Virginia Lawmakers Amend Zoning Ordinances to Reduce Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements Near Transit
The Code of Virginia has been updated with new legislation, effective in 2026, that significantly alters minimum off-street parking requirements for residential, multifamily, and mixed-use developments. Specifically, localities that have adopted a zoning ordinance are now prohibited from requiring more than one-half of one parking space per dwelling unit for multifamily or mixed-use residential development, and one parking space per dwelling unit for one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses, when these developments are located within a 'designated area.' A designated area is defined as any parcel within one-half mile of the entrance to a mass transit or public transportation station or facility. The legislation also defines 'mass transit or public transportation' to include fixed-route passenger transportation by rubber-tired, rail, or other surface conveyance, such as bus rapid transit. Furthermore, localities with populations greater than 600,000 may impose higher parking requirements near loca...
