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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60378</law_id><section_number>2.2-5509</section_number><catch_line>Limitation on local regulation</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="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Administration of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="B">Transaction of Public Business</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="55">Virginia Biotechnology Research Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall enact any regulation or <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> regulating or prohibiting (i) the planned introduction of <span class="dictionary">genetically engineered organisms</span> into the environment or (ii) biotechnology research activities; however, the siting of biotechnology research activities shall be subject to the zoning and land-use <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations of the localities in which such activities are conducted, the Uniform Statewide Building Code (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-97/">36-97</a> et seq.), the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Short title" href="/27-94/">27-94</a> et seq.), local public utility and public works <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> and regulations of general application, and local tax <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> of general application.</p></section></text><history>1994, c. 472, &#xA7; 2.1-778; 2001, c. 844.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
