{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1427.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1427.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1427.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1427.html"}],"law_id":65433,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65433,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1427","catch_line":"Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 15-8, 15-10; 1950, p. 113; 1954, c. 529; 1956, cc. 218, 664; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 40; 1958, cc. 190, 279; 1960, c. 606; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-504; 1966, cc. 405, 612; 1968, c. 625; 1970, c. 581; 1972, cc. 41, 837; 1973, c. 380; 1978, c. 235; 1983, c. 11; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 823; 2000, c. 895; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","full_text":"A\n\nUnless otherwise specifically provided for by the Constitution or by other general or special law, an ordinance may be adopted by majority vote of those present and voting at any lawful meeting.B\n\nOn final vote on any ordinance or resolution, the name of each member of the governing body voting and how he voted shall be recorded; however, votes on all ordinances and resolutions adopted prior to February 27, 1998, in which an unanimous vote of the governing body was recorded, shall be deemed to have been validly recorded. The governing body may adopt an ordinance or resolution by a recorded voice vote unless otherwise provided by law, or any member calls for a roll call vote. An ordinance shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing body.C\n\nAll ordinances or resolutions heretofore adopted by a governing body shall be deemed to have been validly adopted, unless some provision of the Constitution of Virginia or the Constitution of the United States has been violated in such adoption.D\n\nAn ordinance may be amended or repealed in the same manner, or by the same procedure, in which, or by which, ordinances are adopted.E\n\nAn amendment or repeal of an ordinance shall be in the form of an ordinance which shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing body, but, if no effective date is specified, then such ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.F\n\nIn counties, except as otherwise authorized by law, no ordinance shall be passed until after notice of an intention to propose the ordinance for passage has been advertised by reference twice, with the first notice being published no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the date of the meeting referenced in the notice, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county. The publication shall include a statement that a copy of the full text of the ordinance is on file in the clerk’s office of the circuit court of the county or in the office of the county administrator; or in the case of any county organized under the form of government set out in Chapter 5, 7 or 8 of this title, a statement that a copy of the full text of the ordinance is on file in the office of the clerk of the county board.\n\t\t\tIn counties, emergency ordinances may be adopted without prior notice; however, no such ordinance shall be enforced for more than sixty days unless readopted in conformity with the provisions of this Code.G\n\nIn towns, no tax shall be imposed except by a two-thirds vote of the council members.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":237904,"text":"Unless otherwise specifically provided for by the Constitution or by other general or special law, an ordinance may be adopted by majority vote of those present and voting at any lawful meeting.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":237905,"text":"On final vote on any ordinance or resolution, the name of each member of the governing body voting and how he voted shall be recorded; however, votes on all ordinances and resolutions adopted prior to February 27, 1998, in which an unanimous vote of the governing body was recorded, shall be deemed to have been validly recorded. The governing body may adopt an ordinance or resolution by a recorded voice vote unless otherwise provided by law, or any member calls for a roll call vote. An ordinance shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing body.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":237906,"text":"All ordinances or resolutions heretofore adopted by a governing body shall be deemed to have been validly adopted, unless some provision of the Constitution of Virginia or the Constitution of the United States has been violated in such adoption.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":237907,"text":"An ordinance may be amended or repealed in the same manner, or by the same procedure, in which, or by which, ordinances are adopted.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":237908,"text":"An amendment or repeal of an ordinance shall be in the form of an ordinance which shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing body, but, if no effective date is specified, then such ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":237909,"text":"In counties, except as otherwise authorized by law, no ordinance shall be passed until after notice of an intention to propose the ordinance for passage has been advertised by reference twice, with the first notice being published no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the date of the meeting referenced in the notice, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county. The publication shall include a statement that a copy of the full text of the ordinance is on file in the clerk’s office of the circuit court of the county or in the office of the county administrator; or in the case of any county organized under the form of government set out in Chapter 5, 7 or 8 of this title, a statement that a copy of the full text of the ordinance is on file in the office of the clerk of the county board.\n\t\t\tIn counties, emergency ordinances may be adopted without prior notice; however, no such ordinance shall be enforced for more than sixty days unless readopted in conformity with the provisions of this Code.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":237910,"text":"In towns, no tax shall be imposed except by a two-thirds vote of the council members.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13594,"edition_id":1,"name":"Ordinances and Other Actions by the Local Governing Body","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13366,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:20","permalink":{"id":152965,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13594,"identifier":"4","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4","url":"\/15.2\/II\/14\/4\/","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":70056,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1425","catch_line":"Actions by localities","url":"\/15.2-1425\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1425","metadata":false},{"id":73329,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1426","catch_line":"Form of ordinances","url":"\/15.2-1426\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1426","metadata":false},{"id":65433,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1427","catch_line":"Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances","url":"\/15.2-1427\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1427","metadata":false},{"id":85146,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1428","catch_line":"Procedures for certain acts","url":"\/15.2-1428\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1428","metadata":false},{"id":80359,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1429","catch_line":"Penalties for violation of ordinances","url":"\/15.2-1429\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1429","metadata":false},{"id":79231,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1430","catch_line":"Bonds of persons convicted","url":"\/15.2-1430\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1430","metadata":false},{"id":54562,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1431","catch_line":"Appeals; nonpayment of fine","url":"\/15.2-1431\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1431","metadata":false},{"id":56792,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1432","catch_line":"Injunctive relief against continuing violation of ordinance","url":"\/15.2-1432\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1432","metadata":false},{"id":71255,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1433","catch_line":"Codification and recodification of ordinances","url":"\/15.2-1433\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1433","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73329,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1426","catch_line":"Form of ordinances","url":"\/15.2-1426\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1426","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85146,"structure_id":13594,"section_number":"15.2-1428","catch_line":"Procedures for certain acts","url":"\/15.2-1428\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1428","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1427\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 17 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 1954, chapter 529; in 1956, chapters 218 and 664; in 1958, chapters 190 and 279; in 1960, chapter 606; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1966, chapters 405 and 612; in 1968, chapter 625; in 1970, chapter 581; in 1972, chapters 41 and 837; in 1973, chapter 380; in 1978, chapter 235; in 1983, chapter 11; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 823<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 895<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 506<\/a> and 507<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 225<\/a> and 242<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71811,"section_number":"15.2-107","catch_line":"Advertisement and enactment of certain fees and levies","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-107\/"},{"id":67531,"section_number":"15.2-1201","catch_line":"County boards of supervisors vested with powers and authority of councils of cities and towns; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1201\/"},{"id":82354,"section_number":"15.2-1414.3","catch_line":"Alternative procedure for establishing salaries of boards of supervisors; limits; fringe benefits","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1414.3\/"},{"id":55833,"section_number":"15.2-1414.6","catch_line":"Permitted salaries; salary increases; reimbursement for expenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1414.6\/"},{"id":66471,"section_number":"15.2-201","catch_line":"Charter elections; subsequent procedure; procedure when bill not introduced or fails to pass in General Assembly","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-201\/"},{"id":59541,"section_number":"15.2-202","catch_line":"Public hearing in lieu of election; procedure when bill not introduced or fails to pass in General Assembly","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-202\/"},{"id":68887,"section_number":"15.2-2101","catch_line":"Ordinance proposing grant of franchise, etc., to be advertised","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2101\/"},{"id":78140,"section_number":"15.2-2108.21","catch_line":"Ordinance cable franchises","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2108.21\/"},{"id":60869,"section_number":"15.2-2114","catch_line":"Regulation of stormwater","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2114\/"},{"id":72559,"section_number":"15.2-2303.2","catch_line":"Proffered cash payments and expenditures","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2303.2\/"},{"id":66597,"section_number":"15.2-2305","catch_line":"Affordable dwelling unit ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2305\/"},{"id":70161,"section_number":"15.2-2305.1","catch_line":"Affordable housing dwelling unit ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2305.1\/"},{"id":84463,"section_number":"15.2-2506","catch_line":"Publication and notice; public hearing; adjournment; moneys not to be paid out until appropriated","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2506\/"},{"id":74131,"section_number":"15.2-2507","catch_line":"Amendment of budget","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2507\/"},{"id":72962,"section_number":"15.2-5136","catch_line":"Rates and charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5136\/"},{"id":54548,"section_number":"15.2-5704","catch_line":"Powers of authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-5704\/"},{"id":72204,"section_number":"15.2-858","catch_line":"Creation, enlargement, contraction, etc., of sanitary districts","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-858\/"},{"id":72183,"section_number":"15.2-903","catch_line":"Ordinances taxing and regulating \"automobile graveyards,\" \"junkyards,\" and certain vacant and abandoned property","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-903\/"},{"id":55541,"section_number":"21-118.4","catch_line":"Certain additional powers of governing body","order_by":null,"url":"\/21-118.4\/"},{"id":59693,"section_number":"55.1-2814","catch_line":"How governing body of county may make local fence law","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2814\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":152975,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65433,"identifier":"15.2-1427","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1427","url":"\/15.2-1427\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1427\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/4\/15.2-1427","dublin_core":{"Title":"Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1427","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Unless otherwise specifically provided for by the Constitution or by other general or special law<\/span>, an ordinance<\/span> may be adopted by majority vote of those present and voting at any lawful meeting. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> On final vote on any ordinance<\/span> or resolution, the name of each member of the governing body<\/span> voting and how he voted shall be recorded; however, votes on all ordinances<\/span> and resolutions adopted prior to February 27, 1998, in which an unanimous vote of the governing body<\/span> was recorded, shall be deemed to have been validly recorded. The governing body<\/span> may adopt an ordinance<\/span> or resolution by a recorded voice vote unless otherwise provided by law<\/span>, or any member calls for a roll call vote. An ordinance<\/span> shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing body<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> All ordinances<\/span> or resolutions heretofore adopted by a governing body<\/span> shall be deemed to have been validly adopted, unless some provision of the Constitution of Virginia or the Constitution of the United States has been violated in such adoption. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> An ordinance<\/span> may be amended or repealed in the same manner, or by the same procedure, in which, or by which, ordinances<\/span> are adopted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> An amendment or repeal of an ordinance<\/span> shall be in the form of an ordinance<\/span> which shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing body<\/span>, but, if no effective date is specified, then such ordinance<\/span> shall become effective upon adoption. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> In counties, except as otherwise authorized by law<\/span>, no ordinance<\/span> shall be passed until after notice of an intention to propose the ordinance<\/span> for passage has been advertised by reference twice, with the first notice being published no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the date of the meeting referenced in the notice, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county<\/span>. The publication shall include a statement that a copy of the full text of the ordinance<\/span> is on file in the clerk’s office of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county<\/span> or in the office of the county<\/span> administrator; or in the case of any county<\/span> organized under the form of government set out in Chapter 5, 7 or 8 of this title, a statement that a copy of the full text of the ordinance<\/span> is on file in the office of the clerk of the county<\/span> board.\n\t\t\tIn counties, emergency ordinances<\/span> may be adopted without prior notice; however, no such ordinance<\/span> shall be enforced for more than sixty days unless readopted in conformity with the provisions of this Code. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> In towns<\/span>, no tax shall be imposed except by a two-thirds vote of the council<\/span> members. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nADOPTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS GENERALLY; AMENDING OR REPEALING\nORDINANCES (\u00a7 15.2-1427)\n\nA. Unless otherwise specifically provided for by the Constitution or by other\ngeneral or special law, an ordinance may be adopted by majority vote of those\npresent and voting at any lawful meeting.\n\nB. On final vote on any ordinance or resolution, the name of each member of the\ngoverning body voting and how he voted shall be recorded; however, votes on all\nordinances and resolutions adopted prior to February 27, 1998, in which an\nunanimous vote of the governing body was recorded, shall be deemed to have been\nvalidly recorded. The governing body may adopt an ordinance or resolution by a\nrecorded voice vote unless otherwise provided by law, or any member calls for a\nroll call vote. An ordinance shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date\nfixed by the governing body.\n\nC. All ordinances or resolutions heretofore adopted by a governing body shall be\ndeemed to have been validly adopted, unless some provision of the Constitution\nof Virginia or the Constitution of the United States has been violated in such\nadoption.\n\nD. An ordinance may be amended or repealed in the same manner, or by the same\nprocedure, in which, or by which, ordinances are adopted.\n\nE. An amendment or repeal of an ordinance shall be in the form of an ordinance\nwhich shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the governing\nbody, but, if no effective date is specified, then such ordinance shall become\neffective upon adoption.\n\nF. In counties, except as otherwise authorized by law, no ordinance shall be\npassed until after notice of an intention to propose the ordinance for passage\nhas been advertised by reference twice, with the first notice being published no\nmore than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days\nbefore the date of the meeting referenced in the notice, in a newspaper having a\ngeneral circulation in the county. The publication shall include a statement\nthat a copy of the full text of the ordinance is on file in the clerk’s\noffice of the circuit court of the county or in the office of the county\nadministrator; or in the case of any county organized under the form of\ngovernment set out in Chapter 5, 7 or 8 of this title, a statement that a copy\nof the full text of the ordinance is on file in the office of the clerk of the\ncounty board.\n\t\t\tIn counties, emergency ordinances may be adopted without prior notice;\nhowever, no such ordinance shall be enforced for more than sixty days unless\nreadopted in conformity with the provisions of this Code.\n\nG. In towns, no tax shall be imposed except by a two-thirds vote of the council\nmembers.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 15-8, 15-10; 1950, p. 113; 1954, c. 529; 1956, cc. 218,\n664; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 40; 1958, cc. 190, 279; 1960, c. 606; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7\n15.1-504; 1966, cc. 405, 612; 1968, c. 625; 1970, c. 581; 1972, cc. 41, 837;\n1973, c. 380; 1978, c. 235; 1983, c. 11; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 823; 2000, c.\n895; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","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}}