Board of County Supervisors Adopts Affordable Housing Ordinance

In a historic move to address the growing need for affordable housing, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has adopted the county’s first-ever Affordable Dwelling Unit (AfDU) Ordinance. This significant zoning text amendment, approved during the Board’s regular meeting on June 3, 2025, marks a pivotal step in expanding access to housing for low- and moderate-income residents across the county. 

The ordinance, effective December 1, 2025, establishes a voluntary incentive program that offers density bonuses to developers who include affordable housing in their projects. In exchange, participating developments must include units that are affordable to households earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), with added incentives for serving very-low-income households at or below 50 percent AMI. 

“This is a huge step forward for Prince William County,” said Board of County Supervisors Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson. “Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home, including Prince William’s essential workers. This ordinance is not just about buildings - it’s about people, families, and the future of our community. We are creating real, long-term solutions that will help address the growing need for affordable housing.” 

Key components of the ordinance include: 

• A tiered density bonus structure encouraging the inclusion of affordable new housing at 50 percent and 80 percent AMI, ranging from a minimum of 5 percent to 35 percent or more dedicated as affordable within a development.
• Specific quality standards to ensure affordable units are comparable to market-rate homes.
• A streamlined application and review process for developers.
• The establishment of the Prince William County Housing Trust Fund, which will provide gap financing for eligible affordable housing projects. (The Board of County Supervisors budgeted and appropriated $5 million in FY2024 and $5.5 million in FY2025, and included $5 million annually in FY2027-2029 of the Five-Year Plan to the Housing Fund, for a total of $31 million by FY2029.) 

Development of the ordinance was guided by extensive community and stakeholder engagement, including public meetings, Planning Commission work sessions, and feedback from housing advocates and developers. The AfDU Ordinance builds upon Prince William County’s existing affordable housing guidance in its 2040 Comprehensive Plan that has already generated new affordable and workforce housing in the county at 80 percent to 120 percent AMI. 

“This ordinance provides the framework for a more inclusive housing strategy and strengthens our ability to meet long-term housing goals. It also sends a strong message that Prince William County is serious about housing equity,” said County Executive Chris Shorter. “I want to thank the Board of County Supervisors for their vision and guidance, and the staff from Planning, Housing, Development Services, County Attorney’s Office and Executive Management, who have been working diligently to create an ordinance that serves the needs of our community.” 

The ordinance was adopted under the authority of Virginia Code §15.2-2305.1 and aligns with the housing policy goals outlined in the County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the ordinance in March 2025. 

More information about the Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance can be found at www.pwcva.gov/afdu.