<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85652</law_id><section_number>36-96.21</section_number><catch_line>Powers of counties, cities and towns</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="36">Housing</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5.1">Virginia Fair Housing Law</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any county, city or town which has any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> in effect on January 1, 1991, enacted under the Virginia Fair Housing <span class="dictionary">Law</span> (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Declaration of policy" href="/36-96.1/">36-96.1</a> et seq.), the Virginia Human Rights Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; declaration of policy" href="/2.2-3900/">2.2-3900</a> et seq.), or any other applicable state <span class="dictionary">law</span> may continue to enforce such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> and may <span class="dictionary">amend</span> the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, provided the amendment is not inconsistent with this chapter. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any county, city or town under this subsection from submitting amended <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for substantial equivalency pursuant to Title VIII, Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA7; 3604-3606), as amended. <a id="paragraph-306775" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.21/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The governing body of any county, city or town may enact <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> in accordance with the provisions of this chapter provided that (i) such <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> conform to this chapter and are enacted prior to September 30, 1992, and (ii) such amended <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> are submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a determination of substantial equivalency pursuant to Title VIII, Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA7; 3604-3606), as amended. <a id="paragraph-306776" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.21/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1972, c. 591, &#xA7; 36-96; 1975, c. 345; 1982, c. 113; 1991, c. 557; 1996, cc. 173, 369.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
