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Board adopts text amendment allowing prepayment option for zoning civil penalties
Summary
Bedford County supervisors adopted amendments to the zoning ordinance enabling the zoning administrator or designee to accept prepayment of civil penalties, aligning local fines with the Code of Virginia and adding a prepayment option to resolve minor and continuous violations more efficiently.
The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a zoning text amendment that allows the zoning administrator or a designated staff member to accept prepayment of civil penalties before code cases are heard in court.
Jordan, a planning staff presenter, told the board the amendment (text amendment 25-0003) was initiated by the Board of Supervisors on July 28, 2025, and is intended to provide a prepayment option to resolve minor or continuing violations without court proceedings. Staff said the change will bring local ordinance language into alignment with the Code of Virginia and that the Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0 during its Sept. 2, 2025, public hearing; no citizens spoke for or against the amendment at that hearing.
Jordan said the amendment revises penalty language to reflect state law limits (including removing a fixed minimum where state code limits maximum fines to no more than $250) and adds explicit prepayment sections so violators may choose to pay fines as an alternative to pursuing court resolution. The staff noted the prepayment option is intended to make enforcement more efficient and allow the county to resolve certain violations administratively.
Mr. Tuck moved to adopt Ordinance 90925-05 to effect the zoning text amendment; Ms. Staitis seconded. The board recorded a roll-call vote, and the motion carried. The ordinance as adopted includes the prepayment option described by staff and the penalty limits referenced to state code.
