As Housing Costs Rise, Lawmakers Revive Push for Affordability and Stability — But What Can Localities Like Warren County Do?

With housing affordability remaining a top concern across Virginia — and particularly in rural and suburban communities like Warren County — state lawmakers returned to Richmond in 2026 with a fresh round of proposals to provide renters with stronger protections and expand affordable housing development. After several of these bills were vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin last year, the political landscape has shifted, with stronger support from state and federal leaders for housing reforms.

Among the proposals under early consideration:

More Time for Renters to Catch Up Before Facing Eviction

House Bill 15, introduced by Del. Marcia “Cia” Price (D-Newport News), would extend the current five-day grace period for late rent payments to 14 days. This change would give tenants more time to resolve missed payments before a landlord could initiate eviction proceedings.

For residents in areas like Front Royal, where many tenants live paycheck to paycheck, advocates say this extra time could make the difference between staying in their homes and becoming displaced. HB15 is currently in committee but has gained support from housing advocates statewide.

Giving Localities a Say When Affordable Housing Is at Risk

House Bill 4, from Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-Alexandria), would allow local governments to establish a right of first refusal when affordability restrictions on rental properties are set to expire. In simpler terms, when a landlord decides to sell an apartment complex that has received public support to remain affordable, local governments (or their nonprofit partners) would have the first opportunity to purchase it and preserve the housing.

This would apply to properties supported by programs like Section 8, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, or state housing trust funds. If passed, it could give Warren County more tools to preserve its limited supply of affordable housing, rather than watching it slip into the private market at unaffordable rates.

Support for “YIGBY” Projects: Yes, In God’s Backyard

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner’s Yes in God’s Backyard Act (YIGBY) is gaining attention among Virginia’s housing advocates. The bill encourages faith-based organizations and higher education institutions to develop affordable housing on underused land they already own. The federal bill would provide grants, technical assistance, and guidance to remove local zoning or permitting barriers that often delay such projects.

Similar ideas have been floated in Virginia’s General Assembly before — including legislation introduced in 2025 to let churches and nonprofits build housing more easily on their land — but they failed in committee. Lawmakers are expected to reintroduce those ideas in 2026, with the aim of improving outcomes amid a statewide housing shortage.

What’s Warren County’s Role in This?

While most zoning and housing policy decisions are made at the local level, state and federal proposals could provide new tools and funding that towns and counties can choose to adopt. Under HB 4, for example, Warren County would have the option to pass an ordinance granting it greater control over the fate of affordable housing.

The Town of Front Royal and the Warren County Board of Supervisors have not yet publicly weighed in on the latest proposals, but with eviction rates and housing costs rising, pressure is mounting to act.

Some local leaders have voiced concerns that families, teachers, and essential workers are leaving for neighboring counties due to a lack of affordable options. Advocates say one step would be to track housing stock, identify properties at risk of losing affordability, and build partnerships with nonprofits or developers committed to keeping housing prices reasonable.

What’s Next

Lawmakers at every level — from Richmond to Washington — are acknowledging that affordable housing isn’t just a big-city issue. It affects rural towns, growing suburbs, and tourism-driven communities like those in Warren County, where short-term rentals and limited supply continue to drive up costs.

As the 2026 General Assembly session unfolds, residents and local officials alike will have opportunities to advocate for or against these new policies. Many of the proposed bills aim not to override local control, but to equip localities with better options to preserve, build, or protect housing for those most at risk.