SB531Introduced in the Senate
Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units, delayed effective date.
Introduced by Kannan Srinivasan, District 32
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units. Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinances for single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as defined in the bill, as a permitted accessory use. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from the locality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the person meets certain requirements enumerated in the bill, and restricts the fee for such permit to $500 or less. The bill prohibits the locality from requiring (i) setbacks for the ADU that are greater than the setback required for the primary dwelling or the setback required for accessory structures on the residential lot, whichever is less; (ii) conditions for ADUs that are more restrictive than those for single-family dwellings within the same zoning area with regard to height, rear, or side setbacks, lot size or coverage, or building frontage; or (iii) consanguinity or affinity between the occupants of the ADU and the primary dwelling. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0895)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Passed House (62-Y 37-N 0-A) · March 4, 2026
62
Yes
37
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | No |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105326D
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Local Government (15-Y 0-N)
Senate committee offered
Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107523D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (13-Y 8-N)
Read second time
Read third time
Passed House (62-Y 37-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB531ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 895 (Effective 7/1/2027)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0895)
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