Virginia legislation · 2027 Regular Session
Virginia SB841: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2208.1, 15.2-2285, 15.2-2301, 15.2-2303.4, 15.2-2310, and 15.2-2316.4:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to data centers; public notice requirements; public hearings.
Status: In committee, October 8, 2026
Data centers; public hearing and notice requirements. Provides additional requirements for local land use decisions regarding zoning changes for data center development. The bill requires, in addition to existing requirements for public advertisements, that the published advertisement providing notice for a public hearing regarding any proposed amendment to a zoning ordinance or application for a special exception for a change in use to permit the by-right development of a data center contain (i) the applicant or developer's name; (ii) the anticipated owner or end user of the development, if known; (iii) the street address, tax map parcel numbers of the parcel or parcels, or a description of the boundaries of the area subject to the changes and a link to a map of the subject area; (iv) the approximate acreage subject to the action; and (v) the expected utility infrastructure to be constructed in connection with the development, including electric, sewer, stormwater, and fuel lines, if known. The bill also requires the local governing body, before approving and adopting any zoning ordinance or amendment, and the board of zoning appeals, before authorizing a special exception or variance, to hold at least two public hearings whenever the subject of a land use decision is a data center development. Under current law, the local governing body and the board of zoning appeals are only required to hold one public hearing.
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2208.1, 15.2-2285, 15.2-2301, 15.2-2303.4, 15.2-2310, and 15.2-2316.4:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to data centers; public notice requirements; public hearings. ---------- Patrons--Jones and Roem ---------- Referred to Committee on Local Government ---------- 1. That §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2208.1, 15.2-2285, 15.2-2301, 15.2-2303.4, 15.2-2310, and 15.2-2316.4:1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as joint public hearings; written notice of certain amendments. A. Plans or ordinances, or amendments thereof, recommended or adopted und.
From the introduced text, October 8, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2208.1, 15.2-2285, 15.2-2301, 15.2-2303.4, 15.2-2310, and 15.2-2316.4:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to data centers; public notice requirements; public hearings. ---------- Patrons--Jones and Roem ---------- Referred to Committee on Local Government ---------- 1. That §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2208.1, 15.2-2285, 15.2-2301, 15.2-2303.4, 15.2-2310, and 15.2-2316.4:1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as joint public hearings; written notice of certain amendments. A. Plans or ordinances, or amendments thereof, recommended or adopted under the powers conferred by this chapter need not be advertised in full, but may be advertised by reference. Every such advertisement shall identify the place or places within the locality where copies of the proposed plans, ordinances or amendments may be examined. The local planning commission shall not recommend nor the governing body adopt any plan, ordinance or amendment thereof until notice of intention to do so has been published twice in some newspaper published or having general circulation in the locality, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than five days before the date of the meeting referenced in the notice; however, the notice for both the local planning commission and the governing body may be published concurrently. The notice shall specify the time and place of …