Bill > HB528

This bill amends the Virginia Code to protect property owners' rights to implement managed conservation landscaping by establishing clear guidelines for homeowners' associations. The bill defines "managed conservation landscaping" as intentional landscaping practices that support environmental goals like improving water quality, protecting clean air and water, supporting wildlife through native species, and reducing stormwater runoff. Specifically, the bill prohibits homeowners' associations from banning managed conservation landscaping unless such a prohibition is already recorded in the association's original declaration. While associations can establish reasonable restrictions about design and aesthetics, the bill outlines several criteria that would make a restriction "unreasonable", such as significantly increasing costs, requiring turf grass, mandating invasive species, or prohibiting conservation landscaping in visible property areas. The legislation aims to encourage environmentally friendly landscaping practices by giving property owners more flexibility in how they maintain their yards, while still allowing associations to maintain certain aesthetic standards. The bill includes exceptions for properties designated as historical landmarks and allows associations to restrict conservation landscaping on common areas.