FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2025

Charlottesville Zoning Ordinance

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - On June 30, 2025, the Charlottesville Circuit Court granted a default judgement in the case of White vs. Charlottesville after the City’s outside counsel failed to meet a required deadline to respond to the plaintiff’s amended complaint.  

White vs. Charlottesville is a case regarding the zoning ordinance adopted by the Charlottesville City Council on December 18, 2023. The Plaintiffs in that case have filed a lawsuit alleging the City’s zoning ordinance should be void because the City did not gather certain information and consider required information prior to the ordinance’s adoption. 

As of today, July 11, 2025, we are still operating under the 2024 Development Code, pending the Circuit Court’s issuance of a formal, written order.  

The City is currently in talks with the Plaintiffs and their counsel to try to reach an agreeable settlement of this dispute. If those efforts are unsuccessful, the City intends to ask the Court to reconsider its decision and file further appeals if necessary. If those efforts are unsuccessful, the City is prepared to move as quickly as possible to re-adopt the Code 

Despite the June 30 decision, building permit applications, including trade and fire permits, are continuously being accepted and processed. All zoning‐related applications are temporarily on hold pending further developments, but the City anticipates being able to resume those reviews in the near future. Affected applications are those listed in Sections 34-5.2.1 through 34-5.2.17 of the Development Code, most notably new construction, additions, site modifications, and changes in use.

Media Contact
Afton Schneider
Director of Communications and Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-996-0331
schneidera@charlottesville.gov