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To request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Planning and Development Review, in coordination with other relevant City departments, to implement and utilize the affordable housing-related legislation enacted by the Virginia General Assembly during its 2026 Regular Session, including House Bills 4, 15, 594, 806, and 1279.
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WHEREAS, during its 2026 Regular Session, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation to preserve existing affordable housing, strengthen tenant protections, expedite the development of affordable housing, expand affordable housing financing tools, and facilitate the development of affordable housing on certain properties; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 legislation creates new opportunities and requirements for local governments to advance housing affordability and, in certain instances, requires additional local administrative or legislative action before such authorities may be fully utilized; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that the City should proactively implement the new legislation and exercise the new authorities provided by the General Assembly to advance the City’s housing and affordable housing goals;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the Council hereby requests that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Planning and Development Review, in coordination with other relevant City departments, to implement and utilize the affordable housing-related legislation enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. House Bill 4 - Preservation of Affordable Housing. Develop an implementation strategy for utilizing the affordable housing preservation authorities established by House Bill 4, including the required notice process and potential exercise of rights of first refusal; identify potential funding sources, qualified development or preservation partners, administrative responsibilities, and criteria for determining when exercise of such authority would advance the City’s housing goals; and present to the Council an ordinance necessary to establish such program when an administratively and financially viable implementation structure has been developed;
2. House Bill 15 - Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Incorporate the tenant protections enacted by House Bill 15 into relevant City housing programs, tenant and landlord educational materials, referrals, outreach, and other administrative practices, and identify any additional City actions that could support effective implementation of such protections;
3. House Bill 594 - Expedited Approval of Certain Affordable Housing Developments. Continue administrative and policy planning necessary to support future consideration of the expedited affordable housing approval authority provided by House Bill 594 following adoption of the City’s updated zoning ordinance. Nothing in this resolution is intended to initiate or substitute for separate Council consideration of an ordinance exercising such authority;
4. House Bill 806 - Industrial Development Authorities and Affordable Housing. In coordination with the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond and other appropriate entities, identify opportunities to utilize the expanded affordable housing financing and development powers authorized by House Bill 806, including the potential use of bond financing and other available authority to support the production and preservation of affordable housing; and
5. House Bill 1279 - Affordable Housing on Certain Religious and Nonprofit Property. Ensure that the City’s zoning regulations, administrative procedures, application materials, and development-review processes are prepared to implement House Bill 1279 upon its effective date and evaluate whether adoption of local regulations prior to such date would better advance the City’s land-use and affordable housing objectives than implementation solely pursuant to the statutory provisions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Council hereby requests that the Chief Administrative Officer, within 90 days following adoption of this resolution, provide the Council with a report identifying actions taken or underway pursuant to this resolution, any anticipated ordinances or other Council actions necessary to fully utilize these authorities, and any significant fiscal, staffing, funding, partnership, or administrative considerations affecting implementation.
DATE: 09/14/2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
THROUGH: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager
THROUGH: Sophie McGinley, Council Policy Analyst
FROM: The Honorable Ellen Robertson, Councilmember 6th District
RE: To request implementation and utilization of affordable housing-related authorities and requirements enacted by the Virginia General Assembly during its 2026 Regular Session.
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PURPOSE: To request that the Chief Administrative Officer direct the appropriate City agencies to implement, prepare for implementation of, and make appropriate use of new affordable housing-related authorities and requirements enacted by the Virginia General Assembly during its 2026 Regular Session. The resolution also requests that the Administration identify and present any ordinances or other Council actions necessary to fully exercise those authorities.
BACKGROUND: During its 2026 Regular Session, the Virginia General Assembly enacted several measures affecting affordable housing preservation, tenant protections, development review, financing, and the use of certain religious and nonprofit properties for affordable housing. These measures include House Bills 4, 15, 594, 806, and 1279, each of which creates new local opportunities, requirements, or implementation considerations. Some provisions may be implemented administratively, while others require additional planning, partnerships, funding, or future Council action before they can be effectively utilized. This resolution provides a coordinated framework for the Administration to evaluate and implement these measures rather than addressing each new authority in isolation. It also preserves separate Council consideration where an ordinance is required, including future consideration of the authority provided by House Bill 594 following adoption of the updated zoning ordinance.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The resolution advances longstanding community priorities related to housing affordability, preservation of existing affordable housing, tenant protections, and increasing opportunities for the production of new affordable housing.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: This resolution directly advances Pillar 2, “Thriving Neighborhoods,” of the Mayor’s 2025 Mayoral Action Plan, which calls for meeting the housing needs of a growing city so that Richmonders across income levels can access affordable housing. In particular, it supports Goal A, “Build more homes for more people,” including the MAP metrics of increasing both the total number of new housing units and the number of middle-income and affordable housing units supported by the City each year. It also advances Goal B, “Develop a new model of affordable housing and strengthen housing stability,” including reducing the share of cost-burdened residents and increasing access to eviction-related services. The resolution is also consistent with Richmond 300’s housing and land-use objectives and the 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan’s focus on addressing unmet housing and community-development needs.
FISCAL IMPACT: The resolution itself does not appropriate funding; however, implementation of individual authorities may have future fiscal, staffing, administrative, financing, or programmatic impacts that the Administration is requested to identify.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 14, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 28, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Office of Chief Administrative Officer,
Planning and Development Review
Housing and Community Development
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: N/A
STAFF: Sophie McGinley, Council Policy Analyst, (804-646-5826)