A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2275.1, relating to certain boundary line adjustments; Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.
HB1154 would direct localities to consider adopting an ordinance addressing boundary line adjustments for certain older lots of record. Specifically, for lots that existed before October 1, 1989, the bill says a boundary line adjustment should not be treated as creating a new lot of record for purposes of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. The measure is framed as local-authority legislation: it does not itself change every locality’s ordinance, but encourages local governments to adopt a rule that would clarify how these older parcels are treated.
In practical terms, the bill is aimed at reducing regulatory consequences when property owners adjust lot boundaries on pre-1989 lots. By preventing such adjustments from being treated as the creation of a new lot under the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, the bill could make it easier for some property owners to reconfigure parcels without triggering additional Bay Act review or restrictions that apply to newly created lots.
The bill would add § 15.2-2275.1 to the Code of Virginia and affect the interaction between local subdivision/boundary-line rules and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (§ 62.1-44.15:67 et seq.). Its main legal effect would be to encourage localities to adopt ordinances exempting certain pre-October 1, 1989 lots from being treated as newly created lots after a boundary line adjustment, which could reduce permitting, compliance, or development constraints for affected property owners and local land-use administrators.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote, and the bill was left in the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears to be a targeted land-use clarification rather than a broad policy change. The absence of recorded opposition or support in the provided materials means the overall sentiment cannot be measured directly, but the proposal appears designed to address a specific administrative issue for older lots.
The likely point of contention is whether localities should be encouraged to create an ordinance that limits the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act’s application to boundary line adjustments on pre-1989 lots. Supporters would likely view the bill as a practical fix for property owners and local governments dealing with legacy parcels, while opponents could argue it weakens Bay Act protections or creates an exception that may complicate enforcement. Because there were no transcripts or votes provided, no named stakeholders are identified, but the tension is between land-use flexibility for older lots and environmental/regulatory oversight under the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.