VA HB198

Establishes a mandatory 30-day jurisdictional deadline for filing petitions to contest local governing body zoning decisions or board of zoning appeals decisions in circuit court

Requires petitions challenging board of zoning appeals decisions to be styled in a specific format: "[Petitioner v. Respondent] In Re: [date] Decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals of [locality name]"

Designates the governing body, the applicant before the board of zoning appeals, and the landowner of record as necessary parties to circuit court proceedings, while clarifying the board itself is not a necessary party

Replaces the writ of certiorari process with a streamlined petition system, requiring the board secretary to file the record of proceedings within 21 days of being served and respondents to file responses within 21 days thereafter

Prohibits discovery procedures under Part 4 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia in these appeals while allowing parties to introduce evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence