23105749D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1944

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

on January 27, 2023)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Hodges)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2209.1:2, relating to extension of land use approvals for solar photovoltaic projects.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-2209.1:2 as follows:

§15.2-2209.1:2. Extension of land use approvals for solar photovoltaic projects.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for any valid special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit, or any modifications thereto, for a solar photovoltaic project outstanding as of July 1, 2023, any deadline in the exception permit, or in the local zoning ordinance that requires the landowner or developer to commence the project within a certain time, may be extended by a resolution of the governing body until July 1, 2026, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the locality.