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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>347945</law_id><section_number>15.2-2316.1</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1119.3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="46" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="15" identifier="22">Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="8" identifier="7.1">Transfer of Development Rights</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article, the term:</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Development rights</span>&#x201D; means the permitted uses and density of development that are allowed on the <span class="dictionary">sending property</span> under any <span class="dictionary">zoning</span> <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> on a date prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Development rights</span>&#x201D; includes &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">transferable development rights</span>.&#x201D;</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Receiving area</span>&#x201D; means one or more areas identified by an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> and designated by the comprehensive plan as an area authorized to receive development rights transferred from a <span class="dictionary">sending area</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Receiving property</span>&#x201D; means a lot or parcel within a <span class="dictionary">receiving area</span> and within which development rights are increased pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">transfer of development rights</span> affixed to the property. <span class="dictionary">Receiving property</span> shall be appropriate and suitable for development and shall be sufficient to accommodate the <span class="dictionary">transferable development rights</span> of the <span class="dictionary">sending property</span>. Development rights may be transferred between receiving properties, as otherwise permitted in the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sending area</span>&#x201D; means one or more areas identified by an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> and designated by the comprehensive plan as an area from which development rights are authorized to be severed and transferred to a <span class="dictionary">receiving area</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sending property</span>&#x201D; means a lot or parcel within a <span class="dictionary">sending area</span> from which development rights are authorized to be severed.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Severance of development rights</span>&#x201D; means the process by which development rights from a <span class="dictionary">sending property</span> are severed pursuant to this act.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Transfer of development rights</span>&#x201D; means the process by which development rights from a <span class="dictionary">sending property</span> are affixed to one or more receiving properties.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Transferable development rights</span>&#x201D; means all or that portion of development rights that are transferred or are transferable.</p></section></text><history>2006, c. 573; 2007, cc. 363, 410; 2009, cc. 413, 731.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
