Failure to Launch for Virginia's Two-Family Zoning Bills
Last month, Virginia House Delegate Ibraheem S. Samirah filed two bills which would effectively end single-family zoning in the state. Barely a month later, those bills were rendered dead on arrival.
This morning, members of the state House's Land Use Subcommittee unanimously voted to shelve the bills, which were intended to facilitate development of "middle housing".
House Bill 151 sought to permit one by-right detached or attached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family house, including guest houses, converted garages, basements, and attics. House Bill 152 sought to amend the state code to allow two residential units on any lot zoned for a single-family dwelling.
story continues below
loading...story continues above
WAMU's Ally Schweitzer reports that Delegate Samirah plans to reintroduce the bills next session, and the potential remains for the Virginia Housing Commission to study the matter.
"The idea of legalizing middle housing is brand new to Virginia, and I know that with another year of organizing we can get it done," Delegate Samirah tweeted. "Today was not the end of our push to end exclusionary zoning, it was just the beginning!"
Oregon is currently the only state with a law on the books which enables by-right construction of a second housing unit on single-family lots.
See other articles related to: accessory apartments, accessory dwelling units, accessory dwellings, duplexes, exclusionary zoning, missing middle housing, single-family zoning, virginia, virginia general assembly
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/failure-to-launch-for-virginias-two-family-zoning-bills/16372.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever

This week's Best New Listings includes an expansive three-building property in Maryla... read »

UrbanTurf created Pipeline, a searchable database of multifamily projects that are un... read »

As we head towards the end of the year, UrbanTurf is wrapping up its coverage of larg... read »

Prices in Wesley Heights, a DC neighborhood to the south of Spring Valley bordered by... read »

Today, UrbanTurf takes a look at the distinct differences between these two popular f... read »
- Best New Listings: Three Buildings in Maryland, Two Bedrooms in Dupont and Views in Logan
- The Nearly 750 Projects in UrbanTurf's Pipeline
- The 8 Large Developments on the Boards From Anacostia to the Bridge District
- The DC Neighborhood Where Home Prices Have Risen The Most in 2023
- The Difference Between Condos and Co-ops
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro