{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-2285.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-2285.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-2285.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-2285.html"}],"law_id":62867,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62867,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2285","catch_line":"Preparation and adoption of zoning ordinance and map and amendments thereto; appeal","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 15-822, 15-846, 15-968.7; 1962, c. 407, \u00a7 15.1-493; 1964, c. 279; 1968, c. 652; 1970, c. 216; 1972, c. 818; 1975, c. 641; 1984, c. 175; 1988, cc. 573, 733, 856; 1989, c. 359; 1990, c. 475; 1991, c. 235; 1996, c. 867; 1997, c. 587; 2019, c. 483; 2023, cc. 506, 507.","full_text":"A\n\nThe planning commission of each locality may, and at the direction of the governing body shall, prepare a proposed zoning ordinance including a map or maps showing the division of the territory into districts and a text setting forth the regulations applying in each district. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on a proposed ordinance or any amendment of an ordinance, after notice as required by § 15.2-2204, and may make appropriate changes in the proposed ordinance or amendment as a result of the hearing. Upon the completion of its work, the commission shall present the proposed ordinance or amendment including the district maps to the governing body together with its recommendations and appropriate explanatory materials.B\n\nNo zoning ordinance shall be amended or reenacted unless the governing body has referred the proposed amendment or reenactment to the local planning commission for its recommendations. Failure of the commission to report 100 days after the first meeting of the commission after the proposed amendment or reenactment has been referred to the commission, or such shorter period as may be prescribed by the governing body, shall be deemed approval, unless the proposed amendment or reenactment has been withdrawn by the applicant prior to the expiration of the time period. The governing body shall hold at least one public hearing on a proposed reduction of the commission’s review period. The governing body shall publish a notice of the public hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality at least two weeks prior to the public hearing date and shall also publish the notice on the locality’s website, if one exists. In the event of and upon such withdrawal, processing of the proposed amendment or reenactment shall cease without further action as otherwise would be required by this subsection.C\n\nBefore approving and adopting any zoning ordinance or amendment thereof, the governing body shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, pursuant to public notice as required by § 15.2-2204, after which the governing body may make appropriate changes or corrections in the ordinance or proposed amendment. However, no land may be zoned to a more intensive use classification than was contained in the documentation made available for examination pursuant to subsection A of § 15.2-2204 without an additional public hearing after notice required by § 15.2-2204. Zoning ordinances shall be enacted in the same manner as all other ordinances.D\n\nAny county which has adopted an urban county executive form of government provided for under Chapter 8 (§ 15.2-800 et seq.) may provide by ordinance for use of plans, profiles, elevations, and other such demonstrative materials in the presentation of requests for amendments to the zoning ordinance.E\n\nThe adoption or amendment prior to March 1, 1968, of any plan or ordinance under the authority of prior acts shall not be declared invalid by reason of a failure to advertise, give notice or conduct more than one public hearing as may be required by such act or by this chapter, provided a public hearing was conducted by the governing body prior to the adoption or amendment.F\n\nEvery action contesting a decision of the local governing body adopting or failing to adopt a proposed zoning ordinance or amendment thereto or granting or failing to grant a special exception shall be filed within thirty days of the decision with the circuit court having jurisdiction of the land affected by the decision. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any new right to contest the action of a local governing body.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":229152,"text":"The planning commission of each locality may, and at the direction of the governing body shall, prepare a proposed zoning ordinance including a map or maps showing the division of the territory into districts and a text setting forth the regulations applying in each district. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on a proposed ordinance or any amendment of an ordinance, after notice as required by § 15.2-2204, and may make appropriate changes in the proposed ordinance or amendment as a result of the hearing. Upon the completion of its work, the commission shall present the proposed ordinance or amendment including the district maps to the governing body together with its recommendations and appropriate explanatory materials.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":229153,"text":"No zoning ordinance shall be amended or reenacted unless the governing body has referred the proposed amendment or reenactment to the local planning commission for its recommendations. Failure of the commission to report 100 days after the first meeting of the commission after the proposed amendment or reenactment has been referred to the commission, or such shorter period as may be prescribed by the governing body, shall be deemed approval, unless the proposed amendment or reenactment has been withdrawn by the applicant prior to the expiration of the time period. The governing body shall hold at least one public hearing on a proposed reduction of the commission’s review period. The governing body shall publish a notice of the public hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality at least two weeks prior to the public hearing date and shall also publish the notice on the locality’s website, if one exists. In the event of and upon such withdrawal, processing of the proposed amendment or reenactment shall cease without further action as otherwise would be required by this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":229154,"text":"Before approving and adopting any zoning ordinance or amendment thereof, the governing body shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, pursuant to public notice as required by § 15.2-2204, after which the governing body may make appropriate changes or corrections in the ordinance or proposed amendment. However, no land may be zoned to a more intensive use classification than was contained in the documentation made available for examination pursuant to subsection A of § 15.2-2204 without an additional public hearing after notice required by § 15.2-2204. Zoning ordinances shall be enacted in the same manner as all other ordinances.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":229155,"text":"Any county which has adopted an urban county executive form of government provided for under Chapter 8 (§ 15.2-800 et seq.) may provide by ordinance for use of plans, profiles, elevations, and other such demonstrative materials in the presentation of requests for amendments to the zoning ordinance.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":229156,"text":"The adoption or amendment prior to March 1, 1968, of any plan or ordinance under the authority of prior acts shall not be declared invalid by reason of a failure to advertise, give notice or conduct more than one public hearing as may be required by such act or by this chapter, provided a public hearing was conducted by the governing body prior to the adoption or amendment.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":229157,"text":"Every action contesting a decision of the local governing body adopting or failing to adopt a proposed zoning ordinance or amendment thereto or granting or failing to grant a special exception shall be filed within thirty days of the decision with the circuit court having jurisdiction of the land affected by the decision. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any new right to contest the action of a local governing body.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12775,"edition_id":1,"name":"Zoning","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12774,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":155213,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12775,"identifier":"7","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7","url":"\/15.2\/II\/22\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12774,"edition_id":1,"name":"Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning","identifier":"22","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":154795,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12774,"identifier":"22","token":"15.2\/II\/22","url":"\/15.2\/II\/22\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":56618,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2280","catch_line":"Zoning ordinances generally","url":"\/15.2-2280\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2280","metadata":false},{"id":56632,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2281","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of localities","url":"\/15.2-2281\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2281","metadata":false},{"id":72266,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2282","catch_line":"Regulations to be uniform","url":"\/15.2-2282\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2282","metadata":false},{"id":73825,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2283","catch_line":"Purpose of zoning ordinances","url":"\/15.2-2283\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2283","metadata":false},{"id":70348,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2283.1","catch_line":"Prohibition of sexual offender treatment office in residentially zoned subdivision","url":"\/15.2-2283.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2283.1","metadata":false},{"id":55641,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2284","catch_line":"Matters to be considered in drawing and applying zoning ordinances and districts","url":"\/15.2-2284\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2284","metadata":false},{"id":62867,"structure_id":12775,"section_number":"15.2-2285","catch_line":"Preparation and adoption of zoning ordinance and map and amendments thereto; 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amendments; applicant to pay delinquent taxes; penalties","url":"\/15.2-2286\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2286","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-2285\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 407; in 1964, chapter 279; in 1968, chapter 652; in 1970, chapter 216; in 1972, chapter 818; in 1975, chapter 641; in 1984, chapter 175; in 1988, chapters 573, 733, and 856; in 1989, chapter 359; in 1990, chapter 475; in 1991, chapter 235; in 1996, chapter 867<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 483<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 506<\/a> and 507<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":83474,"section_number":"10.1-1408.1","catch_line":"Permit required; open dumps prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1408.1\/"},{"id":60413,"section_number":"15.2-2208.1","catch_line":"Damages for unconstitutional grant or denial by locality of certain permits and approvals","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2208.1\/"},{"id":60233,"section_number":"15.2-2301","catch_line":"Same; petition for review of decision","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2301\/"},{"id":71508,"section_number":"15.2-2303","catch_line":"Conditional zoning in certain localities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2303\/"},{"id":78647,"section_number":"15.2-2303.4","catch_line":"Provisions applicable to certain conditional rezoning proffers","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2303.4\/"},{"id":59194,"section_number":"15.2-2316.4:1","catch_line":"Zoning; other wireless facilities and wireless support structures","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2316.4_1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73996,"section_number":"15.2-2204","catch_line":"Advertisement of plans, ordinances, etc.; joint public hearings; written notice of certain amendments","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2204\/"},{"id":58070,"section_number":"15.2-800","catch_line":"Designation of form of government; applicability of chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-800\/"}],"permalink":{"id":155239,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62867,"identifier":"15.2-2285","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2285","url":"\/15.2-2285\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-2285\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7\/15.2-2285","dublin_core":{"Title":"Preparation and adoption of zoning ordinance and map and amendments thereto; appeal","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-2285","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The planning commission of each locality<\/span> may, and at the direction of the governing body<\/span> shall, prepare a proposed zoning<\/span> ordinance<\/span> including a map or maps showing the division of the territory into districts and a text setting forth the regulations applying in each district. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing<\/span> on a proposed ordinance<\/span> or any amendment of an ordinance<\/span>, after notice as required by § 15.2-2204<\/a>, and may make appropriate changes in the proposed ordinance<\/span> or amendment as a result of the hearing<\/span>. Upon the completion of its work, the commission shall present the proposed ordinance<\/span> or amendment including the district maps to the governing body<\/span> together with its recommendations and appropriate explanatory materials<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No zoning<\/span> ordinance<\/span> shall be amended or reenacted unless the governing body<\/span> has referred the proposed amendment or reenactment to the local planning commission<\/span> for its recommendations. Failure of the commission to report 100 days after the first meeting of the commission after the proposed amendment or reenactment has been referred to the commission, or such shorter period as may be prescribed by the governing body<\/span>, shall be deemed approval, unless the proposed amendment or reenactment has been withdrawn by the applicant prior to the expiration of the time period. The governing body<\/span> shall hold at least one public hearing<\/span> on a proposed reduction of the commission’s review period. The governing body<\/span> shall publish a notice of the public hearing<\/span> in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality<\/span> at least two weeks prior to the public hearing<\/span> date and shall also publish the notice on the locality<\/span>’s website, if one exists. In the event of and upon such withdrawal, processing of the proposed amendment or reenactment shall cease without further action as otherwise would be required by this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Before approving and adopting any zoning<\/span> ordinance<\/span> or amendment thereof, the governing body<\/span> shall hold at least one public hearing<\/span> thereon, pursuant to public notice as required by § 15.2-2204<\/a>, after which the governing body<\/span> may make appropriate changes or corrections in the ordinance<\/span> or proposed amendment. However, no land may be zoned to a more intensive use classification than was contained in the documentation made available for examination pursuant to subsection A of § 15.2-2204<\/a> without an additional public hearing<\/span> after notice required by § 15.2-2204<\/a>. Zoning<\/span> ordinances<\/span> shall be enacted in the same manner as all other ordinances<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any county<\/span> which has adopted an urban county<\/span> executive form of government provided for under Chapter 8 (§ 15.2-800<\/a> et seq.) may provide by ordinance<\/span> for use of plans, profiles, elevations, and other such demonstrative materials<\/span> in the presentation of requests for amendments to the zoning<\/span> ordinance<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The adoption or amendment prior to March 1, 1968, of any plan or ordinance<\/span> under the authority of prior acts shall not be declared invalid by reason of a failure to advertise, give notice or conduct more than one public hearing<\/span> as may be required by such act or by this chapter, provided a public hearing<\/span> was conducted by the governing body<\/span> prior to the adoption or amendment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Every action contesting a decision of the local governing body<\/span> adopting or failing to adopt a proposed zoning<\/span> ordinance<\/span> or amendment thereto or granting or failing to grant a special exception<\/span> shall be filed within thirty days of the decision with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> of the land affected by the decision. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any new right to contest the action of a local governing body<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPREPARATION AND ADOPTION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP AND AMENDMENTS THERETO;\nAPPEAL (\u00a7 15.2-2285)\n\nA. The planning commission of each locality may, and at the direction of the\ngoverning body shall, prepare a proposed zoning ordinance including a map or\nmaps showing the division of the territory into districts and a text setting\nforth the regulations applying in each district. The commission shall hold at\nleast one public hearing on a proposed ordinance or any amendment of an\nordinance, after notice as required by § 15.2-2204, and may make\nappropriate changes in the proposed ordinance or amendment as a result of the\nhearing. Upon the completion of its work, the commission shall present the\nproposed ordinance or amendment including the district maps to the governing\nbody together with its recommendations and appropriate explanatory materials.\n\nB. No zoning ordinance shall be amended or reenacted unless the governing body\nhas referred the proposed amendment or reenactment to the local planning\ncommission for its recommendations. Failure of the commission to report 100 days\nafter the first meeting of the commission after the proposed amendment or\nreenactment has been referred to the commission, or such shorter period as may\nbe prescribed by the governing body, shall be deemed approval, unless the\nproposed amendment or reenactment has been withdrawn by the applicant prior to\nthe expiration of the time period. The governing body shall hold at least one\npublic hearing on a proposed reduction of the commission’s review period.\nThe governing body shall publish a notice of the public hearing in a newspaper\nhaving general circulation in the locality at least two weeks prior to the\npublic hearing date and shall also publish the notice on the locality’s\nwebsite, if one exists. In the event of and upon such withdrawal, processing of\nthe proposed amendment or reenactment shall cease without further action as\notherwise would be required by this subsection.\n\nC. Before approving and adopting any zoning ordinance or amendment thereof, the\ngoverning body shall hold at least one public hearing thereon, pursuant to\npublic notice as required by § 15.2-2204, after which the governing body\nmay make appropriate changes or corrections in the ordinance or proposed\namendment. However, no land may be zoned to a more intensive use classification\nthan was contained in the documentation made available for examination pursuant\nto subsection A of § 15.2-2204 without an additional public hearing after\nnotice required by § 15.2-2204. Zoning ordinances shall be enacted in the\nsame manner as all other ordinances.\n\nD. Any county which has adopted an urban county executive form of government\nprovided for under Chapter 8 (§ 15.2-800 et seq.) may provide by ordinance\nfor use of plans, profiles, elevations, and other such demonstrative materials\nin the presentation of requests for amendments to the zoning ordinance.\n\nE. The adoption or amendment prior to March 1, 1968, of any plan or ordinance\nunder the authority of prior acts shall not be declared invalid by reason of a\nfailure to advertise, give notice or conduct more than one public hearing as may\nbe required by such act or by this chapter, provided a public hearing was\nconducted by the governing body prior to the adoption or amendment.\n\nF. Every action contesting a decision of the local governing body adopting or\nfailing to adopt a proposed zoning ordinance or amendment thereto or granting or\nfailing to grant a special exception shall be filed within thirty days of the\ndecision with the circuit court having jurisdiction of the land affected by the\ndecision. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any\nnew right to contest the action of a local governing body.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 15-822, 15-846, 15-968.7; 1962, c. 407, \u00a7 15.1-493;\n1964, c. 279; 1968, c. 652; 1970, c. 216; 1972, c. 818; 1975, c. 641; 1984, c.\n175; 1988, cc. 573, 733, 856; 1989, c. 359; 1990, c. 475; 1991, c. 235; 1996, c.\n867; 1997, c. 587; 2019, c. 483; 2023, cc. 506, 507.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}