{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1541.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1541.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1541.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1541.html"}],"law_id":60562,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60562,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1541","catch_line":"Administrative head of government","history":"1997, c. 587.","full_text":"Every chief administrative officer shall be the administrative head of the local government in which he is employed. He shall be responsible to the governing body for the proper management of all the affairs of the locality which the governing body has authority to control.\n\t\tHe shall, unless it is otherwise provided by general law, charter or by ordinance or resolution of the governing body:\n\n1\n\nSee that all ordinances, resolutions, directives and orders of the governing body and all laws of the Commonwealth required to be enforced through the governing body or officers subject to the control of the governing body are faithfully executed;2\n\nMake reports to the governing body from time to time as required or deemed advisable upon the affairs of the locality under his control and supervision;3\n\nReceive reports from, and give directions to, all heads of offices, departments and boards of the locality under his control and supervision;4\n\nSubmit to the governing body a proposed annual budget, in accordance with general law, with his recommendations;5\n\nExecute the budget as finally adopted by the governing body;6\n\nKeep the governing body fully advised on the locality&#8217;s financial condition and its future financial needs;7\n\nAppoint all officers and employees of the locality, except as he may authorize the head of an office, department and board responsible to him to appoint subordinates in such office, department and board;8\n\nPerform such other duties as may be prescribed by the governing body.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":221373,"text":"Every chief administrative officer shall be the administrative head of the local government in which he is employed. He shall be responsible to the governing body for the proper management of all the affairs of the locality which the governing body has authority to control.\n\t\tHe shall, unless it is otherwise provided by general law, charter or by ordinance or resolution of the governing body:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":221374,"text":"See that all ordinances, resolutions, directives and orders of the governing body and all laws of the Commonwealth required to be enforced through the governing body or officers subject to the control of the governing body are faithfully executed;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":221375,"text":"Make reports to the governing body from time to time as required or deemed advisable upon the affairs of the locality under his control and supervision;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":221376,"text":"Receive reports from, and give directions to, all heads of offices, departments and boards of the locality under his control and supervision;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":221377,"text":"Submit to the governing body a proposed annual budget, in accordance with general law, with his recommendations;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":221378,"text":"Execute the budget as finally adopted by the governing body;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":221379,"text":"Keep the governing body fully advised on the locality&#8217;s financial condition and its future financial needs;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":221380,"text":"Appoint all officers and employees of the locality, except as he may authorize the head of an office, department and board responsible to him to appoint subordinates in such office, department and board;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":221381,"text":"Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the governing body.","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15096,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Officers of Local Governments","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12734,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:07","permalink":{"id":153237,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15096,"identifier":"7","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7","url":"\/15.2\/II\/15\/7\/","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":71840,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1536","catch_line":"Required and discretionary officers","url":"\/15.2-1536\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1536","metadata":false},{"id":83892,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1537","catch_line":"Financial officer","url":"\/15.2-1537\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1537","metadata":false},{"id":67395,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1537.1","catch_line":"Disposition of state funds locally collected","url":"\/15.2-1537.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1537.1","metadata":false},{"id":80783,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1538","catch_line":"Clerk for the governing body","url":"\/15.2-1538\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1538","metadata":false},{"id":86503,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1539","catch_line":"General duties of clerk","url":"\/15.2-1539\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1539","metadata":false},{"id":57521,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1540","catch_line":"Chief administrative officer","url":"\/15.2-1540\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1540","metadata":false},{"id":60562,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1541","catch_line":"Administrative head of government","url":"\/15.2-1541\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1541","metadata":false},{"id":64899,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1541.1","catch_line":"Authority of county administrator to maintain centralized system of accounting","url":"\/15.2-1541.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1541.1","metadata":false},{"id":65814,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1542","catch_line":"Creation of office of county, city or town attorney authorized; appointment, salary and duties","url":"\/15.2-1542\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1542","metadata":false},{"id":79279,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1543","catch_line":"Employment of purchasing agent; duties","url":"\/15.2-1543\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1543","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57521,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1540","catch_line":"Chief administrative officer","url":"\/15.2-1540\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1540","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64899,"structure_id":15096,"section_number":"15.2-1541.1","catch_line":"Authority of county administrator to maintain centralized system of accounting","url":"\/15.2-1541.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1541.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1541\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85875,"section_number":"15.2-1423","catch_line":"Powers of chairman or mayor","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1423\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":153263,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60562,"identifier":"15.2-1541","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1541","url":"\/15.2-1541\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1541\/","token":"15.2\/II\/15\/7\/15.2-1541","dublin_core":{"Title":"Administrative head of government","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1541","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Every chief administrative officer shall be the administrative head of the <span class=\"dictionary\">local government<\/span> in which he is employed. He shall be responsible to the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> for the proper management of all the affairs of the <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> which the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> has authority to control.\n\t\tHe shall, unless it is otherwise provided by general <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, charter or by <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> or resolution of the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span>:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> See that all <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinances<\/span>, resolutions, directives and <span class=\"dictionary\">orders<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> and all <span class=\"dictionary\">laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth required to be enforced through the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> or officers subject to the control of the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> are faithfully executed; <a id=\"paragraph-221374\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Make reports to the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> from time to time as required or deemed advisable upon the affairs of the <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> under his control and supervision; <a id=\"paragraph-221375\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> Receive reports from, and give directions to, all heads of offices, departments and boards of the <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> under his control and supervision; <a id=\"paragraph-221376\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Submit to the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> a proposed annual budget, in accordance with general <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, with his recommendations; <a id=\"paragraph-221377\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"5\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">5.<\/span> Execute the budget as finally adopted by the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-221378\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#5\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"6\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">6.<\/span> Keep the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> fully advised on the <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span>&#8217;s financial condition and its future financial needs; <a id=\"paragraph-221379\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#6\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"7\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">7.<\/span> Appoint all officers and employees of the <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span>, except as he may authorize the head of an office, department and board responsible to him to appoint subordinates in such office, department and board; <a id=\"paragraph-221380\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#7\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"8\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">8.<\/span> Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-221381\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1541\/#8\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT (\u00a7 15.2-1541)\n\nEvery chief administrative officer shall be the administrative head of the local\ngovernment in which he is employed. He shall be responsible to the governing\nbody for the proper management of all the affairs of the locality which the\ngoverning body has authority to control.\n\t\tHe shall, unless it is otherwise provided by general law, charter or by\nordinance or resolution of the governing body:\n\n1. See that all ordinances, resolutions, directives and orders of the governing\nbody and all laws of the Commonwealth required to be enforced through the\ngoverning body or officers subject to the control of the governing body are\nfaithfully executed;\n\n2. Make reports to the governing body from time to time as required or deemed\nadvisable upon the affairs of the locality under his control and supervision;\n\n3. Receive reports from, and give directions to, all heads of offices,\ndepartments and boards of the locality under his control and supervision;\n\n4. Submit to the governing body a proposed annual budget, in accordance with\ngeneral law, with his recommendations;\n\n5. Execute the budget as finally adopted by the governing body;\n\n6. Keep the governing body fully advised on the locality&#8217;s financial\ncondition and its future financial needs;\n\n7. Appoint all officers and employees of the locality, except as he may\nauthorize the head of an office, department and board responsible to him to\nappoint subordinates in such office, department and board;\n\n8. Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the governing body.\n\nHISTORY: 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}}