Virginia just made it a whole lot easier to build a backyard cottage, an in-law suite, or a rental unit on your own property, and if you own a home in Hampton Roads, this law is worth knowing about. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 531 into law in April 2026, and it's one of the most significant shifts in residential zoning Virginia has seen in years. The law grants homeowners the right to build Accessory Dwelling Units, better known as ADUs, on their property b