{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1502.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1502.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1502.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1502.html"}],"law_id":82241,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82241,"structure_id":13737,"section_number":"15.2-1502","catch_line":"Employment of certain deputies and assistants; delegation of powers and duties","history":"1978, c. 264, \u00a7\u00a7 15.1-19.4, 15.1-19.5; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A\n\nLocal government officers may employ, when duly authorized by the governing body, deputies and assistants to aid them in carrying out their powers and duties. The provisions of this section and &#xA7; 15.2-1503 shall not be applicable to the constitutional offices of treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the circuit court.B\n\n&#8220;Deputy&#8221; means a person who is appointed to act as a substitute for his principal, in the name of the principal and in his behalf, in matters in which the principal himself may act; such person shall be a public officer. Members of governing bodies may not have or appoint deputies for themselves.C\n\n&#8220;Assistant&#8221; means a person who is not a public officer or deputy but who aids or helps a public officer.D\n\nSubject to the limitations and requirements of the preceding subsections, an officer of a locality may delegate, to a person reporting to him, his powers and duties unless it is some power or duty the exercise of which by another person is expressly forbidden by law or requires the exercise of judgment for the public welfare. However, such delegation shall not act to relieve the officer making such delegation of his legal obligations for the exercise of powers and performance of duties of his office.\n\t\t\tPersons employed by virtue of this subsection shall be designated either deputy or assistant and shall take such oath and post such bond as may be required by ordinance.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":294696,"text":"Local government officers may employ, when duly authorized by the governing body, deputies and assistants to aid them in carrying out their powers and duties. The provisions of this section and &#xA7; 15.2-1503 shall not be applicable to the constitutional offices of treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the circuit court.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":294697,"text":"&#8220;Deputy&#8221; means a person who is appointed to act as a substitute for his principal, in the name of the principal and in his behalf, in matters in which the principal himself may act; such person shall be a public officer. Members of governing bodies may not have or appoint deputies for themselves.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":294698,"text":"&#8220;Assistant&#8221; means a person who is not a public officer or deputy but who aids or helps a public officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":294699,"text":"Subject to the limitations and requirements of the preceding subsections, an officer of a locality may delegate, to a person reporting to him, his powers and duties unless it is some power or duty the exercise of which by another person is expressly forbidden by law or requires the exercise of judgment for the public welfare. However, such delegation shall not act to relieve the officer making such delegation of his legal obligations for the exercise of powers and performance of duties of his office.\n\t\t\tPersons employed by virtue of this subsection shall be designated either deputy or assistant and shall take such oath and post such bond as may be required by ordinance.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1502\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1978. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 264 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. Unfortunately, the 1978 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":58363,"section_number":"15.2-1503","catch_line":"Tenure of officers and employees; suspension or removal","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1503\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153019,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82241,"identifier":"15.2-1502","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1502","url":"\/15.2-1502\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1502\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/1\/15.2-1502","dublin_core":{"Title":"Employment of certain deputies and assistants; delegation of powers and duties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1502","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">Local government<\/span> officers may employ, when duly authorized by the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span>, deputies and <span class=\"dictionary\">assistants<\/span> to aid them in carrying out their powers and duties. The provisions of this section and &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Tenure of officers and employees; suspension or removal\" href=\"\/15.2-1503\/\">15.2-1503<\/a> shall not be applicable to the constitutional offices of treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-294696\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1502\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Deputy<\/span>&#8221; means a person who is appointed to act as a substitute for his principal, in the name of the principal and in his behalf, in matters in which the principal himself may act; such person shall be a public officer. Members of governing bodies may not have or appoint deputies for themselves. <a id=\"paragraph-294697\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1502\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Assistant<\/span>&#8221; means a person who is not a public officer or <span class=\"dictionary\">deputy<\/span> but who aids or helps a public officer. <a id=\"paragraph-294698\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1502\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> Subject to the limitations and requirements of the preceding subsections, an officer of a <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> may delegate, to a person reporting to him, his powers and duties unless it is some power or duty the exercise of which by another person is expressly forbidden by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> or requires the exercise of <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> for the public welfare. However, such delegation shall not act to relieve the officer making such delegation of his legal obligations for the exercise of powers and performance of duties of his office.\n\t\t\tPersons employed by virtue of this subsection shall be designated either <span class=\"dictionary\">deputy<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">assistant<\/span> and shall take such <span class=\"dictionary\">oath<\/span> and post such <span class=\"dictionary\">bond<\/span> as may be required by <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-294699\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1502\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN DEPUTIES AND ASSISTANTS; DELEGATION OF POWERS AND DUTIES\n(\u00a7 15.2-1502)\n\nA. Local government officers may employ, when duly authorized by the governing\nbody, deputies and assistants to aid them in carrying out their powers and\nduties. The provisions of this section and &#xA7; 15.2-1503 shall not be\napplicable to the constitutional offices of treasurer, commissioner of the\nrevenue, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and clerk of the circuit court.\n\nB. &#8220;Deputy&#8221; means a person who is appointed to act as a substitute\nfor his principal, in the name of the principal and in his behalf, in matters in\nwhich the principal himself may act; such person shall be a public officer.\nMembers of governing bodies may not have or appoint deputies for themselves.\n\nC. &#8220;Assistant&#8221; means a person who is not a public officer or deputy\nbut who aids or helps a public officer.\n\nD. Subject to the limitations and requirements of the preceding subsections, an\nofficer of a locality may delegate, to a person reporting to him, his powers and\nduties unless it is some power or duty the exercise of which by another person\nis expressly forbidden by law or requires the exercise of judgment for the\npublic welfare. However, such delegation shall not act to relieve the officer\nmaking such delegation of his legal obligations for the exercise of powers and\nperformance of duties of his office.\n\t\t\tPersons employed by virtue of this subsection shall be designated either\ndeputy or assistant and shall take such oath and post such bond as may be\nrequired by ordinance.\n\nHISTORY: 1978, c. 264, \u00a7\u00a7 15.1-19.4, 15.1-19.5; 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}}