Williamsburg is preparing to allow manufactured homes for the first time, as required by a new state law permitting them wherever site-built housing is allowed. That same law, however, allows localities to exempt historic districts, and proposed steps by the city would exempt four historic districts. The restrictions are scheduled for an Architectural Review Board public hearing on Aug. 25, a Planning Commission review on Sept. 16, and a City Council vote on Oct. 8.
One of appealing reasons to State legislators for expanding where manufactured housing could be placed is the relative affordability for home buyers. According to the Department of Energy, modern manufactured homes offer affordable, energy-efficient housing with ENERGY STAR options and various financing paths, including FHA, VA, USDA loans, and resident-owned community programs.
James City County is pursuing similar changes. In June, the Board of Supervisors initiated amendments to the county’s Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances to comply with several land-use bills passed during the General Assembly’s 2026 session, including the manufactured-housing legislation. Other local jurisdictions that have initiated the new zoning changes include Newport News, with their City Council vote scheduled for Sept. 22.
To comply with the new state law, Williamsburg planners recommend Zoning Ordinance amendments removing manufactured homes from the citywide prohibited-uses list. The ordinance would permit them only on single-family residential lots in districts that already allow site-built dwellings, limited to one per lot, and owners would need to convert the home to real property with a certificate of occupancy within five years of manufacture.
The new zoning requires the same lot size, setback, and density rules as site-built homes would apply, and manufactured home parks would remain prohibited. According to city planning staff, the AP-1, AP-2, AP-3, and CP districts would remain off-limits because manufactured homes are “not in keeping with the historic character” of these districts.
The city’s Design Review Guidelines describe each district:
AP-1 covers Colonial Williamsburg, Merchant’s Square, W&M’s old campus, and Pollard Park/Chandler Court historic districts.
AP-2 covers older neighborhoods surrounding AP-1, including College Terrace, Burns Lane, Indian Springs, West Williamsburg, and Capitol Heights.
AP-3 covers post-WWII neighborhoods with Colonial Revival and more modern styles, including Pinecrest, Capitol Court, Crispus Attucks, and the Arts and Cultural District.
Corridor Protection Districts cover the city’s major entrance corridors, including Richmond Road, Monticello Avenue, Jamestown Road, Route 199, Route 132, Merrimac Trail, Second Street, South Henry Street, Capitol Landing Road, and York Street.
In other news:
Education
Williamsburg-James City County schools plan FY28 budget timeline Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools’ School Board approved the FY28 planning calendar Tuesday, outlining budget milestones from October through March 2027, including joint city/county meetings and superintendent presentations.
WJCC’s Teacher Supply Shop seeks volunteers to deliver orders this school year. The Teacher Supply Shop is looking for volunteers to help deliver orders for the 26-27 school year. The commitment is simple: one time a week, one hour, one school. Interested volunteers can complete the Volunteer Availability Form to get started.
WJCC Schools opens applications for advisory committees and council Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools is still accepting applications for School Board Citizen Advisory Committees and Superintendent’s Advisory Councils. Superintendent’s Council applications are due August 28; Citizen Advisory Committee applications, covering career readiness and special education, are due September 3.
York County high schools earn top national rankings from U.S. News York County School Division announced that all four comprehensive high schools rank among the nation’s top 11 percent in the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings. According to the division, Tabb High School placed in the top 5 percent nationally, Grafton High School in the top 7 percent, and Bruton and York high schools in the top 11 percent among roughly 27,000 schools evaluated. Bruton and York River Academy also showed notable gains this year.
York County students outperform state averages on 2025-26 assessments York County School Division announced that students exceeded statewide pass rates by at least 9 percentage points across all five tested subjects on 2025-26 Standards of Learning assessments. According to the division, pass rates were 87 percent in reading and writing, 86 percent in math, 82 percent in history and 80 percent in science. Superintendent James Carroll said the results reflect the commitment of students, staff and families, and results have remained relatively stable over the past three years.
Community & Services
Williamsburg Regional Library to bring back free Comic Convention for fourth year Williamsburg Regional Library announced its fourth annual free Comic Convention, set for Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Williamsburg Library, Stryker Center and City Square. According to the release, this year’s event highlights visual arts in fandom with a comic book workshop led by cartoonist Laura Lee Gulledge. Melissa Simpson, WRL’s director of adult services, said the convention has drawn 600 to 900 attendees annually. Activities include cosplay and trivia contests, anime viewing and a vendor gallery featuring local artists. The event runs from 12:30 to 4 p.m. and requires no registration.
Free lecture to explore Yorktown’s Revolutionary-era history York County announced a free public lecture, “Revolutionary Stories of Yorktown,” set for Sunday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. in York Hall on Main Street in Yorktown. According to the release, historian Eric Johnson of the Library of Virginia will draw on original documents to explore how York County residents debated religious liberty, endured wartime hardships, and confronted questions of slavery and freedom during the Revolutionary era. The event is sponsored by the York County Historical Committee and open to the public at no cost.
William & Mary’s Office of Civic & Community Engagement connects students to service William & Mary’s Office of Civic & Community Engagement connects students with volunteer opportunities across the community, including Service Saturdays and Branch Out Alternative Breaks. According to the university, the office highlights student and community partner voices on the impact of these programs and explains why service is a core part of the William & Mary experience. The programs aim to help students build leadership skills while contributing to the surrounding community.
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