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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75685</law_id><section_number>15.2-2296</section_number><catch_line>Conditional zoning; declaration of legislative policy and findings; purpose</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-2261.1</reference><reference>15.2-2296</reference><reference>15.2-2303</reference></referred_to_by><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="7">Zoning</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>It is the general policy of the Commonwealth in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purpose of zoning ordinances" href="/15.2-2283/">15.2-2283</a> to provide for the orderly <span class="dictionary">development</span> of land, for all purposes, through <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> and other land <span class="dictionary">development</span> legislation. Frequently, where competing and incompatible uses conflict, traditional <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> methods and procedures are inadequate. In these cases, more flexible and adaptable <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> methods are needed to permit differing land uses and the same time to recognize effects of change. It is the purpose of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Conditional zoning; declaration of legislative policy and findings; purpose" href="/15.2-2296/">15.2-2296</a> through <a class="law" title="Same; records" href="/15.2-2300/">15.2-2300</a> to provide a more flexible and adaptable <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> method to cope with situations found in such zones through conditional <span class="dictionary">zoning</span>, whereby a <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> reclassification may be allowed subject to certain conditions proffered by the <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> applicant for the protection of the community that are not generally applicable to land similarly zoned. The exercise of authority granted pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Conditional zoning; declaration of legislative policy and findings; purpose" href="/15.2-2296/">15.2-2296</a> through <a class="law" title="Same; amendments and variations of conditions" href="/15.2-2302/">15.2-2302</a> shall not be construed to limit or restrict powers otherwise granted to any <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, nor to affect the validity of any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted by any such <span class="dictionary">locality</span> which would be valid without regard to this section. The provisions of this section and the following six sections shall not be used for the purpose of discrimination in housing.</p></section></text><history>1978, c. 320, &#xA7; 15.1-491.1; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
