{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1646.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1646.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1646.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1646.html"}],"law_id":81736,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81736,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1646","catch_line":"Certification of result to board of supervisors; procuring land and buildings; relocation to contiguous or nearby land","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-45; 1956, c. 95; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-561; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 42, 245; 1975, c. 59; 1976, c. 497; 1994, c. 504; 1997, cc. 587, 598; 2005, c. 36; 2018, c. 582; 2020, c. 139.","full_text":"If it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes cast at the election specified in \u00a7 15.2-1644 are for the removal of the courthouse to one of the places specified in the petition or resolution, the results shall be certified to the board of supervisors of the county, with the amount authorized to be expended for land, if not donated, and for necessary buildings and improvements. If the vote is for removal, the board of supervisors shall at once proceed to acquire the necessary land at the new location, if the same has not been donated, and to erect the necessary buildings and improvements.\n\t\tThe relocation or expansion of a courthouse to (i) land contiguous with its present location, including contiguous property directly across a public right-of-way, or (ii) any property within 1,000 feet of the parcel upon which the courthouse is located, and within the same county, city, or town is not such a removal as to require authorization by the electorate.\n\t\tThe provisions of these sections requiring authorization by the electorate shall not apply, in the case of a joint court system, between Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, James City County and the City of Williamsburg, York County and the City of Poquoson, and Greensville County and the City of Emporia, to the relocation of the courthouse to other land within the localities which it serves, from its present location, if the governing bodies find by concurrent resolutions that the existing courthouse is inadequate and that renovation or expansion of the existing courthouse is not feasible.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":292806,"text":"If it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes cast at the election specified in \u00a7 15.2-1644 are for the removal of the courthouse to one of the places specified in the petition or resolution, the results shall be certified to the board of supervisors of the county, with the amount authorized to be expended for land, if not donated, and for necessary buildings and improvements. If the vote is for removal, the board of supervisors shall at once proceed to acquire the necessary land at the new location, if the same has not been donated, and to erect the necessary buildings and improvements.\n\t\tThe relocation or expansion of a courthouse to (i) land contiguous with its present location, including contiguous property directly across a public right-of-way, or (ii) any property within 1,000 feet of the parcel upon which the courthouse is located, and within the same county, city, or town is not such a removal as to require authorization by the electorate.\n\t\tThe provisions of these sections requiring authorization by the electorate shall not apply, in the case of a joint court system, between Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville, James City County and the City of Williamsburg, York County and the City of Poquoson, and Greensville County and the City of Emporia, to the relocation of the courthouse to other land within the localities which it serves, from its present location, if the governing bodies find by concurrent resolutions that the existing courthouse is inadequate and that renovation or expansion of the existing courthouse is not feasible.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12878,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courthouses","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12877,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12878,"identifier":"8","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12877,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153305,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12877,"identifier":"16","token":"15.2\/II\/16","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/","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":54980,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1638","catch_line":"County or city governing body to provide courthouse, clerk's office, jail and suitable facilities for attorney for the Commonwealth; acquisition of land","url":"\/15.2-1638\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1638","metadata":false},{"id":77491,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1638.1","catch_line":"Administrative assistants in offices of circuit court judges who are employees of a locality","url":"\/15.2-1638.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1638.1","metadata":false},{"id":65943,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1639","catch_line":"Providing offices for various officers, judges, etc","url":"\/15.2-1639\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1639","metadata":false},{"id":54006,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1640","catch_line":"Renting rooms in courthouse","url":"\/15.2-1640\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1640","metadata":false},{"id":58374,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1641","catch_line":"Leasing or other use of other buildings","url":"\/15.2-1641\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1641","metadata":false},{"id":82120,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1642","catch_line":"Certain conveyances of courthouse grounds validated","url":"\/15.2-1642\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1642","metadata":false},{"id":68081,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1643","catch_line":"Circuit courts to order court facilities to be repaired","url":"\/15.2-1643\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1643","metadata":false},{"id":82935,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1644","catch_line":"Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election","url":"\/15.2-1644\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1644","metadata":false},{"id":69629,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1645","catch_line":"How election held and conducted","url":"\/15.2-1645\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1645","metadata":false},{"id":81736,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1646","catch_line":"Certification of result to board of supervisors; procuring land and buildings; relocation to contiguous or nearby land","url":"\/15.2-1646\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1646","metadata":false},{"id":74262,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1647","catch_line":"Removal of court","url":"\/15.2-1647\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1647","metadata":false},{"id":84668,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1648","catch_line":"Donation of land and money","url":"\/15.2-1648\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1648","metadata":false},{"id":84635,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1649","catch_line":"Town may issue bonds to finance donation; election on bonds","url":"\/15.2-1649\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1649","metadata":false},{"id":76544,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1650","catch_line":"When and how council to issue bonds; payment of interest; sinking fund","url":"\/15.2-1650\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1650","metadata":false},{"id":85541,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1651","catch_line":"When supervisors may issue bonds of county","url":"\/15.2-1651\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1651","metadata":false},{"id":84384,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1652","catch_line":"Form of ballots for county election on removal and appropriation; certificate of electoral board","url":"\/15.2-1652\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1652","metadata":false},{"id":81259,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1653","catch_line":"Ascertaining results","url":"\/15.2-1653\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1653","metadata":false},{"id":63752,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1654","catch_line":"Contest of election","url":"\/15.2-1654\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1654","metadata":false},{"id":58199,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1655","catch_line":"No other election held for ten years","url":"\/15.2-1655\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1655","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69629,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1645","catch_line":"How election held and conducted","url":"\/15.2-1645\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1645","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74262,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1647","catch_line":"Removal of court","url":"\/15.2-1647\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1647","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1646\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 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 1956, chapter 95; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1975, chapter 59; in 1976, chapter 497; in 1994, chapter 504<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 587<\/a> and 598<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 36<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 582<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 139<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":82935,"section_number":"15.2-1644","catch_line":"Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1644\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153701,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81736,"identifier":"15.2-1646","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1646","url":"\/15.2-1646\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1646\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1646","dublin_core":{"Title":"Certification of result to board of supervisors; procuring land and buildings; relocation to contiguous or nearby land","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1646","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes cast at the election specified in \u00a7 15.2-1644<\/a> are for the removal of the courthouse to one of the places specified in the petition<\/span> or resolution, the results shall be certified to the board of supervisors<\/span> of the county<\/span>, with the amount authorized to be expended for land, if not donated, and for necessary buildings and improvements. If the vote is for removal, the board of supervisors<\/span> shall at once proceed to acquire the necessary land at the new location, if the same has not been donated, and to erect the necessary buildings and improvements.\n\t\tThe relocation or expansion of a courthouse to (i) land contiguous with its present location, including contiguous property directly across a public right-of-way, or (ii) any property within 1,000 feet of the parcel upon which the courthouse is located, and within the same county<\/span>, city<\/span>, or town<\/span> is not such a removal as to require authorization by the electorate.\n\t\tThe provisions of these sections requiring authorization by the electorate shall not apply, in the case of a joint court<\/span> system, between Albemarle County<\/span> and the City<\/span> of Charlottesville, James City<\/span> County<\/span> and the City<\/span> of Williamsburg, York County<\/span> and the City<\/span> of Poquoson, and Greensville County<\/span> and the City<\/span> of Emporia, to the relocation of the courthouse to other land within the localities which it serves, from its present location, if the governing bodies find by concurrent resolutions that the existing courthouse is inadequate and that renovation or expansion of the existing courthouse is not feasible.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCERTIFICATION OF RESULT TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS; PROCURING LAND AND BUILDINGS;\nRELOCATION TO CONTIGUOUS OR NEARBY LAND (\u00a7 15.2-1646)\n\nIf it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes cast at the election\nspecified in \u00a7 15.2-1644 are for the removal of the courthouse to one of the\nplaces specified in the petition or resolution, the results shall be certified\nto the board of supervisors of the county, with the amount authorized to be\nexpended for land, if not donated, and for necessary buildings and improvements.\nIf the vote is for removal, the board of supervisors shall at once proceed to\nacquire the necessary land at the new location, if the same has not been\ndonated, and to erect the necessary buildings and improvements.\n\t\tThe relocation or expansion of a courthouse to (i) land contiguous with its\npresent location, including contiguous property directly across a public\nright-of-way, or (ii) any property within 1,000 feet of the parcel upon which\nthe courthouse is located, and within the same county, city, or town is not such\na removal as to require authorization by the electorate.\n\t\tThe provisions of these sections requiring authorization by the electorate\nshall not apply, in the case of a joint court system, between Albemarle County\nand the City of Charlottesville, James City County and the City of Williamsburg,\nYork County and the City of Poquoson, and Greensville County and the City of\nEmporia, to the relocation of the courthouse to other land within the localities\nwhich it serves, from its present location, if the governing bodies find by\nconcurrent resolutions that the existing courthouse is inadequate and that\nrenovation or expansion of the existing courthouse is not feasible.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-45; 1956, c. 95; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-561; 1971, Ex.\nSess., cc. 42, 245; 1975, c. 59; 1976, c. 497; 1994, c. 504; 1997, cc. 587, 598;\n2005, c. 36; 2018, c. 582; 2020, c. 139.","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}}