Home / Jurisdictions / Virginia AI laws in Virginia
AI Laws USA tracks 69 entries for Virginia: 26 statewide and 43 from counties and cities. Federal rules apply on top of these; see the federal page . Each entry links to its official source.
55 In effect 2 Enacted, not yet in effect 6 Proposed 4 No longer in effect 2 Blocked in court
Jump to Statewide · Counties and cities · No longer in effect · City pages · Cities: Alexandria , Arlington , Ashburn , Bristol , Chesapeake , Fairfax , Fredericksburg , Hampton , Harrisonburg , Henrico , Manassas , Newport News , Norfolk , Reston , Richmond , Roanoke , Sterling , Suffolk , Virginia Beach , Warrenton
Statewide
Statewide AI rules and bills in Virginia
Rule Status Takes or took effect
Virginia EO 22 (2026) — data center accountability + AI task force In effect September 18, 2026 Virginia SCC data center transmission cost order (2026) In effect July 15, 2026 Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) In effect July 1, 2026 Virginia § 15.2-2209.5 data center siting disclosure law (2026) In effect July 1, 2026 Virginia IVO AI Safety Study (SB 384/HB 797, 2026) In effect July 1, 2026 Virginia HB 496 data center water-use reporting (2026) In effect July 1, 2026 VA Data Center Cost-Allocation Law In effect July 1, 2026 Virginia SB 394 (AI-in-schools guidance, board policies, pilot) In effect July 1, 2026 Virginia VITA EA400 AI Utilization Policy (Executive Branch AI deployment standard, 2026) In effect June 1, 2026 New GS-5 Data Center / Large Load Rate Class, DEV 2025 Bienn In effect November 25, 2025 Executive Order 51 (2025): First-In-The-Nation Agentic Artif In effect July 11, 2025 Va. Code 19.2-11.14 (humans, not AI, must decide bail/sentencing/parole) In effect July 1, 2025 VA SCC Data Center Rate Case In effect November 13, 2024 VA DOI AI Bulletin In effect July 22, 2024 Virginia SB 731 (AI/computer-generated CSAM covered) In effect July 1, 2024 Virginia VCDPA (opt out of profiling, $7,500/violation) In effect January 1, 2023 Va. Code 32.1-127 (rules for patient voice assistants in care facilities) In effect July 1, 2021 Virginia HB 2678 (deepfake nude/explicit images become a crime) In effect July 1, 2019 VA PDD Act (2017 — first) In effect July 1, 2017 VA warrantless drone ban In effect April 3, 2013 VA Data Center Tax Exemption In effect July 1, 2010 Virginia FY2026-2028 Biennial Budget: Data Center Electricit Enacted, not yet in effect Not yet set
Counties and cities
County and city AI rules and bills in Virginia
Rule Where Status Takes or took effect
Henry County VA data center district ordinance (2026) Henry County In effect August 25, 2026 Botetourt VA Google data center 2 MGD water cap (2026) Botetourt County In effect August 19, 2026 Virginia Beach 12-month data center moratorium (2026) Virginia Beach In effect August 18, 2026 Chesapeake VA data center zoning ordinance (2026) Chesapeake In effect August 18, 2026 Amherst County VA data center zoning rules (2026) Amherst County In effect August 18, 2026 FCPS formal generative AI restrictions — elementary ban, secondary authorization required Fairfax County Public Schools In effect August 1, 2026 Loudoun VA zoning administrator: data centers not by-right under 1972 ordinance Loudoun County In effect July 30, 2026 Fredericksburg VA Axon AI package w/ Draft One carve-out (Jul. 14, 2026) Fredericksburg In effect July 14, 2026 Roanoke City VA Data Center Special Exception Zoning Ordinance Roanoke In effect July 7, 2026 Shenandoah County VA First Data Center Zoning Ordinance Shenandoah County In effect June 23, 2026 Bristol VA PD facial recognition program (first VA local agency) Bristol In effect June 1, 2026 Henrico County VA Schools AI Policy 5-6.6 Henrico In effect May 12, 2026 Warren County VA Warren County In effect April 15, 2026 Shenandoah County VA Shenandoah County In effect March 24, 2026 Spotsylvania County Data Center Design Standards Ordinance Spotsylvania County In effect December 9, 2025 Spotsylvania County VA Data Center Design Standards Spotsylvania County In effect December 9, 2025 Stafford County VA Data Center Ordinance O25-29(R) Stafford County In effect December 2, 2025 Stafford County Data Center Zoning Ordinance + Comp Plan Amendment Stafford County In effect October 21, 2025 Prince William County VA Public Schools Manassas In effect September 17, 2025 James City County VA Data Center Ordinance & Policy James City County In effect September 9, 2025 Culpeper County CUP Requirement for Data Centers on Industrial Land (outside Tec Culpeper County In effect September 2, 2025 Fairfax County VA Public Schools Fairfax In effect September 1, 2025 Town of Warrenton VA Zoning Ordinance Amendment Warrenton In effect July 8, 2025 Loudoun County VA Public Schools Ashburn In effect June 24, 2025 Henrico County VA Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment Henrico County In effect June 10, 2025 Spotsylvania County End of By-Right Data-Center Zoning Spotsylvania County In effect March 25, 2025 Loudoun County Sheriff's Office ALPR General Order 401.8 Loudoun County In effect March 24, 2025 Loudoun County VA Data Center Standards & Locations Phase 1 Loudoun County In effect March 18, 2025 Arlington VA Public Schools Arlington In effect October 24, 2024 Fairfax County Data Center Zoning Ordinance Amendment Fairfax County In effect September 10, 2024 Arlington County VA ACPD Automated License Plate Reader Arlington County In effect April 1, 2024 Fauquier Vint Hill PCID Large-Building Special Exception Amendment Fauquier County In effect March 14, 2024 Fauquier County Data Center Development Policy Guidance (BP/PCID only) Fauquier County In effect December 14, 2023 Culpeper County Repeal of Brandy Station Technology Zone Culpeper County In effect January 3, 2023 PWC DCOZOD Reform (DPA2026-00006) Prince William County Enacted, not yet in effect October 22, 2026 Loudoun County VA Data Center Standards & Locations Phase 2 Project Plan Loudoun County Proposed September 16, 2025 Loudoun County VA considering data center moratorium Loudoun County Proposed Not yet set Harrisonburg VA Flock termination pledge (vote Jul. 28, 2026) Harrisonburg Proposed Not yet set Suffolk VA proposed citywide data center prohibition (2026) Suffolk Proposed Not yet set City of Manassas VA Data Center Zoning Standards Manassas Proposed Not yet set Franklin County Zoning Rewrite (paused) Franklin County Proposed Not yet set Warrenton Amazon Data Center Fight Warrenton Blocked in court Not yet set PW Digital Gateway Litigation Prince William County Blocked in court Not yet set
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