{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1400.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1400.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1400.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1400.html"}],"law_id":60235,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60235,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1400","catch_line":"Governing bodies","history":"1971, Ex. Sess., c. 199, \u00a7 15.1-37.4; 1982, c. 297; 1983, c. 595; 1995, c. 249; 1997, c. 587; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 103, 225.","full_text":"A\n\nThe qualified voters of every locality shall elect a governing body for such locality. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall be as specified by law, general or special. Qualification for office is provided in Article 4 (§ 15.2-1522 et seq.) of Chapter 15.B\n\nThe governing body of every locality shall be composed of not fewer than three nor more than 11 members.C\n\nChairmen, mayors, supervisors, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions set forth in §§ 15.2-1534 and 15.2-1535.D\n\nA governing body may punish or fine a member of the governing body for disorderly behavior.E\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-222 and 24.2-222.1, any city or town charter, or any other provision of law, general or special, beginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor, members of a local governing body, or members of an elected school board shall be held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence January 1.F\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a locality that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the governing body, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the locality at large.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220307,"text":"The qualified voters of every locality shall elect a governing body for such locality. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall be as specified by law, general or special. Qualification for office is provided in Article 4 (§ 15.2-1522 et seq.) of Chapter 15.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":220308,"text":"The governing body of every locality shall be composed of not fewer than three nor more than 11 members.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":220309,"text":"Chairmen, mayors, supervisors, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions set forth in §§ 15.2-1534 and 15.2-1535.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":220310,"text":"A governing body may punish or fine a member of the governing body for disorderly behavior.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":220311,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-222 and 24.2-222.1, any city or town charter, or any other provision of law, general or special, beginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor, members of a local governing body, or members of an elected school board shall be held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence January 1.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":220312,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a locality that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the governing body, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the locality at large.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15716,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13366,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:58:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:58:16","permalink":{"id":152825,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15716,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/14\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13366,"edition_id":1,"name":"Governing Bodies of Localities","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:43","permalink":{"id":152823,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13366,"identifier":"14","token":"15.2\/II\/14","url":"\/15.2\/II\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","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":60235,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1400","catch_line":"Governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1400\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1400","metadata":false},{"id":68214,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1401","catch_line":"Powers granted localities vested in their governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1401\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1401","metadata":false},{"id":78084,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1402","catch_line":"Declared to be body politic of Commonwealth; seal","url":"\/15.2-1402\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1402","metadata":false},{"id":63331,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1403","catch_line":"Governing body to be continuing body","url":"\/15.2-1403\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1403","metadata":false},{"id":62515,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1404","catch_line":"How localities may sue or be sued; arbitration","url":"\/15.2-1404\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1404","metadata":false},{"id":75274,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1405","catch_line":"Immunity of members of local governmental entities; exception","url":"\/15.2-1405\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1405","metadata":false},{"id":75667,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1406","catch_line":"Compensation of governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1406\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1406","metadata":false},{"id":87382,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1407","catch_line":"Administrative leave for certain members of governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1407\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1407","metadata":false},{"id":72456,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1408","catch_line":"Restrictions on activities of former officers and employees by certain counties and cities","url":"\/15.2-1408\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1408","metadata":false},{"id":86892,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1409","catch_line":"Investigations by governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1409\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1409","metadata":false},{"id":79647,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1410","catch_line":"Chairman and mayor may administer oaths","url":"\/15.2-1410\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1410","metadata":false},{"id":68367,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1411","catch_line":"Appointment of advisory boards, committees and commissions; compensation and reimbursement of expenses","url":"\/15.2-1411\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1411","metadata":false},{"id":63619,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1412","catch_line":"Reproductions of records and documents and legal status thereof; destruction of originals","url":"\/15.2-1412\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1412","metadata":false},{"id":87481,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1413","catch_line":"Governing bodies of localities may provide for continuity of government in case of enemy attack, etc","url":"\/15.2-1413\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1413","metadata":false},{"id":61372,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1414","catch_line":"Governing bodies may have a legal enumeration of the population","url":"\/15.2-1414\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1414","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":68214,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1401","catch_line":"Powers granted localities vested in their governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1401\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1401","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1400\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1982, chapter 297; in 1983, chapter 595; in 1995, chapter 249<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":63592,"section_number":"15.2-1522","catch_line":"When and how officers qualify","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1522\/"},{"id":81346,"section_number":"15.2-1534","catch_line":"Certain officers not to hold more than one office","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1534\/"},{"id":76277,"section_number":"24.2-222","catch_line":"Election and terms of mayor and council for cities and towns","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-222\/"},{"id":70449,"section_number":"24.2-222.1","catch_line":"Alternative election of mayor and council at November general election in cities and towns","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-222.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":152827,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60235,"identifier":"15.2-1400","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1400","url":"\/15.2-1400\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1400\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1400","dublin_core":{"Title":"Governing bodies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1400","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The qualified voters<\/span> of every locality<\/span> shall elect a governing body<\/span> for such locality<\/span>. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall be as specified by law<\/span>, general or special. Qualification for office is provided in Article 4 (§ 15.2-1522<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 15. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of every locality<\/span> shall be composed of not fewer than three nor more than 11 members. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Chairmen, mayors, supervisors<\/span>, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions set forth in §§ 15.2-1534<\/a> and 15.2-1535<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A governing body<\/span> may punish or fine a member of the governing body<\/span> for disorderly behavior. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-222<\/a> and 24.2-222.1<\/a>, any city<\/span> or town<\/span> charter, or any other provision of law<\/span>, general or special, beginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor, members of a local governing body<\/span>, or members of an elected school board shall be held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence January 1. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, general or special, in a locality<\/span> that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the governing body<\/span>, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified voters<\/span> of that district or ward and not by the locality<\/span> at large. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGOVERNING BODIES (\u00a7 15.2-1400)\n\nA. The qualified voters of every locality shall elect a governing body for such\nlocality. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall\nbe as specified by law, general or special. Qualification for office is provided\nin Article 4 (§ 15.2-1522 et seq.) of Chapter 15.\n\nB. The governing body of every locality shall be composed of not fewer than\nthree nor more than 11 members.\n\nC. Chairmen, mayors, supervisors, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions\nset forth in §§ 15.2-1534 and 15.2-1535.\n\nD. A governing body may punish or fine a member of the governing body for\ndisorderly behavior.\n\nE. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-222 and 24.2-222.1, any\ncity or town charter, or any other provision of law, general or special,\nbeginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor,\nmembers of a local governing body, or members of an elected school board shall\nbe held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence\nJanuary 1.\n\nF. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, in a locality\nthat imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of\nthe governing body, the member elected from each district or ward shall be\nelected by the qualified voters of that district or ward and not by the locality\nat large.\n\nHISTORY: 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 199, \u00a7 15.1-37.4; 1982, c. 297; 1983, c. 595;\n1995, c. 249; 1997, c. 587; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 103, 225.","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}}