Virginia Byways and Scenic Highways (§33.2-405) (VA)
Tracked preemption from the Virginia overlay bundle.
Overview
← All state preemptionsVirginia overlay roll-upVirginia zoning wikiVirginia building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Yes
Effective
1966-07-01
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.
OR
parcel.on_designated_scenic_highway_or_byway==Trueparcel.geometrygeographic match
Preempted fields
2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
review_type | add | vdot_dcr_scenic_corridor_notice_and_comment | Before the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) designates a Virginia Byway or Scenic Highway, affected local governing bodies and planning commissions receive formal notice; on local request, CTB must hold a public hearing in the affected jurisdiction. Post-designation, billboard and outdoor-advertising controls apply under Va. Code §33.2-1200 et seq. |
base_districts[*].outdoor_advertising_restrictions_on_byways | override | ban_on_new_off_premise_outdoor_advertising | Virginia Byways are protected from new off-premise outdoor advertising under Va. Code §33.2-1216 (consistent with federal Highway Beautification Act, 23 U.S.C. §131); existing signs may be amortized or compensated. |
Citation
Authority source
Va. Code §33.2-405 (Scenic highways and Virginia byways); §33.2-1200 et seq. (Outdoor Advertising in Sight of Public Highways); federal Highway Beautification Act (23 U.S.C. §131)
§ §33.2-405
Research notes
Designation jointly administered by VDOT (Commonwealth Transportation Board) and Virginia DCR. ~80+ designated Virginia Byways and Scenic Highways (Blue Ridge Parkway approaches, Skyline Drive corridor, Colonial Parkway, Eastern Shore Route 13, Northern Neck Route 3, etc.). Designation itself does not directly preempt local zoning but (a) triggers Highway Beautification Act billboard controls and (b) often prompts adoption of local scenic-corridor overlay districts under §15.2-2306 enabling language. Localities with byway-fronting parcels typically adopt viewshed-protection, sign-size, and setback overlays. Federal conflict check: HBA outdoor-advertising regs (23 CFR Part 750) and FHWA scenic-byway program (23 U.S.C. §162) interact.