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Commission recommends higher civil fines for repeat zoning violations
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council adopt an amendment authorizing increased civil penalties for repeat or ongoing zoning violations, raising per-violation fines and caps over a 12-month period to align local rules with recent state law changes.
The Newport News Planning Commission on Aug. 6 unanimously recommended that City Council adopt a zoning text amendment (ZT2025-0002) to increase civil penalties for ongoing or repeat zoning violations. Staff said the amendment brings local ordinance language into alignment with changes enacted by the Virginia General Assembly and would allow higher fines and greater 12-month caps for specified violations.
Staff described the existing penalty structure as a first-offense fine of $100 and $150 for subsequent offenses with a $3,000 cap and citations available every 10 days; the proposed amendment would allow per-violation penalties starting at $200 and increasing to $1,500 depending on the violation type and would raise aggregate caps to between $4,200 and $6,000 over a 12-month period. Staff said these changes are intended to improve enforcement effectiveness and deter repeated noncompliance.
Commissioners asked whether staff had quantitative data to justify the increases; staff said they could not provide specific counts during the presentation but noted that low penalties can encourage repeat violations. Commissioners also asked whether the amendment changes the 10-day limit on citations for the same offense; staff clarified the rule still prevents citation more than once during any 10-day period for the same offense, while increases operate across a 12-month timeframe.
During public comment, resident David Smallridge asked whether the amendment would enable quicker enforcement of short-term rental (Airbnb) violations; staff responded that following the 2022 short-term-rental ordinance the city allowed an initial period for owners to learn the rules and that enforcement activity is now beginning. The commission voted 8–0 to recommend Council adoption; Chairperson Taylor said the ordinance will be scheduled for City Council consideration on Sept. 9, 2025.
If City Council adopts the amendment, enforcement staff will apply the revised penalty schedule in accordance with the updated ordinance language and existing procedural limits on citation frequency.
