Shaping the Future of Our Communities: Zoning, Land Use and Virginia Housing

At Virginia Housing, both zoning and land use are central to our work to expand and preserve the supply of affordable housing statewide. When policymakers and housing professionals are clear on how their zoning ordinances allow and restrict various ways of using land in their communities, they are better positioned to address their housing needs. More broadly, understanding how residential, commercial, recreational and other land uses fit together is essential for attracting jobs, staying economically competitive and improving overall quality of life.

Virginia Housing has provided grant funding to numerous localities seeking to use their land more effectively, both to address housing challenges and to advance broader goals for vibrant, resilient communities. Virginia Housing also recently supported HousingForward Virginia’s Virginia Zoning Atlas, an interactive map that shows the zoning code in nearly every locality in the state so that communities have better data for creating and preserving affordable housing.

A feature article in the May/June 2026 edition of the Virginia Municipal League’s Virginia Town and City magazine dives into what’s possible. As you read the article, we encourage you to remember that if your community is exploring a land use or housing initiative, we welcome the opportunity to collaborate. Please visit our grants page or email Grants@VirginiaHousing.com to start the conversation.