Senator Williams Graves, the senator from Norfolk, won Senate passage on Thursday for a bill that increases civil penalties for repeat commercial zoning violations in Planning District 23.

The measure, Senate Bill 992, raises the tiered civil penalties for nonpermitted commercial uses, codifies proof-of-delivery for written orders, and requires property owners who voluntarily admit responsibility to remedy or abate violations within a time set by local government.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Williams Graves, told the Senate: "This bill addresses civil penalties for certain repeat zoning violations in planning district 23 for commercial use only." He said current penalties have not increased in nearly 20 years and do not deter repeat violators. The bill leaves the first offense penalty unchanged at $200, raises the second repeat penalty to $1,000, and sets the third and subsequent penalty at $1,500, with a cap of $42,100 within a 12-month period.

The measure also adds that a person who admits responsibility by waiving trial must still "remedy or abate the issue within a time frame set by the local government of no less than 30 days but no more than 24 months," and clarifies requirements for sending written orders with proof of delivery so recipients can pursue appeals.

Senate passage was recorded as Ayes 39, No 0; the clerk announced that the bill "passes." The transcript shows the sponsor spoke at length to the bill, emphasizing protections for neighbors and businesses and clarifying appeals procedures.

No amendment that altered the penalty structure was recorded on the floor; the bill moved from consideration to passage with the sponsor’s explanation and a recorded vote.

The Senate action advances the bill to the next step in the legislative process.