{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-102.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-102.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-102.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-102.html"}],"law_id":76134,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76134,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-102","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-1; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-6; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"As used in this title unless such construction would be inconsistent with the context or manifest intent of the statute:\n\t\t“Board of supervisors” means the governing body of a county.\n\t\t“City” means any independent incorporated community which became a city as provided by law before noon on the first day of July, nineteen hundred seventy-one, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city as provided by law.\n\t\t“Constitutional officer” means an officer provided for pursuant to Article VII, \u00a7 4 of the Constitution.\n\t\t“Council” means the governing body of a city or town.\n\t\t“Councilman” or “member of the council” means a member of the governing body of a city or town.\n\t\t“County” means any existing county or such unit hereafter created.\n\t\t“Governing body” means the board of supervisors of a county, council of a city, or council of a town, as the context may require.\n\t\t“Locality” or “local government” shall be construed to mean a county, city, or town as the context may require.\n\t\t“Municipality,” “incorporated communities,” “municipal corporation,” and words or terms of similar import shall be construed to relate only to cities and towns.\n\t\t“Supervisor” means a member of the board of supervisors of a county.\n\t\t“Town” means any existing town or an incorporated community within one or more counties which became a town before noon, July one, nineteen hundred seventy-one, as provided by law or which has within defined boundaries a population of 1,000 or more and which has become a town as provided by law.\n\t\t“Voter” means a qualified voter as defined in \u00a7 24.2-101.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":273269,"text":"As used in this title unless such construction would be inconsistent with the context or manifest intent of the statute:\n\t\t“Board of supervisors” means the governing body of a county.\n\t\t“City” means any independent incorporated community which became a city as provided by law before noon on the first day of July, nineteen hundred seventy-one, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city as provided by law.\n\t\t“Constitutional officer” means an officer provided for pursuant to Article VII, \u00a7 4 of the Constitution.\n\t\t“Council” means the governing body of a city or town.\n\t\t“Councilman” or “member of the council” means a member of the governing body of a city or town.\n\t\t“County” means any existing county or such unit hereafter created.\n\t\t“Governing body” means the board of supervisors of a county, council of a city, or council of a town, as the context may require.\n\t\t“Locality” or “local government” shall be construed to mean a county, city, or town as the context may require.\n\t\t“Municipality,” “incorporated communities,” “municipal corporation,” and words or terms of similar import shall be construed to relate only to cities and towns.\n\t\t“Supervisor” means a member of the board of supervisors of a county.\n\t\t“Town” means any existing town or an incorporated community within one or more counties which became a town before noon, July one, nineteen hundred seventy-one, as provided by law or which has within defined boundaries a population of 1,000 or more and which has become a town as provided by law.\n\t\t“Voter” means a qualified voter as defined in \u00a7 24.2-101.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13710,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13138,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:37","permalink":{"id":151283,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13710,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/I\/1","url":"\/15.2\/I\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13138,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions; Charters; Other Forms and Organization of Counties","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","permalink":{"id":151281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13138,"identifier":"I","token":"15.2\/I","url":"\/15.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83239,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-100","catch_line":"Charter powers not affected by title","url":"\/15.2-100\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-100","metadata":false},{"id":80591,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-101","catch_line":"Certain laws and ordinances not affected by repeal of Title 15.1; validation of laws and ordinances adopted under \u00a7 15.1-522","url":"\/15.2-101\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-101","metadata":false},{"id":76134,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-102","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-102\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-102","metadata":false},{"id":60545,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-103","catch_line":"Name \"Mount Vernon\" reserved","url":"\/15.2-103\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-103","metadata":false},{"id":64995,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-104","catch_line":"Liens against real estate","url":"\/15.2-104\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-104","metadata":false},{"id":67878,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-105","catch_line":"Penalty and interest for failure to pay accounts when due","url":"\/15.2-105\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-105","metadata":false},{"id":83033,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-106","catch_line":"Ordinances providing fee for passing bad checks to localities","url":"\/15.2-106\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-106","metadata":false},{"id":71811,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-107","catch_line":"Advertisement and enactment of certain fees and levies","url":"\/15.2-107\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-107","metadata":false},{"id":62494,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-107.1","catch_line":"Advertisement of legal notices on web sites","url":"\/15.2-107.1\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-107.1","metadata":false},{"id":76795,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-107.2","catch_line":"Alternative method for local government to give notice by mail","url":"\/15.2-107.2\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-107.2","metadata":false},{"id":54693,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-108","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-108\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-108","metadata":false},{"id":79214,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-108.1","catch_line":"Local fees charged to places of worship","url":"\/15.2-108.1\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-108.1","metadata":false},{"id":57072,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-109","catch_line":"Regulations on political campaign signs","url":"\/15.2-109\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-109","metadata":false},{"id":79728,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-110","catch_line":"Authority to require approval by common interest community association","url":"\/15.2-110\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-110","metadata":false},{"id":59770,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-111","catch_line":"Rescheduling or continuing meetings for weather","url":"\/15.2-111\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-111","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80591,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-101","catch_line":"Certain laws and ordinances not affected by repeal of Title 15.1; validation of laws and ordinances adopted under \u00a7 15.1-522","url":"\/15.2-101\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-101","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60545,"structure_id":13710,"section_number":"15.2-103","catch_line":"Name \"Mount Vernon\" reserved","url":"\/15.2-103\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-103","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-102\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1962, chapter 623; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":70341,"section_number":"35.1-22","catch_line":"Periodic inspections","order_by":null,"url":"\/35.1-22\/"},{"id":56393,"section_number":"36-3","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/36-3\/"},{"id":75664,"section_number":"56-468.1","catch_line":"(Contingent expiration -- see Editor's note) Public Rights-of-Way Use Fee","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-468.1\/"},{"id":57707,"section_number":"56-614","catch_line":" Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-614\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61543,"section_number":"24.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":151293,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76134,"identifier":"15.2-102","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-102","url":"\/15.2-102\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-102\/","token":"15.2\/I\/1\/15.2-102","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-102","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this title unless such construction would be inconsistent with the context or manifest intent<\/span> of the statute<\/span>:\n\t\t“Board of supervisors<\/span>” means the governing body<\/span> of a county<\/span>.\n\t\t“City<\/span>” means any independent incorporated community which became a city<\/span> as provided by law<\/span> before noon on the first day of July, nineteen hundred seventy-one, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city<\/span> as provided by law<\/span>.\n\t\t“Constitutional officer<\/span>” means an officer provided for pursuant to Article VII, \u00a7 4 of the Constitution.\n\t\t“Council” means the governing body<\/span> of a city<\/span> or town<\/span>.\n\t\t“Councilman<\/span>” or “member of the council<\/span>” means a member of the governing body<\/span> of a city<\/span> or town<\/span>.\n\t\t“County<\/span>” means any existing county<\/span> or such unit hereafter created.\n\t\t“Governing body<\/span>” means the board of supervisors<\/span> of a county<\/span>, council of a city<\/span>, or council of a town<\/span>, as the context may require.\n\t\t“Locality<\/span>” or “local government<\/span>” shall be construed to mean a county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span> as the context may require.\n\t\t“Municipality,” “incorporated communities,” “municipal corporation,” and words or terms of similar import shall be construed to relate only to cities and towns<\/span>.\n\t\t“Supervisor<\/span>” means a member of the board of supervisors<\/span> of a county<\/span>.\n\t\t“Town<\/span>” means any existing town<\/span> or an incorporated community within one or more counties which became a town<\/span> before noon, July one, nineteen hundred seventy-one, as provided by law<\/span> or which has within defined boundaries a population of 1,000 or more and which has become a town<\/span> as provided by law<\/span>.\n\t\t“Voter<\/span>” means a qualified voter<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 24.2-101<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 15.2-102)\n\nAs used in this title unless such construction would be inconsistent with the\ncontext or manifest intent of the statute:\n\t\t“Board of supervisors” means the governing body of a county.\n\t\t“City” means any independent incorporated community which became a\ncity as provided by law before noon on the first day of July, nineteen hundred\nseventy-one, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or\nmore and which has become a city as provided by law.\n\t\t“Constitutional officer” means an officer provided for pursuant to\nArticle VII, \u00a7 4 of the Constitution.\n\t\t“Council” means the governing body of a city or town.\n\t\t“Councilman” or “member of the council” means a member\nof the governing body of a city or town.\n\t\t“County” means any existing county or such unit hereafter created.\n\t\t“Governing body” means the board of supervisors of a county,\ncouncil of a city, or council of a town, as the context may require.\n\t\t“Locality” or “local government” shall be construed to\nmean a county, city, or town as the context may require.\n\t\t“Municipality,” “incorporated communities,”\n“municipal corporation,” and words or terms of similar import shall\nbe construed to relate only to cities and towns.\n\t\t“Supervisor” means a member of the board of supervisors of a\ncounty.\n\t\t“Town” means any existing town or an incorporated community within\none or more counties which became a town before noon, July one, nineteen hundred\nseventy-one, as provided by law or which has within defined boundaries a\npopulation of 1,000 or more and which has become a town as provided by law.\n\t\t“Voter” means a qualified voter as defined in \u00a7 24.2-101.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-1; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-6; 1997, c. 587.","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}}