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Bill

SB 829

Real property tax bills; disclosure, resource protection area.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Surovell

Virginia bill requiring localities to disclose resource protection area designations on property tax bills to improve buyer awareness of environmental restrictions.

Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
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Bill Summary · SB 829

Legislative bill overview

SB 829 requires Virginia localities to disclose on property tax bills whether parcels are located in resource protection areas and provide information about applicable regulations and restrictions. The bill aims to increase transparency about environmental designations that affect property use and value.

Why is this important

Property owners often discover environmental restrictions only after purchase, potentially affecting land use, development plans, and resale value. This disclosure requirement would give buyers and current owners explicit notice on tax documents—the most visible regular communication from local government—enabling more informed decisions about their property.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: Localities must implement systems to identify all parcels in resource protection areas and update tax bills accordingly, requiring coordination between tax and planning departments with potential costs
  • Market impact concerns: Prominent disclosure of environmental restrictions on tax bills could depress property values in affected areas, raising fairness questions about who bears the cost of environmental protection
  • Definition clarity: The bill's scope depends on how "resource protection area" is defined—whether it includes wetlands, stream buffers, groundwater protection zones, or other designations—which significantly affects implementation and affected property counts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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