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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76085</law_id><section_number>15.2-2209.1</section_number><catch_line>Extension of approvals to address housing crisis</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="22">Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Notwithstanding the time limits for validity set out in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Localities may provide for submission of preliminary subdivision plats; how long valid" href="/15.2-2260/">15.2-2260</a> or <a class="law" title="Recorded plats or final site plans to be valid for not less than five years" href="/15.2-2261/">15.2-2261</a>, or the provisions of subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Localities may provide for submission of preliminary subdivision plats; how long valid" href="/15.2-2260/">15.2-2260</a>, any subdivision <span class="dictionary">plat</span> valid under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Localities may provide for submission of preliminary subdivision plats; how long valid" href="/15.2-2260/">15.2-2260</a> and outstanding as of January 1, 2017, and any recorded <span class="dictionary">plat</span> or final <span class="dictionary">site plan</span> valid under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Recorded plats or final site plans to be valid for not less than five years" href="/15.2-2261/">15.2-2261</a> and outstanding as of January 1, 2017, shall remain valid until July 1, 2020, or such later date provided for by the terms of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>&#x2019;s approval, local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, resolution or regulation, or for a longer period as agreed to by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. Any other plan or permit associated with such <span class="dictionary">plat</span> or <span class="dictionary">site plan</span> extended by this subsection shall likewise be extended for the same time period. <a id="paragraph-273080" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2209.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for any valid <span class="dictionary">special exception</span>, special use permit, or conditional use permit outstanding as of January 1, 2017, and related to new residential or commercial <span class="dictionary">development</span>, any deadline in the exception permit, or in the local <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> that requires the landowner or developer to commence the project or to incur significant expenses related to improvements for the project within a certain time, shall be extended until July 1, 2020, or longer as agreed to by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any requirement that a use authorized pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">special exception</span>, special use permit, conditional use permit, or other agreement or <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> action be terminated or ended by a certain date or within a set number of years. <a id="paragraph-273081" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2209.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for any rezoning action approved pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Same; conditions as part of a rezoning or amendment to zoning map" href="/15.2-2297/">15.2-2297</a>, <a class="law" title="Same; additional conditions as a part of rezoning or zoning map amendment in certain high-growth localities" href="/15.2-2298/">15.2-2298</a>, or <a class="law" title="Conditional zoning in certain localities" href="/15.2-2303/">15.2-2303</a>, valid and outstanding as of January 1, 2017, and related to new residential or commercial <span class="dictionary">development</span>, any proffered condition that requires the landowner or developer to incur significant expenses upon an event related to a stage or level of <span class="dictionary">development</span> shall be extended until July 1, 2020, or longer as agreed to by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. However, the extensions in this subsection shall not apply (i) to land or right-of-way dedications pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Same; conditions as part of a rezoning or amendment to zoning map" href="/15.2-2297/">15.2-2297</a>, <a class="law" title="Same; additional conditions as a part of rezoning or zoning map amendment in certain high-growth localities" href="/15.2-2298/">15.2-2298</a>, or <a class="law" title="Conditional zoning in certain localities" href="/15.2-2303/">15.2-2303</a>, (ii) when completion of the event related to the stage or level of <span class="dictionary">development</span> has occurred, or (iii) to events required to occur on a specified date certain or within a specified time period. Any proffered condition included in a <span class="dictionary">special exception</span>, special use permit, or conditional use permit shall only be extended if it satisfies the provisions of this subsection. <a id="paragraph-273082" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2209.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The extension of validity provided in subsection A and the extension of certain deadlines as provided in subsection B shall not be effective unless any unreleased performance <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> and agreements or other financial guarantees of completion of public improvements in or associated with the proposed <span class="dictionary">development</span> are continued in force; however, if the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> has enacted a bonding moratorium or deferral option, the performance <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> and agreements or other financial guarantees of completion may be waived or modified by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, in which case the extension of validity provided in subsection A and the extension of certain deadlines provided in subsection B shall apply. The landowner or developer must comply with the terms of any bonding moratorium or deferral agreement with the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> for the extensions referred to in this subsection to be effective. <a id="paragraph-273083" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2209.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2009, c. 196; 2011, c. 272; 2012, c. 508; 2017, c. 660.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
