Housing Albemarle
Adopted by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on July 7, 2021, Housing Albemarle provides the tools necessary to meet the diverse housing needs of all County residents regardless of income, age, or other special needs.

Anti-Displacement and Tenant Relocation Policy
On September 18, 2019 the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution committing the County to making all reasonable efforts to ensure that residential redevelopment and rehabilitation activities that receive County funding support or that require Board approval will minimize resident displacement or relocation to cases where no other alternative is available. To implement this policy, County staff will work with developers and property owners to avoid resident displacement, whenever possible; and when relocation is necessary, to enable displaced residents to move directly to safe, healthy, and affordable replacement housing convenient to their place of employment and/or school.

Implementation guidelines for this policy are currently under development.

Financial Incentives

Affordable Rental Housing Incentive Program (ARHIP)
This program provides financial support for rental housing projects that meet one or more of Albemarle County's affordable housing goals. Eligible projects can receive a rebate equal to 15% of the subject property's total annual real property tax bill for a 30-year period. 

• ARHIP program guidelines
• ARHIP application form
• ARHIP Review Process 

Communities of Opportunity Tax Credit Program (COTCP)
The Communities of Opportunity Tax Credit Program (COTCP) is a Virginia income tax credit program to decentralize poverty by enhancing low-income Virginians’ access to affordable housing units in higher income areas. The COTCP provides Virginia income tax credits to landlords with property in eligible census tracts who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program. Click on the link below for a summary of the COTCP, or visit the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development's program webpage.

• Communities of Opportunity Tax Credit Program summary

Regulatory Incentives

Density Bonus for Affordable Housing
Section 2.4.5 of the Zoning Ordinance grants up to a 30% increase in project density in exchange for affordable housing. The density bonus applies to projects that offer both affordable rental units and affordable units for-sale.

• Affordable Housing Bonus Factor Ordinance

Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF)

The AHIF supports the production, preservation, and rehabilitation of of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households, as well as programs that increase that housing choices for current and future Albemarle County residents. For more information about the AHIF, contact Stacy Pethia, Assistant Director of Housing.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

The Office of Housing partners with nonprofit for private residential developers to apply for federal CDBG funding for residential construction projects that provide at least 51% of the total residential units as affordable housing. CDBG funds are used to support the infrastructure component of new construction projects. CDBG funds are also used to help support the rehabilitation of affordable owner- and renter-occupied housing units. For more information about the CDBG program, or to discuss a potential project, contact Morgan Hultman, Housing Project Coordinator.

Income Limits for all Affordable Units (effective 4/1/2024)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Rent Limits

Bonus Density Units*

* These figures represent the maximum net rent for affordable rental units. To determine the maximum gross for each unit, a utility allowance must be subtracted from the rents shown above. Please refer to Virginia Housing's Utility Allowance Schedules to determine the utility allowance amount.

Applications for Rezoning or Special Use Permit Approved or Submitted Before 3/1/2024*

*These figures represent the maximum allowable gross rent per unit size. The utility allowance is already factored into the rent limits.

Applications for Rezoning or Special Use Permit Approved or Submitted After 3/1/2024*

*These figures represent the maximum allowable gross rent per unit size. The utility allowance is already factored into the rent limits.

 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sales Price Limits

Maximum Sales Price for Applications for Rezoning or Special Use Permit Approved or Submitted Before March 1, 2024:

$308,750*
*Equal to 65% of the maximum sales price for Virginia Housing’s first-time homebuyers’ program.

Maximum Sales Price for Applications for Rezoning or Special Use Permit Approved or SubmittedAfter March 1, 2024:

$234,650*
*Equal to 65% of the federal HOME Program's 1-Unit Purchase Price Limit for Existing Housing for