{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/10.1-617.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/10.1-617.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/10.1-617.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/10.1-617.html"}],"law_id":61004,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61004,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-617","catch_line":"Determination of whether operation of proposed district is feasible; referendum","history":"1956, c. 668, \u00a7 21-112.4; 1964, c. 512; 1970, c. 480; 1988, c. 891; 1995, c. 654.","full_text":"If the district directors determine that a need for the proposed watershed improvement district exists and after they define the boundaries of the proposed district, they shall consider the administrative feasibility of operating the proposed watershed improvement district. To assist the district directors in determining such question, a referendum shall be held upon the proposition of the creation of the proposed watershed improvement district. Due notice of the referendum shall be given by the district directors. All owners of land lying within the boundaries of the proposed watershed improvement district shall be eligible to vote in the referendum. The district directors may prescribe necessary regulations governing the conduct of the hearing.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":223026,"text":"If the district directors determine that a need for the proposed watershed improvement district exists and after they define the boundaries of the proposed district, they shall consider the administrative feasibility of operating the proposed watershed improvement district. To assist the district directors in determining such question, a referendum shall be held upon the proposition of the creation of the proposed watershed improvement district. Due notice of the referendum shall be given by the district directors. All owners of land lying within the boundaries of the proposed watershed improvement district shall be eligible to vote in the referendum. The district directors may prescribe necessary regulations governing the conduct of the hearing.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14928,"edition_id":1,"name":"Watershed Improvements Districts","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12894,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:51","permalink":{"id":144567,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14928,"identifier":"3","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3","url":"\/10.1\/I\/6\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12894,"edition_id":1,"name":"Flood Protection and Dam Safety","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12893,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":144271,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12894,"identifier":"6","token":"10.1\/I\/6","url":"\/10.1\/I\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12893,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12740,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":143315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12893,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12740,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":143313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12740,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":65094,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-614","catch_line":"Establishment within soil and water conservation district authorized","url":"\/10.1-614\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-614","metadata":false},{"id":78696,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-615","catch_line":"Petition for establishment; what to set forth","url":"\/10.1-615\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-615","metadata":false},{"id":86266,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-616","catch_line":"Notice and hearing on petition; determination of need for district and defining boundaries","url":"\/10.1-616\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-616","metadata":false},{"id":61004,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-617","catch_line":"Determination of whether operation of proposed district is feasible; referendum","url":"\/10.1-617\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-617","metadata":false},{"id":71841,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-618","catch_line":"Ballots used in such referendum","url":"\/10.1-618\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-618","metadata":false},{"id":83793,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-619","catch_line":"Consideration of results of referendum; simple majority vote required","url":"\/10.1-619\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-619","metadata":false},{"id":87289,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-620","catch_line":"Declaration of organization of district; certification to Board","url":"\/10.1-620\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-620","metadata":false},{"id":58708,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-621","catch_line":"Establishment of watershed improvement district situated in more than one soil and water conservation district","url":"\/10.1-621\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-621","metadata":false},{"id":72406,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-622","catch_line":"Inclusion of additional territory","url":"\/10.1-622\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-622","metadata":false},{"id":85712,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-623","catch_line":"Governing body of district; trustees","url":"\/10.1-623\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-623","metadata":false},{"id":79912,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-624","catch_line":"Officers, agents and employees; surety bonds; annual audit","url":"\/10.1-624\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-624","metadata":false},{"id":63948,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-625","catch_line":"Status and general powers of district; power to levy tax or service charge; approval of landowners required","url":"\/10.1-625\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-625","metadata":false},{"id":61659,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-626","catch_line":"Levy of tax or service charge; when district in two or more counties or cities; landbooks certified to treasurers","url":"\/10.1-626\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-626","metadata":false},{"id":56972,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-627","catch_line":"Collection of tax or service charge; proceeds kept in special account; expenditures from such account","url":"\/10.1-627\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-627","metadata":false},{"id":73686,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-628","catch_line":"Fiscal powers of governing body; may poll landowners on question of incurring indebtedness or issuing bonds","url":"\/10.1-628\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-628","metadata":false},{"id":75513,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-629","catch_line":"Order authorizing governing body to incur indebtedness or issue bonds","url":"\/10.1-629\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-629","metadata":false},{"id":79764,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-630","catch_line":"Type of indebtedness incurred or bonds issued","url":"\/10.1-630\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-630","metadata":false},{"id":60643,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-631","catch_line":"Annual tax for payment of interest or to amortize indebtedness or bonds","url":"\/10.1-631\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-631","metadata":false},{"id":85104,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-632","catch_line":"Powers granted additional to powers of soil and water conservation district; soil and water conservation district to continue to exercise its powers","url":"\/10.1-632\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-632","metadata":false},{"id":78187,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-633","catch_line":"Power to incur debts and accept gifts, etc.; watershed improvement district to have same powers as soil and water conservation district","url":"\/10.1-633\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-633","metadata":false},{"id":77216,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-634","catch_line":"Question to be submitted to qualified voters; approval required","url":"\/10.1-634\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-634","metadata":false},{"id":70110,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-634.1","catch_line":"Conduct of referenda","url":"\/10.1-634.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-634.1","metadata":false},{"id":76303,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-635","catch_line":"Power of eminent domain","url":"\/10.1-635\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-635","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86266,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-616","catch_line":"Notice and hearing on petition; determination of need for district and defining boundaries","url":"\/10.1-616\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-616","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":71841,"structure_id":14928,"section_number":"10.1-618","catch_line":"Ballots used in such referendum","url":"\/10.1-618\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-618","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-617\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1956. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 668 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1956 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1964, chapter 512; in 1970, chapter 480; in 1988, chapter 891; in 1995, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?951+ful+CHAP0654\">654<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":144581,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61004,"identifier":"10.1-617","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-617","url":"\/10.1-617\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-617\/","token":"10.1\/I\/6\/3\/10.1-617","dublin_core":{"Title":"Determination of whether operation of proposed district is feasible; referendum","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-617","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>If the district <span class=\"dictionary\">directors<\/span> determine that a need for the proposed watershed improvement district exists and after they define the boundaries of the proposed district, they shall consider the administrative feasibility of operating the proposed watershed improvement district. To assist the district <span class=\"dictionary\">directors<\/span> in determining such question, a <span class=\"dictionary\">referendum<\/span> shall be held upon the proposition of the creation of the proposed watershed improvement district. Due notice of the <span class=\"dictionary\">referendum<\/span> shall be given by the district <span class=\"dictionary\">directors<\/span>. All owners of land lying within the boundaries of the proposed watershed improvement district shall be eligible to vote in the <span class=\"dictionary\">referendum<\/span>. The district <span class=\"dictionary\">directors<\/span> may prescribe necessary regulations governing the conduct of the <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDETERMINATION OF WHETHER OPERATION OF PROPOSED DISTRICT IS FEASIBLE; REFERENDUM\n(\u00a7 10.1-617)\n\nIf the district directors determine that a need for the proposed watershed\nimprovement district exists and after they define the boundaries of the proposed\ndistrict, they shall consider the administrative feasibility of operating the\nproposed watershed improvement district. To assist the district directors in\ndetermining such question, a referendum shall be held upon the proposition of\nthe creation of the proposed watershed improvement district. Due notice of the\nreferendum shall be given by the district directors. All owners of land lying\nwithin the boundaries of the proposed watershed improvement district shall be\neligible to vote in the referendum. The district directors may prescribe\nnecessary regulations governing the conduct of the hearing.\n\nHISTORY: 1956, c. 668, \u00a7 21-112.4; 1964, c. 512; 1970, c. 480; 1988, c. 891;\n1995, c. 654.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}