Virginia · Senate Bill 839 · 2025 Regular Session

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use.

SB 839 Sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg Failed

  1. Introduced Jan 2, 2025
  2. In committee Jan 2, 2025
  3. Failed  
  4. Passed the House of Delegates  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use. Requires a locality to provide in its zoning ordinance provisions allowing for the by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses on all land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications. The bill provides that the review and approval of such development shall be done administratively by the…

Read the full title (111 words)

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use. Requires a locality to provide in its zoning ordinance provisions allowing for the by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses on all land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications. The bill provides that the review and approval of such development shall be done administratively by the locality's staff and that any residential development that dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of housing units to households with a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income shall be granted an accelerated plan review and permit approval process by the locality's staff.

Every action

4 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. SenatePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102146D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Local Government · Senate Local Government
  3. SenateImpact statement from CLG (SB839)
  4. CommitteeFailed to report (defeated) in Local Government (5-Y 7-N 3-A) · Senate Local Government5–7 vote

Roll calls

1 recorded vote: 0 on the floor, 1 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Committee votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 20, 2025 Senate Local Government Failed to report (defeated) in Local Government (5-Y 7-N 3-A)
Members

Yes · 5

No · 7

Not voting · 3

 Failed 5–7

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.