Newport News Council Poised to Enact Tougher Civil Penalties for Zoning Violations
Fines could rise to $1,500 per offense such as unauthorized commercial uses
The Newport News City Council is set to adopt proposed changes to its zoning ordinance next week that would increase fines for repeat or serious zoning violations. Earlier this year, the Planning Commission recommended adoption of the new regulations.
Council is set to make a decision at its meeting schedule for Sept. 9. Enacting the new measures corresponds with a 2025 General Assembly update of the Virginia Code. The new state law expands local governments’ authority to impose higher civil penalties in cases where traditional enforcement has not been a strong deterrent.
Significant changes to fines
Under the city’s current rules:
Civil penalties are capped at $100 for a first violation and $150 for additional violations, with a $3,000 maximum limit
Violations cannot be cited more than once every 10 days.
More serious cases have carried misdemeanor fines of up to $2,000.
If adopted, the new structure would allow:
Fines starting at $200 and increasing to $1,500 per violation.
For unpermitted commercial uses, total penalties could reach $4,200 within a year
Repeat violations at multifamily properties could result in up to $6,000 in fines over the same period.
The 10-day citation limit would remain unchanged.
Previous review by City officials
The Planning Commission recommended approving the proposal on Aug. 6. At the time, staff explained that the change is intended to give Newport News more effective enforcement tools. Commissioners questioned whether the “significant jump” in penalties was supported by past enforcement experience. Staff responded that low fines often encourage repeat violations rather than deterring them. Both the City’s Regulations Committee and City Manager have endorsed the proposal.
If the City Council adopts the ordinance at Tuesday’s hearing, Newport News will bring its enforcement provisions into alignment with the state code while expanding its ability to respond to ongoing zoning issues affecting neighborhoods and businesses.
A Newport News contributor used AI tools and these sources:
Agenda - Newport News City Council meeting - September 9, 2025
Video - Newport News Planning Commission meeting - August 6, 2025
Previous reporting by Newport News Daily
