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Bill

HB 863

Virginia Residential Property Disclosure Act; flood-related disclosures.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Hernandez

HB 863 requires Virginia property sellers to disclose flood zone status, flooding history, and insurance requirements to buyers during residential transactions.

Left in General Laws
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 863

Legislative bill overview

HB 863 would expand Virginia's residential property disclosure requirements to include specific flood-related information that sellers must provide to buyers. The bill requires sellers to disclose whether a property is in a flood zone, has experienced flooding, or has flood insurance requirements, giving prospective homebuyers critical environmental risk information before purchase.

Why is this important

Flooding is a significant financial and safety risk for homeowners, yet many buyers lack awareness of a property's flood history or vulnerability. Enhanced disclosure requirements help level the information gap between sellers and buyers, potentially preventing costly surprises and enabling informed purchasing decisions. This is particularly relevant as flood events and insurance costs are increasing in many regions.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications for sellers: Obtaining flood certifications and historical flood data may require additional expense and effort, potentially discouraging property sales
  • Liability concerns: Expanded disclosure requirements could expose sellers to litigation if disclosed information is later disputed or deemed incomplete
  • Definition and scope ambiguity: The bill's specific flood disclosure standards (which flood zones count, how far back must history extend) could create compliance confusion and uneven application across jurisdictions

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

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