Charlottesville has paused acceptance of new land use applications

Two days after Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Worrell voided the city’s new Development Code, there is nothing on the city’s website to indicate that outcome.

Judge Worrell entered an order of default judgement against the City of Charlottesville after an outside counsel failed to file a document in a timely manner.

As of 10:46 a.m., that includes the Neighborhood Development Services website, the zoning page, or the portal where members of the public can review applications.

However, the city sent emails to applicants on July 1 with additional information according to email obtained by Information Charlottesville.

“Pursuant to the order issued by the Honorable Judge Worrell of the Charlottesville Circuit Court on June 30, 2025, the City of Charlottesville is currently reviewing all zoning and development applications on file to assess appropriate next steps,” reads the email.

“Effective immediately, the City will not be accepting or processing any new permit applications related to zoning or development until further notice,” the email continues.

A request for additional comment from the city has been received but not yet responded to at publication time of either the July 1 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement or the July 2 publication of this article.

The email also notes that the City Attorney’s office is reviewing the ruling and that additional guidance will be provided in the future. John Maddux is in his second month in the position after the position was largely vacant for a year with legal oversight provided by the firm Sands Anderson.

In FY2025, that company had received $498,322.42 in payments through May 18, 2025 according to an email I received that day from Afton Schneider, the city’s director of communications and public engagement.

Before you go: This story was first published in the July 1, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement and then posted here a day later. To support the work, please take a look at this portion of this website.