Virginia Code 59.1-543: Local incentives
A. Local governments submitting applications for enterprise zone designation shall propose local incentives that address the economic conditions within their locality and that will help stimulate real property improvements and new job creation. Such local incentives include, but are not limited to: (i) reduction of permit fees; (ii) reduction of user fees; (iii) reduction of business, professional and occupational license tax; (iv) partial exemption from taxation of substantially rehabilitated real estate pursuant to § 58.1-3221; and (v) adoption of a local enterprise zone development taxation program pursuant to Article 4.2 (§ 58.1-3245.6 et seq.) of Chapter 32 of Title 58.1. The extent and duration of such incentives shall conform to the requirements of the Constitution of Virginia and the Constitution of the United States. In making application for designation as an enterprise zone, the application may also contain proposals for regulatory flexibility, including but not limited to: (a) special zoning districts, (b) permit process reform, (c) exemptions from local ordinances, and (d) other public incentives proposed in the locality’s application which shall be binding upon the locality upon designation of the enterprise zone.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 59.1-543
- Enterprise zone: means an area declared by the Governor to be eligible for the benefits of this chapter. See Virginia Code 59.1-539
- Locality: means a county, city, or town as the context may require. See Virginia Code 1-221
- Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
- real estate: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights and appurtenances thereto and interests therein, other than a chattel interest. See Virginia Code 1-219
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
- United States: includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-255
- User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
B. A locality may establish eligibility criteria for local incentives that differ from the criteria required to qualify for the incentives provided in this chapter.