{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/58.1-3854.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/58.1-3854.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/58.1-3854.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/58.1-3854.html"}],"law_id":83023,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83023,"structure_id":16862,"section_number":"58.1-3854","catch_line":"Creation of local green development zones","history":"2017, c. 27.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Energy-efficient building” means a building that (i) exceeds the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by at least 30 percent as determined by any qualified architect, professional engineer, or licensed contractor who is not related to the taxpayer and who shall certify to the taxpayer that he has qualifications to provide the certification; (ii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Green Globes Green Building Rating System of the Green Building Initiative; (iii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council; or (iv) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards or guidelines under the EarthCraft House Program. Energy-efficient building certification for purposes of clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) shall be determined by (a) the granting of a certification under one of the programs in clauses (i) through (iv) that certifies that the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or guidelines of the program or (b) a qualified architect or professional engineer designated by the county, city, or town, who shall determine whether the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or guidelines under any program described in clauses (i) through (iv).\n\t\t\t“Green development business” means a business engaged primarily in the design, development, or production of materials, components, or equipment used to reduce negative impact on the environment.B\n\nAny county, city, or town may establish, by ordinance, one or more green development zones. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility to green development businesses located in a green development zone or to businesses operating in an energy-efficient building located in a green development zone.C\n\nThe tax incentives may be provided for up to 10 years and may include, but not be limited to, (i) reduction of permit fees, (ii) reduction of user fees, and (iii) reduction of any type of gross receipts tax. The extent and duration of such incentive proposals shall conform to the requirements of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia.D\n\nThe governing body may also provide for regulatory flexibility in such green technology zone, which may include, but not be limited to, (i) special zoning for the district, (ii) permit process reform, (iii) exemption from ordinances, and (iv) any other incentive adopted by ordinance, which shall be binding upon the locality for a period of up to 10 years.E\n\nEach locality establishing a green development zone pursuant to this section may also adopt a local enterprise zone development taxation program for the green development zone as provided in § 58.1-3245.12.F\n\nThe establishment of a green development zone shall not preclude the area from also being designated as an enterprise zone.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":297580,"text":"As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Energy-efficient building” means a building that (i) exceeds the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by at least 30 percent as determined by any qualified architect, professional engineer, or licensed contractor who is not related to the taxpayer and who shall certify to the taxpayer that he has qualifications to provide the certification; (ii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Green Globes Green Building Rating System of the Green Building Initiative; (iii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council; or (iv) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards or guidelines under the EarthCraft House Program. Energy-efficient building certification for purposes of clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) shall be determined by (a) the granting of a certification under one of the programs in clauses (i) through (iv) that certifies that the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or guidelines of the program or (b) a qualified architect or professional engineer designated by the county, city, or town, who shall determine whether the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or guidelines under any program described in clauses (i) through (iv).\n\t\t\t“Green development business” means a business engaged primarily in the design, development, or production of materials, components, or equipment used to reduce negative impact on the environment.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":297581,"text":"Any county, city, or town may establish, by ordinance, one or more green development zones. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility to green development businesses located in a green development zone or to businesses operating in an energy-efficient building located in a green development zone.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":297582,"text":"The tax incentives may be provided for up to 10 years and may include, but not be limited to, (i) reduction of permit fees, (ii) reduction of user fees, and (iii) reduction of any type of gross receipts tax. The extent and duration of such incentive proposals shall conform to the requirements of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":297583,"text":"The governing body may also provide for regulatory flexibility in such green technology zone, which may include, but not be limited to, (i) special zoning for the district, (ii) permit process reform, (iii) exemption from ordinances, and (iv) any other incentive adopted by ordinance, which shall be binding upon the locality for a period of up to 10 years.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":297584,"text":"Each locality establishing a green development zone pursuant to this section may also adopt a local enterprise zone development taxation program for the green development zone as provided in § 58.1-3245.12.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":297585,"text":"The establishment of a green development zone shall not preclude the area from also being designated as an enterprise zone.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16862,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Green Development Zone","identifier":"13","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13307,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:52:02","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:52:02","permalink":{"id":258443,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16862,"identifier":"13","token":"58.1\/III\/38\/13","url":"\/58.1\/III\/38\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13307,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Taxes","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12704,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:37","permalink":{"id":258383,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13307,"identifier":"38","token":"58.1\/III\/38","url":"\/58.1\/III\/38\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12704,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Taxes","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12703,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":256459,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12704,"identifier":"III","token":"58.1\/III","url":"\/58.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12703,"edition_id":1,"name":"Taxation","identifier":"58.1","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":251959,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12703,"identifier":"58.1","token":"58.1","url":"\/58.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83023,"structure_id":16862,"section_number":"58.1-3854","catch_line":"Creation of local green development zones","url":"\/58.1-3854\/","token":"58.1\/III\/38\/13\/58.1-3854","metadata":false}],"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/58.1-3854\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2017. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 27<\/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":[{"id":82762,"section_number":"58.1-3245.12","catch_line":"Local enterprise zone program for technology, defense, or green development zones","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3245.12\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":258445,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83023,"identifier":"58.1-3854","token":"58.1\/III\/38\/13\/58.1-3854","url":"\/58.1-3854\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/58.1-3854\/","token":"58.1\/III\/38\/13\/58.1-3854","dublin_core":{"Title":"Creation of local green development zones","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 58.1-3854","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Energy-efficient building<\/span>” means a building that (i) exceeds the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by at least 30 percent as determined by any qualified architect, professional engineer, or licensed contractor who is not related to the taxpayer<\/span> and who shall certify to the taxpayer<\/span> that he has qualifications to provide the certification; (ii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Green Globes Green Building Rating System of the Green Building Initiative; (iii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council; or (iv) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards or guidelines under the EarthCraft House Program. Energy-efficient building<\/span> certification for purposes of clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) shall be determined by (a) the granting of a certification under one of the programs in clauses (i) through (iv) that certifies that the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or guidelines of the program or (b) a qualified architect or professional engineer designated by the county, city, or town, who shall determine whether the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or guidelines under any program described in clauses (i) through (iv).\n\t\t\t“Green development business<\/span>” means a business engaged primarily in the design, development, or production of materials<\/span>, components, or equipment used to reduce negative impact on the environment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any county, city, or town may establish, by ordinance<\/span>, one or more green development zones. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility to green development businesses located in a green development zone or to businesses operating in an energy-efficient building<\/span> located in a green development zone. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The tax incentives may be provided for up to 10 years and may include, but not be limited to, (i) reduction of permit fees, (ii) reduction of user fees, and (iii) reduction of any type of gross receipts tax. The extent and duration of such incentive proposals shall conform to the requirements of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The governing body may also provide for regulatory flexibility in such green technology zone, which may include, but not be limited to, (i) special zoning for the district, (ii) permit process reform, (iii) exemption from ordinances<\/span>, and (iv) any other incentive adopted by ordinance<\/span>, which shall be binding upon the locality for a period of up to 10 years. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Each locality establishing a green development zone pursuant to this section may also adopt a local enterprise zone development taxation program for the green development zone as provided in § 58.1-3245.12<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The establishment of a green development zone shall not preclude the area from also being designated as an enterprise zone. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCREATION OF LOCAL GREEN DEVELOPMENT ZONES (\u00a7 58.1-3854)\n\nA. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Energy-efficient building” means a building that (i) exceeds the\nenergy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide\nBuilding Code by at least 30 percent as determined by any qualified architect,\nprofessional engineer, or licensed contractor who is not related to the taxpayer\nand who shall certify to the taxpayer that he has qualifications to provide the\ncertification; (ii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the\nGreen Globes Green Building Rating System of the Green Building Initiative;\n(iii) is certified to meet or exceed performance standards of the Leadership in\nEnergy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S.\nGreen Building Council; or (iv) is certified to meet or exceed performance\nstandards or guidelines under the EarthCraft House Program. Energy-efficient\nbuilding certification for purposes of clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) shall be\ndetermined by (a) the granting of a certification under one of the programs in\nclauses (i) through (iv) that certifies that the building meets or exceeds the\nperformance standards or guidelines of the program or (b) a qualified architect\nor professional engineer designated by the county, city, or town, who shall\ndetermine whether the building meets or exceeds the performance standards or\nguidelines under any program described in clauses (i) through (iv).\n\t\t\t“Green development business” means a business engaged primarily\nin the design, development, or production of materials, components, or equipment\nused to reduce negative impact on the environment.\n\nB. Any county, city, or town may establish, by ordinance, one or more green\ndevelopment zones. Each locality may grant tax incentives and provide certain\nregulatory flexibility to green development businesses located in a green\ndevelopment zone or to businesses operating in an energy-efficient building\nlocated in a green development zone.\n\nC. The tax incentives may be provided for up to 10 years and may include, but\nnot be limited to, (i) reduction of permit fees, (ii) reduction of user fees,\nand (iii) reduction of any type of gross receipts tax. The extent and duration\nof such incentive proposals shall conform to the requirements of the United\nStates Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia.\n\nD. The governing body may also provide for regulatory flexibility in such green\ntechnology zone, which may include, but not be limited to, (i) special zoning\nfor the district, (ii) permit process reform, (iii) exemption from ordinances,\nand (iv) any other incentive adopted by ordinance, which shall be binding upon\nthe locality for a period of up to 10 years.\n\nE. Each locality establishing a green development zone pursuant to this section\nmay also adopt a local enterprise zone development taxation program for the\ngreen development zone as provided in § 58.1-3245.12.\n\nF. The establishment of a green development zone shall not preclude the area\nfrom also being designated as an enterprise zone.\n\nHISTORY: 2017, c. 27.","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}}