Because Chesapeake has no general by-right ADU program, there is no dedicated ADU impact fee schedule. Any approved accessory dwelling (typically through rezoning or conditional use permit) pays standard building, plan review, and utility connection fees set by the Department of Development and Permits and Chesapeake Public Utilities. Virginia is not a development-impact-fee state in the broad sense; Virginia Code section 15.2-2317 et seq. authorizes only limited cash proffers and road impact fees.
Virginia generally restricts municipal impact fees more tightly than many western states. Chesapeake does not levy a dedicated ADU impact fee because it does not have a general ADU use category. For accessory-use construction (sheds, garages, accessory dwellings approved by special permit), applicants pay standard building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permit fees through the Department of Development and Permits at 306 Cedar Road, scaled to construction valuation under the City fee schedule. Chesapeake Public Utilities assesses water and sewer connection (availability) fees if a separate utility connection is installed; sharing the primary dwelling's connection avoids new tap fees. Cash proffers may be conditioned on a rezoning that creates an ADU use, subject to the limits in Virginia Code section 15.2-2298 and 15.2-2303.4. Road impact fees under Virginia Code section 15.2-2317 et seq. apply only where the City has formally adopted them in a designated impact-fee service area.
Failure to pay required permit, plan-review, and utility connection fees blocks issuance of building permits and prevents lawful construction. Unauthorized utility tap-ins discovered later result in disconnection, back-billing, and code enforcement under Chesapeake Public Utilities rules. Proffers attached to a rezoning are enforceable as zoning conditions; their breach can support enforcement under Virginia Code section 15.2-2209 with daily civil penalties.
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