General Assembly bills will result in these mandatory changes to Henrico Code

Three bills passed earlier this year by the Virginia General Assembly that govern stormwater management, construction management and license taxes will result in in mandated changes to the Henrico County Code, members of the Henrico County Attorney's Office told the county’s board of supervisors during a June 27 work session.

One of the bills is a change to the state code on stormwater management that would make an already existing streamlined process more available, Senior Assistant County Attorney Sean O'Hara told supervisors. Under the current code, when builders seek building permits to construct a single family residential structure, they do not have to submit a stormwater management plan or erosion and sediment control plan. Instead, they simply must submit a contract with the county promising to abide by all rules and regulations.

The changes to the code would allow builders to avoid submitting the longer, more detailed plans for farm buildings, structures used for agritourism and parking areas with 5% or less of impervious surface.

This state code amendment requires changes to local ordinances. The revised ordinance will be introduced on July 11 for a public hearing on Aug. 8.

Other state legislation will require the Henrico Board of Supervisors to update and replace the procedures for construction management contracts that it adopted in March.

The bill will eliminate an existing requirement that limits to no more than 10% the amount of government-contracted construction work a construction management firm can complete on its own.

The goal of this change is to provide greater flexibility, efficiency and cost savings, according to Assistant County Attorney Alyssa Brown.

Assistant County Attorney Sara Mayland presented an update to the license tax ordinance that would require information such as application due date, late penalty charge amount, the underpayment of estimated tax and the late payment of tax to be included. The update also would require assessing officials to inform a taxpayer of the amount of tax owed, amount of penalty and the amount of the interest assessed.

Fairfield Chariman Frank Thornton asked if any of the three bills passed by the General Assembly would encroach on local authority.

“These three bills are not in any way an erosion of local authority or local ability to govern itself,” Henrico County Attorney Andrew Newby said.