{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-977.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-977.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-977.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-977.1.html"}],"law_id":75983,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75983,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-977.1","catch_line":"Local incentives for urban green space","history":"2023, c. 427.","full_text":"A\n\nFor purposes of this section, “urban green space” means urban land, partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation, that is located in a densely populated area that has a high concentration of residential or commercial structures. “Urban green space” includes street trees, city parks, sports fields, gardens, and greenways. To qualify as urban green space, the use of such land must make a substantive impact on the reduction of the urban heat effect, the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions, or the mitigation of stormwater. Rural areas and areas of low population density or development shall not be considered urban green space.B\n\nAny county, city, or town may, by ordinance, establish a program to provide regulatory flexibility to encourage the preservation, restoration, or development of urban green space in the locality. Any such regulatory flexibility provided shall be proportionate to the amount of urban green space that a business or development contains.C\n\nThe regulatory flexibility may include (i) a reduction in permit fees or (ii) a streamlined process for the approval of permits.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":272781,"text":"For purposes of this section, “urban green space” means urban land, partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation, that is located in a densely populated area that has a high concentration of residential or commercial structures. “Urban green space” includes street trees, city parks, sports fields, gardens, and greenways. To qualify as urban green space, the use of such land must make a substantive impact on the reduction of the urban heat effect, the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions, or the mitigation of stormwater. Rural areas and areas of low population density or development shall not be considered urban green space.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":272782,"text":"Any county, city, or town may, by ordinance, establish a program to provide regulatory flexibility to encourage the preservation, restoration, or development of urban green space in the locality. Any such regulatory flexibility provided shall be proportionate to the amount of urban green space that a business or development contains.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":272783,"text":"The regulatory flexibility may include (i) a reduction in permit fees or (ii) a streamlined process for the approval of permits.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13545,"edition_id":1,"name":"Additional Powers","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13058,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:10","permalink":{"id":156673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13545,"identifier":"5","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13058,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Powers of Local Governments","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":156357,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13058,"identifier":"9","token":"15.2\/II\/9","url":"\/15.2\/II\/9\/","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":59834,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-950","catch_line":"Appropriations","url":"\/15.2-950\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-950","metadata":false},{"id":82496,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-951","catch_line":"Acquisition, disposition and use of personal property by localities generally","url":"\/15.2-951\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-951","metadata":false},{"id":80950,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-952","catch_line":"Political subdivisions may acquire property from United States","url":"\/15.2-952\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-952","metadata":false},{"id":56590,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-953","catch_line":"Donations to charitable institutions and associations, volunteer and nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce, etc","url":"\/15.2-953\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-953","metadata":false},{"id":72872,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-954","catch_line":"Loans to volunteer firefighting and rescue organizations","url":"\/15.2-954\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-954","metadata":false},{"id":69377,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-954.1","catch_line":"Volunteer firefighter or volunteer emergency medical services personnel tuition reimbursement","url":"\/15.2-954.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-954.1","metadata":false},{"id":69752,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-955","catch_line":"Approval by local governing body for the establishment of volunteer emergency medical services agencies and firefighting organizations","url":"\/15.2-955\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-955","metadata":false},{"id":65390,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-956","catch_line":"Participation in certain federal development programs","url":"\/15.2-956\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-956","metadata":false},{"id":87224,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-957","catch_line":"Participation by localities in certain leasing programs","url":"\/15.2-957\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-957","metadata":false},{"id":63172,"structure_id":13545,"section_number":"15.2-958","catch_line":"Local funding for repair or production of low and moderate income rental property or repair of residential property; 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This law was first created in 2023. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 427<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":156871,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75983,"identifier":"15.2-977.1","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-977.1","url":"\/15.2-977.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-977.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/9\/5\/15.2-977.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local incentives for urban green space","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-977.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> For purposes of this section, “urban green space<\/span>” means urban land, partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation, that is located in a densely populated area that has a high concentration of residential or commercial structures. “Urban green space<\/span>” includes street trees, city<\/span> parks, sports fields, gardens, and greenways. To qualify as urban green space<\/span>, the use of such land must make a substantive impact on the reduction of the urban heat effect, the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions, or the mitigation of stormwater. Rural areas and areas of low population density or development shall not be considered urban green space<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span> may, by ordinance<\/span>, establish a program to provide regulatory flexibility to encourage the preservation, restoration, or development of urban green space<\/span> in the locality<\/span>. Any such regulatory flexibility provided shall be proportionate to the amount of urban green space<\/span> that a business or development contains. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The regulatory flexibility may include (i) a reduction in permit fees or (ii) a streamlined process for the approval of permits. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL INCENTIVES FOR URBAN GREEN SPACE (\u00a7 15.2-977.1)\n\nA. For purposes of this section, “urban green space” means urban\nland, partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other\nvegetation, that is located in a densely populated area that has a high\nconcentration of residential or commercial structures. “Urban green\nspace” includes street trees, city parks, sports fields, gardens, and\ngreenways. To qualify as urban green space, the use of such land must make a\nsubstantive impact on the reduction of the urban heat effect, the offsetting of\ngreenhouse gas emissions, or the mitigation of stormwater. Rural areas and areas\nof low population density or development shall not be considered urban green\nspace.\n\nB. Any county, city, or town may, by ordinance, establish a program to provide\nregulatory flexibility to encourage the preservation, restoration, or\ndevelopment of urban green space in the locality. Any such regulatory\nflexibility provided shall be proportionate to the amount of urban green space\nthat a business or development contains.\n\nC. The regulatory flexibility may include (i) a reduction in permit fees or (ii)\na streamlined process for the approval of permits.\n\nHISTORY: 2023, c. 427.","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}}