{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1412.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1412.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1412.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1412.html"}],"law_id":63619,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63619,"structure_id":15716,"section_number":"15.2-1412","catch_line":"Reproductions of records and documents and legal status thereof; destruction of originals","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-5.1; 1952, c. 289; 1958, c. 9; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-8; 1966, c. 303; 1970, c. 225; 1979, c. 155; 1983, c. 419; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 427; 2012, c. 802.","full_text":"Any locality may provide for the photographing or microphotographing, or the recording by any other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for reproducing the original of all or any part of the papers, records, documents or other material kept by or in the charge of any department, agency or institution of such locality in accordance with such standards and retention schedules as may be issued in pursuance of \u00a7 42.1-82.\n\t\tA reproduction thereof if substantially the same size as the original, when satisfactorily identified, is as admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding whether the original is in existence or not, and an enlargement or facsimile of such reproduction is likewise admissible in evidence if the original reproduction is in existence and available for inspection under direction of the court. The introduction of a reproduced record, enlargement or facsimile, does not preclude admission of the original.\n\t\tWhenever photographs or microphotographs have been made and put in conveniently accessible files, and provision has been made for preserving, examining and using the same, the locality may notify the Librarian of Virginia that it intends to destroy the records and papers so photographed or microphotographed, or any part thereof. If within sixty days the Librarian of Virginia has not notified the locality that such records or papers should be retained, the locality may destroy them. A locality may also, in its discretion, consult with the locality’s librarian with reference to the advisability of destroying any such records, papers, documents or other material because of any historical significance or value.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":231774,"text":"Any locality may provide for the photographing or microphotographing, or the recording by any other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for reproducing the original of all or any part of the papers, records, documents or other material kept by or in the charge of any department, agency or institution of such locality in accordance with such standards and retention schedules as may be issued in pursuance of \u00a7 42.1-82.\n\t\tA reproduction thereof if substantially the same size as the original, when satisfactorily identified, is as admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding whether the original is in existence or not, and an enlargement or facsimile of such reproduction is likewise admissible in evidence if the original reproduction is in existence and available for inspection under direction of the court. The introduction of a reproduced record, enlargement or facsimile, does not preclude admission of the original.\n\t\tWhenever photographs or microphotographs have been made and put in conveniently accessible files, and provision has been made for preserving, examining and using the same, the locality may notify the Librarian of Virginia that it intends to destroy the records and papers so photographed or microphotographed, or any part thereof. If within sixty days the Librarian of Virginia has not notified the locality that such records or papers should be retained, the locality may destroy them. A locality may also, in its discretion, consult with the locality’s librarian with reference to the advisability of destroying any such records, papers, documents or other material because of any historical significance or value.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1412\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 10 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 1952, chapter 289; in 1958, chapter 9; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1966, chapter 303; in 1970, chapter 225; in 1979, chapter 155; in 1983, chapter 419; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 427<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 802<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74556,"section_number":"58.1-3112","catch_line":"Commissioner to preserve returns; destruction of returns; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3112\/"},{"id":63625,"section_number":"58.1-3129","catch_line":"Destruction of paid tax tickets; other tax tickets; records","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3129\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73353,"section_number":"42.1-82","catch_line":"Duties and powers of Library Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/42.1-82\/"}],"permalink":{"id":152875,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63619,"identifier":"15.2-1412","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1412","url":"\/15.2-1412\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1412\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1412","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reproductions of records and documents and legal status thereof; destruction of originals","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1412","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any locality<\/span> may provide for the photographing or microphotographing, or the recording by any other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for reproducing the original of all or any part of the papers, records, documents or other material<\/span> kept by or in the charge of any department, agency or institution of such locality<\/span> in accordance with such standards and retention schedules<\/span> as may be issued in pursuance of \u00a7 42.1-82<\/a>.\n\t\tA reproduction thereof if substantially the same size as the original, when satisfactorily identified, is as admissible<\/span> in evidence<\/span> as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding whether the original is in existence or not, and an enlargement or facsimile of such reproduction is likewise admissible<\/span> in evidence<\/span> if the original reproduction is in existence and available for inspection under direction of the court<\/span>. The introduction of a reproduced record, enlargement or facsimile, does not preclude admission of the original.\n\t\tWhenever photographs or microphotographs have been made and put in conveniently accessible files, and provision has been made for preserving, examining and using the same, the locality<\/span> may notify the Librarian of Virginia that it intends to destroy the records and papers so photographed or microphotographed, or any part thereof. If within sixty days the Librarian of Virginia has not notified the locality<\/span> that such records or papers should be retained, the locality<\/span> may destroy them. A locality<\/span> may also, in its discretion, consult with the locality<\/span>’s librarian with reference to the advisability of destroying any such records, papers, documents or other material<\/span> because of any historical significance or value.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREPRODUCTIONS OF RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS AND LEGAL STATUS THEREOF; DESTRUCTION OF\nORIGINALS (\u00a7 15.2-1412)\n\nAny locality may provide for the photographing or microphotographing, or the\nrecording by any other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable\nmedium for reproducing the original of all or any part of the papers, records,\ndocuments or other material kept by or in the charge of any department, agency\nor institution of such locality in accordance with such standards and retention\nschedules as may be issued in pursuance of \u00a7 42.1-82.\n\t\tA reproduction thereof if substantially the same size as the original, when\nsatisfactorily identified, is as admissible in evidence as the original itself\nin any judicial or administrative proceeding whether the original is in\nexistence or not, and an enlargement or facsimile of such reproduction is\nlikewise admissible in evidence if the original reproduction is in existence and\navailable for inspection under direction of the court. The introduction of a\nreproduced record, enlargement or facsimile, does not preclude admission of the\noriginal.\n\t\tWhenever photographs or microphotographs have been made and put in\nconveniently accessible files, and provision has been made for preserving,\nexamining and using the same, the locality may notify the Librarian of Virginia\nthat it intends to destroy the records and papers so photographed or\nmicrophotographed, or any part thereof. If within sixty days the Librarian of\nVirginia has not notified the locality that such records or papers should be\nretained, the locality may destroy them. A locality may also, in its discretion,\nconsult with the locality’s librarian with reference to the advisability\nof destroying any such records, papers, documents or other material because of\nany historical significance or value.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-5.1; 1952, c. 289; 1958, c. 9; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7\n15.1-8; 1966, c. 303; 1970, c. 225; 1979, c. 155; 1983, c. 419; 1997, c. 587;\n1998, c. 427; 2012, c. 802.","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}}