VA HB804

Requires localities with zoning ordinances to achieve 7.5% total housing stock growth over five years (averaging 1.5% annually) beginning January 1, 2028, with localities already meeting this threshold from 2020-2025 exempt from the requirements.

Mandates localities submit housing growth plans to the Department of Housing and Community Development by July 1, 2027, demonstrating either by-right multifamily development on 75% of commercial/business zoned land or implementation of at least three specified growth strategies.

Growth strategies include eliminating minimum lot sizes and parking requirements, increasing height limits for multifamily housing, reducing approval timelines to 180 days (120 days for affordable housing), allowing accessory dwelling units on single-family land, and creating affordable housing trust funds.

Grants developers and housing advocacy organizations the right to appeal to boards of zoning appeals if localities fail to meet housing targets or reject residential development applications, with boards empowered to mandate zoning changes or overturn local decisions for non-compliant localities after January 1, 2033.

Localities meeting the 7.5% growth target may impose enhanced civil penalties (up to double the normal amount) for failure to register vacant buildings, and affordable housing units receive extra weight (up to 20%) toward meeting growth calculations.