{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1500.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1500.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1500.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1500.html"}],"law_id":71801,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71801,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1500","catch_line":"Organization of local government","history":"1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 906; 1999, c. 916; 2002, cc. 479, 489.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery locality shall provide for all the governmental functions of the locality, including, without limitation, the organization of all departments, offices, boards, commissions and agencies of government, and the organizational structure thereof, which are necessary and the employment of the officers and other employees needed to carry out the functions of government.B\n\nExcept as provided in § 15.2-2160 or Article 5.1 (§ 56-484.7:1 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56, no locality shall establish any department, office, board, commission, agency or other governmental division or entity which has authority to offer telecommunications equipment, infrastructure, other than pole or tower attachments including antennas or conduit occupancy, or services, other than intragovernmental radio dispatch or paging systems shared by adjoining localities, for sale or lease to any person or entity other than (i) such locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities, so long as any charges for such telecommunications equipment, infrastructure and services do not exceed the cost to the providing locality of providing such equipment, infrastructure or services. However, any town which is located adjacent to Exit 17 on Interstate 81 and which offered telecommunications services to the public on January 1, 1998, is hereby authorized to continue to offer such telecommunications services, but shall not acquire by eminent domain the facilities or other property of any telephone company or cable operator. Any locality may sell any telecommunications infrastructure, including related equipment, which such locality has constructed, and such locality may receive from the purchaser or purchasers, as full or partial consideration for the sale of such infrastructure, communications services to be used solely for internal use of the locality. The locality shall not be involved in any way in the promotion or marketing of services provided by any purchaser.C\n\nA locality, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority, may lease dark fiber. For purposes of this section, “dark fiber” means fiber optic cable that is not lighted by lasers or other electronic equipment. The locality, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority, shall not be involved in the promotion or marketing of the lessee as the provider of the services.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":258675,"text":"Every locality shall provide for all the governmental functions of the locality, including, without limitation, the organization of all departments, offices, boards, commissions and agencies of government, and the organizational structure thereof, which are necessary and the employment of the officers and other employees needed to carry out the functions of government.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":258676,"text":"Except as provided in § 15.2-2160 or Article 5.1 (§ 56-484.7:1 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56, no locality shall establish any department, office, board, commission, agency or other governmental division or entity which has authority to offer telecommunications equipment, infrastructure, other than pole or tower attachments including antennas or conduit occupancy, or services, other than intragovernmental radio dispatch or paging systems shared by adjoining localities, for sale or lease to any person or entity other than (i) such locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities, so long as any charges for such telecommunications equipment, infrastructure and services do not exceed the cost to the providing locality of providing such equipment, infrastructure or services. However, any town which is located adjacent to Exit 17 on Interstate 81 and which offered telecommunications services to the public on January 1, 1998, is hereby authorized to continue to offer such telecommunications services, but shall not acquire by eminent domain the facilities or other property of any telephone company or cable operator. Any locality may sell any telecommunications infrastructure, including related equipment, which such locality has constructed, and such locality may receive from the purchaser or purchasers, as full or partial consideration for the sale of such infrastructure, communications services to be used solely for internal use of the locality. The locality shall not be involved in any way in the promotion or marketing of services provided by any purchaser.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":258677,"text":"A locality, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority, may lease dark fiber. For purposes of this section, “dark fiber” means fiber optic cable that is not lighted by lasers or other electronic equipment. The locality, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority, shall not be involved in the promotion or marketing of the lessee as the provider of the services.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13737,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions for Certain Officers and Employees","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12734,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:44","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:44","permalink":{"id":153005,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13737,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12734,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Government Personnel, Qualification for Office, Bonds, Dual Office Holding and Certain Local Government Officers","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":153003,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12734,"identifier":"15","token":"15.2\/II\/15","url":"\/15.2\/II\/15\/","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":71801,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1500","catch_line":"Organization of local government","url":"\/15.2-1500\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1500","metadata":false},{"id":60492,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1500.1","catch_line":"Employment discrimination prohibited; sexual orientation or gender identity","url":"\/15.2-1500.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1500.1","metadata":false},{"id":79919,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1501","catch_line":"Designation of officers to perform certain duties","url":"\/15.2-1501\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1501","metadata":false},{"id":82241,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1502","catch_line":"Employment of certain deputies and assistants; delegation of powers and duties","url":"\/15.2-1502\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1502","metadata":false},{"id":58363,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1503","catch_line":"Tenure of officers and employees; suspension or removal","url":"\/15.2-1503\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1503","metadata":false},{"id":79703,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1503.1","catch_line":"Background checks required for certain employees and licensees","url":"\/15.2-1503.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1503.1","metadata":false},{"id":58265,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1504","catch_line":"Use of tobacco products by government employees","url":"\/15.2-1504\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1504","metadata":false},{"id":84800,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1505","catch_line":"Employment based on residency prohibited for certain employees","url":"\/15.2-1505\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1505","metadata":false},{"id":65546,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1505.1","catch_line":"Applicant preemployment information","url":"\/15.2-1505.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1505.1","metadata":false},{"id":72505,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1505.2","catch_line":"Personnel policies related to the use of public property","url":"\/15.2-1505.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1505.2","metadata":false},{"id":81798,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1505.3","catch_line":"Localities prohibited from inquiring about arrests, charges, or convictions on employment applications; exceptions","url":"\/15.2-1505.3\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1505.3","metadata":false},{"id":57426,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1506","catch_line":"Establishment of grievance procedure, personnel system and uniform pay plan for employees","url":"\/15.2-1506\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1506","metadata":false},{"id":77432,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1507","catch_line":"Provision of grievance procedure; training programs","url":"\/15.2-1507\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1507","metadata":false},{"id":55230,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1507.1","catch_line":"Appointment of standing panel in certain counties","url":"\/15.2-1507.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1507.1","metadata":false},{"id":64897,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1508","catch_line":"Bonuses for employees of local governments","url":"\/15.2-1508\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1508","metadata":false},{"id":60894,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1508.1","catch_line":"Traveling expenses on business of town, city or county","url":"\/15.2-1508.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1508.1","metadata":false},{"id":74011,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1508.2","catch_line":"Same; where Commonwealth bears portion of expenses","url":"\/15.2-1508.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1508.2","metadata":false},{"id":85992,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1508.3","catch_line":"Governing bodies of certain cities and counties may supplement salaries and reimburse traveling expenses of employees of state and local health departments","url":"\/15.2-1508.3\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1508.3","metadata":false},{"id":65944,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1508.4","catch_line":"Certain counties and cities may supplement salaries and reimburse traveling expenses of employees of state mental health clinics","url":"\/15.2-1508.4\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1508.4","metadata":false},{"id":83110,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1509","catch_line":"Preferences for veterans and people with disabilities in local government employment","url":"\/15.2-1509\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1509","metadata":false},{"id":57101,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1510","catch_line":"Retirement systems","url":"\/15.2-1510\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1510","metadata":false},{"id":68675,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1510.1","catch_line":"Public announcement of severance packages for certain officials","url":"\/15.2-1510.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1510.1","metadata":false},{"id":62802,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1511","catch_line":"Allowances to injured officials and employees and their dependents","url":"\/15.2-1511\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1511","metadata":false},{"id":62508,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1511.01","catch_line":"Allowances to injured deputy sheriffs","url":"\/15.2-1511.01\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1511.01","metadata":false},{"id":86864,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1511.1","catch_line":"Written benefit information to certain employees","url":"\/15.2-1511.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1511.1","metadata":false},{"id":66960,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1512","catch_line":"Oath and bond","url":"\/15.2-1512\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1512","metadata":false},{"id":54736,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1512.1","catch_line":"Disposition of property received by subdivisions as result of conversion of mutual insurance company to stock corporation","url":"\/15.2-1512.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1512.1","metadata":false},{"id":85589,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1512.2","catch_line":"Political activities of employees of localities, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law-enforcement officers and certain other officers and employees","url":"\/15.2-1512.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1512.2","metadata":false},{"id":66378,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1512.3","catch_line":"Telecommuting by local government employees","url":"\/15.2-1512.3\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1512.3","metadata":false},{"id":55640,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1512.4","catch_line":"Rights of local employees to contact elected officials","url":"\/15.2-1512.4\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1512.4","metadata":false},{"id":58777,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1512.5","catch_line":"Authority of local government employees to issue summonses for misdemeanor violations of certain local ordinances","url":"\/15.2-1512.5\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1512.5","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":60492,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1500.1","catch_line":"Employment discrimination prohibited; sexual orientation or gender identity","url":"\/15.2-1500.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1500.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1500\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 587<\/a> 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. It has been modified 3 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 1998, chapter 906<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 916<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 479<\/a> and 489<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68249,"section_number":"51.1-155.2","catch_line":"Exceptions from general early retirement provisions for certain local government officials","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-155.2\/"},{"id":62050,"section_number":"56-484.7:4","catch_line":"Revocation of Commission approval","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-484.7_4\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":56562,"section_number":"15.2-2160","catch_line":"Provision of telecommunications services","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2160\/"},{"id":60584,"section_number":"56-484.7:1","catch_line":"Offering of communications services","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-484.7_1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153007,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71801,"identifier":"15.2-1500","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1500","url":"\/15.2-1500\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1500\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1500","dublin_core":{"Title":"Organization of local government","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1500","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every locality<\/span> shall provide for all the governmental functions of the locality<\/span>, including, without limitation, the organization of all departments, offices, boards, commissions and agencies of government, and the organizational structure thereof, which are necessary and the employment of the officers and other employees needed to carry out the functions of government. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Except as provided in § 15.2-2160<\/a> or Article 5.1 (§ 56-484.7:1<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56, no locality<\/span> shall establish any department, office, board, commission, agency or other governmental division or entity which has authority to offer telecommunications equipment, infrastructure, other than pole or tower attachments<\/span> including antennas or conduit occupancy, or services, other than intragovernmental radio dispatch or paging systems shared by adjoining localities, for sale or lease to any person or entity other than (i) such locality<\/span>’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality<\/span>’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities, so long as any charges for such telecommunications equipment, infrastructure and services do not exceed the cost to the providing locality<\/span> of providing such equipment, infrastructure or services. However, any town<\/span> which is located adjacent to Exit 17 on Interstate 81 and which offered telecommunications services to the public on January 1, 1998, is hereby authorized to continue to offer such telecommunications services, but shall not acquire by eminent domain the facilities or other property of any telephone company or cable operator. Any locality<\/span> may sell any telecommunications infrastructure, including related equipment, which such locality<\/span> has constructed, and such locality<\/span> may receive from the purchaser or purchasers, as full or partial consideration for the sale of such infrastructure, communications services to be used solely for internal use of the locality<\/span>. The locality<\/span> shall not be involved in any way in the promotion or marketing of services provided by any purchaser. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A locality<\/span>, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority, may lease dark fiber<\/span>. For purposes of this section, “dark fiber<\/span>” means fiber optic cable that is not lighted by lasers or other electronic equipment. The locality<\/span>, electric commission or board, industrial development authority, or economic development authority, shall not be involved in the promotion or marketing of the lessee as the provider of the services. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nORGANIZATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT (\u00a7 15.2-1500)\n\nA. Every locality shall provide for all the governmental functions of the\nlocality, including, without limitation, the organization of all departments,\noffices, boards, commissions and agencies of government, and the organizational\nstructure thereof, which are necessary and the employment of the officers and\nother employees needed to carry out the functions of government.\n\nB. Except as provided in § 15.2-2160 or Article 5.1 (§ 56-484.7:1 et\nseq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 56, no locality shall establish any department,\noffice, board, commission, agency or other governmental division or entity which\nhas authority to offer telecommunications equipment, infrastructure, other than\npole or tower attachments including antennas or conduit occupancy, or services,\nother than intragovernmental radio dispatch or paging systems shared by\nadjoining localities, for sale or lease to any person or entity other than (i)\nsuch locality’s departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or\nother governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality’s\ndepartments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental\ndivisions or entities, so long as any charges for such telecommunications\nequipment, infrastructure and services do not exceed the cost to the providing\nlocality of providing such equipment, infrastructure or services. However, any\ntown which is located adjacent to Exit 17 on Interstate 81 and which offered\ntelecommunications services to the public on January 1, 1998, is hereby\nauthorized to continue to offer such telecommunications services, but shall not\nacquire by eminent domain the facilities or other property of any telephone\ncompany or cable operator. Any locality may sell any telecommunications\ninfrastructure, including related equipment, which such locality has\nconstructed, and such locality may receive from the purchaser or purchasers, as\nfull or partial consideration for the sale of such infrastructure,\ncommunications services to be used solely for internal use of the locality. The\nlocality shall not be involved in any way in the promotion or marketing of\nservices provided by any purchaser.\n\nC. A locality, electric commission or board, industrial development authority,\nor economic development authority, may lease dark fiber. For purposes of this\nsection, “dark fiber” means fiber optic cable that is not lighted by\nlasers or other electronic equipment. The locality, electric commission or\nboard, industrial development authority, or economic development authority,\nshall not be involved in the promotion or marketing of the lessee as the\nprovider of the services.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 906; 1999, c. 916; 2002, cc. 479, 489.","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}}