permits a single-family dwelling on a lot with a minimum lot area not exceeding 3,000 square feet. The bill provides that such zoning district classifications shall not impose minimum lot widths exceeding 30 feet or setback, lot coverage, or density requirements that would preclude construction of eligible dwellings on conforming lots. The bill's provisions do not apply to areas within a historic district.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute
→
Enrolled
·
2 edits
·
Mar 13, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for the 2026 session. The most significant change is that the requirement to allow small lots (3,000 square feet or less) now applies only to localities with a population of 50,000 or more, rather than the previous threshold of 20,000. This raises the population bar, meaning fewer towns and cities will be required to adopt these smaller lot zoning rules.
Scope change
The bill's applicability was narrowed by increasing the minimum population threshold from 20,000 to 50,000 residents.
ELIGIBILITY
The population threshold for localities required to adopt small lot zoning districts was increased from 20,000 to 50,000.
TECHNICAL
The bill title was updated to reflect the 2026 session, and the text was marked as 'Enrolled' to indicate final passage.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 12, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 3, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
15
Committee
7
Amendments
5
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 751 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1212ER)
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reconsideration of Senate amendments agreed to by House
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments agreed to by House (60-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Local Government Amendments agreed to
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Local Government with amendments (8-Y 7-N)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Local Government
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (17-Y 3-N 1-A)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
House committee offered
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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