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Virginia Historic District Enabling Authority (§15.2-2306) (VA)

Tracked preemption from the Virginia overlay bundle.

Overview

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Effective
1968-04-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:VA
Other Virginia preemptions
Virginia 2024-2025 Housing Preemption Bills (Status: None Enacted)Virginia Small Cell Wireless Facility Preemption (§§15.2-2316.3 / 15.2-2316.4)Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP)Virginia Military Air Installation Influence Areas (§15.2-2294)Virginia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Integration (44 CFR 201.6 / Va. Code §44-146.18:2)Virginia Family Day Home Preemption (§15.2-2292)Virginia RPA 100-ft Riparian Buffer (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act)Virginia Floodplain Management — NFIP Coordination (Va. Code §10.1-600 et seq.)

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

AND
  • city.has_local_historic_district == True
  • parcel.in_local_historic_district == True

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
review_typeaddcertificate_of_appropriatenessA locality MAY (delegation, not requirement) adopt an ordinance authorizing an architectural review board (ARB) to issue Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior alterations, new construction, and demolition within designated historic districts.
base_districts[*].demolition_delay_daysfloor_at0Locality may delay demolition; the statute does not impose a uniform maximum delay, but most localities adopt a 60–180 day demolition-review window.

Citation

Authority source
Va. Code §15.2-2306 (Preservation of historical sites and architectural areas)
§ §15.2-2306
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter22/section15.2-2306/

Research notes

This is an ENABLING delegation, not a preemption — Virginia's Dillon's Rule means a locality could not regulate historic districts at all without §15.2-2306. The overlay applies only in localities that have (a) adopted a historic-district ordinance, (b) designated specific districts, and (c) stood up an ARB. §15.2-2306(A) also allows demolition delay and prohibits demolition during the delay period, subject to economic-hardship findings. §15.2-2306(A)(3) governs religious-use carveouts. Adopted by Alexandria, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Lexington, Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, Roanoke, Staunton, Williamsburg, Winchester, and most other historic Virginia jurisdictions.