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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63910</law_id><section_number>15.2-730</section_number><catch_line>Civil penalties for violations of zoning ordinance</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="I">General Provisions; Charters; Other Forms and Organization of Counties</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">County Manager Plan of Government</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">General Powers; County Manager Plan</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Notwithstanding subdivision A 5 of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Permitted provisions in zoning ordinances; amendments; applicant to pay delinquent taxes; penalties" href="/15.2-2286/">15.2-2286</a>, a <span class="dictionary">county</span> may adopt an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> which establishes a uniform schedule of civil penalties for violations of specified provisions of the zoning <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> regulating the storage of junk and the repair of motor vehicles. Such schedule of <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> shall not include any zoning violation resulting in injury to any person, and the existence of a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> shall not preclude action by the zoning administrator under subdivision A 4 of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Permitted provisions in zoning ordinances; amendments; applicant to pay delinquent taxes; penalties" href="/15.2-2286/">15.2-2286</a> or action by the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Restraining violations of chapter" href="/15.2-2208/">15.2-2208</a>.
		This schedule of civil penalties may allow for progressively higher penalties for subsequent <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> whether or not the subsequent <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> arise from the same set of operative <span class="dictionary">facts</span>; however, the <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> for any one violation shall be a fine of not more than fifty dollars. Each day during which the violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. However, in no event shall specified violations arising from the same operative set of <span class="dictionary">facts</span> be charged more frequently than once in any ten-day period, and in no event shall a series of specified violations arising from the same operative set of <span class="dictionary">facts</span> result in civil penalties which exceed a total of $250. Designation of a particular zoning <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> violation for a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> pursuant to this section shall be in lieu of criminal <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span>, and except for any violation resulting in injury to any person, such designation shall preclude the <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> of a violation as a criminal <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>.
		Any person summoned for a scheduled violation may make an <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> in person or in writing by mail to the treasurer of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> prior to the date fixed for <span class="dictionary">trial</span> in <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Any person so appearing may enter a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, admit liability, and pay the civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> established for the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> charged. Such persons shall be informed of their right to stand <span class="dictionary">trial</span> and that a signature to an admission of liability will have the same force and effect as a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of <span class="dictionary">court</span>.
		If a person charged with a scheduled violation does not elect to enter a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of <span class="dictionary">trial</span> and admit liability, the violation shall be tried in the general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the same manner and with the same right of <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> as provided for in Title 8.01. In any <span class="dictionary">trial</span> for a scheduled violation authorized by this section, it shall be the burden of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> to show the liability of the violator by a <span class="dictionary">preponderance of the evidence</span>. An admission of liability or <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of liability shall not be a criminal <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for any purpose.
		No provision herein shall be construed to allow the imposition of civil penalties: (i) for enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code; (ii) for activities related to land development or activities related to the construction or repair of buildings and other structures; or (iii) for violation of any provision of a local zoning <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> relating to the posting of signs on public property or public rights-of-way.</p></section></text><history>1985, c. 415, &#xA7; 15.1-687.8; 1992, c. 298; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
