{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1800.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1800.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1800.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1800.html"}],"law_id":82693,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82693,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800","catch_line":"Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-692; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-262; 1968, c. 418; 1974, c. 282; 1977, c. 269; 1979, c. 431; 1980, cc. 212, 559; 1984, c. 241; 1986, cc. 477, 573; 1990, c. 813; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 696; 2005, c. 822; 2006, c. 57; 2007, cc. 882, 901, 926; 2017, c. 401.","full_text":"A\n\nA locality may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, exchange, lease as lessee, or otherwise, title to, or any interests in, any real property, whether improved or unimproved, within its jurisdiction, for any public use. Acquisition of any interest in real property by condemnation is governed by Chapter 19 (§ 15.2-1901 et seq.). The acquisition of a leasehold or other interest in a telecommunications tower, owned by a nongovernmental source, for the operation of a locality’s wireless radio communications systems shall be governed by this chapter.B\n\nSubject to any applicable requirements of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution, any locality may sell, at public or private sale, exchange, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge, subordinate interest in or otherwise dispose of its real property, which includes the superjacent airspace (except airspace provided for in § 15.2-2030) which may be subdivided and conveyed separate from the subjacent land surface, provided that no such real property, whether improved or unimproved, shall be disposed of until the governing body has held a public hearing concerning such disposal. However, the holding of a public hearing shall not apply to (i) the leasing of real property to another public body, political subdivision or authority of the Commonwealth or (ii) conveyance of site development easements, or utility easements related to transportation projects, across public property, including, but not limited to, easements for ingress, egress, utilities, cable, telecommunications, storm water management, and other similar conveyances, that are consistent with the local capital improvement program, involving improvement of property owned by the locality. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the vacation of public interests in real property under the provisions of Articles 6 (§ 15.2-2240 et seq.) and 7 (§ 15.2-2280 et seq.) of Chapter 22.C\n\nA city or town may also acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries; a county may acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries when expressly authorized by law.D\n\nA locality may construct, insure, and equip buildings, structures and other improvements on real property owned or leased by it.E\n\nA locality may operate, maintain, and regulate the use of its real property or may contract with other persons to do so.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, no locality providing access and opportunity to use its real property, whether improved or unimproved, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such real property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any locality to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA, or to exempt any such groups from local policies governing access to and use of a locality’s real property. The provisions of this paragraph applicable to a locality shall also apply equally to any local governmental entity, including a department, agency, or authority.F\n\nThis section shall not be construed to deprive the resident judge or judges of the right to control the use of the courthouse.G\n\n“Public use” as used in this section shall have the same meaning as in § 1-219.1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":296224,"text":"A locality may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, exchange, lease as lessee, or otherwise, title to, or any interests in, any real property, whether improved or unimproved, within its jurisdiction, for any public use. Acquisition of any interest in real property by condemnation is governed by Chapter 19 (§ 15.2-1901 et seq.). The acquisition of a leasehold or other interest in a telecommunications tower, owned by a nongovernmental source, for the operation of a locality’s wireless radio communications systems shall be governed by this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":296225,"text":"Subject to any applicable requirements of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution, any locality may sell, at public or private sale, exchange, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge, subordinate interest in or otherwise dispose of its real property, which includes the superjacent airspace (except airspace provided for in § 15.2-2030) which may be subdivided and conveyed separate from the subjacent land surface, provided that no such real property, whether improved or unimproved, shall be disposed of until the governing body has held a public hearing concerning such disposal. However, the holding of a public hearing shall not apply to (i) the leasing of real property to another public body, political subdivision or authority of the Commonwealth or (ii) conveyance of site development easements, or utility easements related to transportation projects, across public property, including, but not limited to, easements for ingress, egress, utilities, cable, telecommunications, storm water management, and other similar conveyances, that are consistent with the local capital improvement program, involving improvement of property owned by the locality. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the vacation of public interests in real property under the provisions of Articles 6 (§ 15.2-2240 et seq.) and 7 (§ 15.2-2280 et seq.) of Chapter 22.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":296226,"text":"A city or town may also acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries; a county may acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries when expressly authorized by law.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":296227,"text":"A locality may construct, insure, and equip buildings, structures and other improvements on real property owned or leased by it.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":296228,"text":"A locality may operate, maintain, and regulate the use of its real property or may contract with other persons to do so.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, no locality providing access and opportunity to use its real property, whether improved or unimproved, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such real property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any locality to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA, or to exempt any such groups from local policies governing access to and use of a locality’s real property. The provisions of this paragraph applicable to a locality shall also apply equally to any local governmental entity, including a department, agency, or authority.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":296229,"text":"This section shall not be construed to deprive the resident judge or judges of the right to control the use of the courthouse.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":296230,"text":"“Public use” as used in this section shall have the same meaning as in § 1-219.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15521,"edition_id":1,"name":"Purchase, Sale, etc., of Real Property","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14773,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:48","permalink":{"id":153993,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15521,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/18\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14773,"edition_id":1,"name":"Buildings, Monuments and Lands Generally","identifier":"18","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:49","permalink":{"id":153991,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14773,"identifier":"18","token":"15.2\/II\/18","url":"\/15.2\/II\/18\/","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":82693,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800","catch_line":"Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property","url":"\/15.2-1800\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800","metadata":false},{"id":67773,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800.1","catch_line":"Tenancy in common with school board for certain property","url":"\/15.2-1800.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800.1","metadata":false},{"id":85461,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800.2","catch_line":"Acquisition of real property near certain facilities","url":"\/15.2-1800.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800.2","metadata":false},{"id":60846,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800.3","catch_line":"Sale of certain property by locality to adjoining landowners","url":"\/15.2-1800.3\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800.3","metadata":false},{"id":63294,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800.4","catch_line":"Restrictive covenants; prohibited; recreational property; Loudoun County","url":"\/15.2-1800.4\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800.4","metadata":false},{"id":69450,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1801","catch_line":"Acquisition of real property near parks or other public property","url":"\/15.2-1801\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1801","metadata":false},{"id":66871,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1802","catch_line":"Authority of towns to acquire, lease or sell land for development of business and industry","url":"\/15.2-1802\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1802","metadata":false},{"id":72964,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1803","catch_line":"Approval and acceptance of conveyances of real estate","url":"\/15.2-1803\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1803","metadata":false},{"id":67385,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1804","catch_line":"Building by locality","url":"\/15.2-1804\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1804","metadata":false},{"id":62408,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1804.1","catch_line":"(For applicability, see Acts 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 473, cl. 2) Building by locality; high performance standards","url":"\/15.2-1804.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1804.1","metadata":false},{"id":59173,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1805","catch_line":"Permitting individuals with visual impairments to operate stands for sale of newspapers, etc","url":"\/15.2-1805\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1805","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":67773,"structure_id":15521,"section_number":"15.2-1800.1","catch_line":"Tenancy in common with school board for certain property","url":"\/15.2-1800.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1800\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 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 1962, chapter 623; in 1968, chapter 418; in 1974, chapter 282; in 1977, chapter 269; in 1979, chapter 431; in 1980, chapters 212 and 559; in 1984, chapter 241; in 1986, chapters 477 and 573; in 1990, chapter 813; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 696<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 822<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 57<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 882<\/a>, 901<\/a>, and 926<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 401<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":54980,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1638\/"},{"id":69450,"section_number":"15.2-1801","catch_line":"Acquisition of real property near parks or other public property","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1801\/"},{"id":66871,"section_number":"15.2-1802","catch_line":"Authority of towns to acquire, lease or sell land for development of business and industry","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1802\/"},{"id":58354,"section_number":"15.2-1806","catch_line":"Parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1806\/"},{"id":63790,"section_number":"15.2-2002","catch_line":"Acquisitions in connection with public right-of-way changes","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2002\/"},{"id":63052,"section_number":"15.2-2003","catch_line":"Acquisition of land for public rights-of-way outside certain corporate limits","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2003\/"},{"id":79360,"section_number":"15.2-2109","catch_line":"Powers of localities as to public utilities and computer services; prevention of pollution of certain water","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2109\/"},{"id":60869,"section_number":"15.2-2114","catch_line":"Regulation of stormwater","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2114\/"},{"id":87268,"section_number":"15.2-2122","catch_line":"Localities authorized to establish, etc., sewage disposal system; incidental powers","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2122\/"},{"id":86795,"section_number":"15.2-2146","catch_line":"Powers of localities to acquire certain waterworks system","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2146\/"},{"id":72495,"section_number":"15.2-2403","catch_line":"Powers of service districts","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2403\/"},{"id":72807,"section_number":"15.2-3832","catch_line":"Authority to city to provide by condemnation, etc., water, light, power and fuel","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3832\/"},{"id":80463,"section_number":"15.2-4917","catch_line":"Facility sites","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4917\/"},{"id":67494,"section_number":"15.2-941","catch_line":"Participation by local government in certain loan programs","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-941\/"},{"id":73591,"section_number":"15.2-945","catch_line":"Acquisition and housing of relics, paintings, carvings, sculpture and other works of art","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-945\/"},{"id":66311,"section_number":"33.2-924","catch_line":"Conveying sections of roads or other property no longer necessary","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-924\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":59000,"section_number":"1-219.1","catch_line":"Limitations on eminent domain","order_by":null,"url":"\/1-219.1\/"},{"id":80108,"section_number":"15.2-1901","catch_line":"Condemnation authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1901\/"},{"id":81915,"section_number":"15.2-2030","catch_line":"Localities may sell or lease airspace over public streets, public rights-of-way, etc., under certain conditions","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2030\/"},{"id":83925,"section_number":"15.2-2240","catch_line":"Localities to adopt ordinances regulating subdivision and development of land","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2240\/"},{"id":56618,"section_number":"15.2-2280","catch_line":"Zoning ordinances generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2280\/"}],"permalink":{"id":153995,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82693,"identifier":"15.2-1800","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800","url":"\/15.2-1800\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1800\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/1\/15.2-1800","dublin_core":{"Title":"Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1800","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, exchange, lease as lessee, or otherwise, title to, or any interests in, any real property, whether improved or unimproved, within its jurisdiction<\/span>, for any public use. Acquisition of any interest in real property by condemnation is governed by Chapter 19 (§ 15.2-1901<\/a> et seq.). The acquisition of a leasehold or other interest in a telecommunications tower, owned by a nongovernmental source, for the operation of a locality<\/span>’s wireless radio communications systems shall be governed by this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Subject to any applicable requirements of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution, any locality<\/span> may sell, at public or private sale, exchange, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge, subordinate interest in or otherwise dispose of its real property, which includes the superjacent airspace (except airspace provided for in § 15.2-2030<\/a>) which may be subdivided and conveyed separate from the subjacent land surface, provided that no such real property, whether improved or unimproved, shall be disposed of until the governing body<\/span> has held a public hearing<\/span> concerning such disposal. However, the holding of a public hearing<\/span> shall not apply to (i) the leasing of real property to another public body, political subdivision or authority of the Commonwealth or (ii) conveyance of site development easements, or utility easements related to transportation projects, across public property, including, but not limited to, easements for ingress, egress, utilities, cable, telecommunications, storm water management, and other similar conveyances, that are consistent with the local capital improvement program, involving improvement of property owned by the locality<\/span>. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the vacation of public interests in real property under the provisions of Articles 6 (§ 15.2-2240<\/a> et seq.) and 7 (§ 15.2-2280<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 22. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A city<\/span> or town<\/span> may also acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries; a county<\/span> may acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries when expressly authorized by law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may construct, insure, and equip buildings, structures and other improvements on real property owned or leased by it. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may operate, maintain, and regulate the use of its real property or may contract<\/span> with other persons to do so.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any contrary provision of law<\/span>, general or special, no locality<\/span> providing access and opportunity to use its real property, whether improved or unimproved, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such real property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any locality<\/span> to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA, or to exempt any such groups from local policies governing access to and use of a locality<\/span>’s real property. The provisions of this paragraph applicable to a locality<\/span> shall also apply equally to any local governmental entity, including a department, agency, or authority. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> This section shall not be construed to deprive the resident judge<\/span> or judges<\/span> of the right to control the use of the courthouse. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> “Public use” as used in this section shall have the same meaning as in § 1-219.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPURCHASE, SALE, USE, ETC., OF REAL PROPERTY (\u00a7 15.2-1800)\n\nA. A locality may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, exchange, lease as\nlessee, or otherwise, title to, or any interests in, any real property, whether\nimproved or unimproved, within its jurisdiction, for any public use. Acquisition\nof any interest in real property by condemnation is governed by Chapter 19\n(§ 15.2-1901 et seq.). The acquisition of a leasehold or other interest in\na telecommunications tower, owned by a nongovernmental source, for the operation\nof a locality’s wireless radio communications systems shall be governed by\nthis chapter.\n\nB. Subject to any applicable requirements of Article VII, Section 9 of the\nConstitution, any locality may sell, at public or private sale, exchange, lease\nas lessor, mortgage, pledge, subordinate interest in or otherwise dispose of its\nreal property, which includes the superjacent airspace (except airspace provided\nfor in § 15.2-2030) which may be subdivided and conveyed separate from the\nsubjacent land surface, provided that no such real property, whether improved or\nunimproved, shall be disposed of until the governing body has held a public\nhearing concerning such disposal. However, the holding of a public hearing shall\nnot apply to (i) the leasing of real property to another public body, political\nsubdivision or authority of the Commonwealth or (ii) conveyance of site\ndevelopment easements, or utility easements related to transportation projects,\nacross public property, including, but not limited to, easements for ingress,\negress, utilities, cable, telecommunications, storm water management, and other\nsimilar conveyances, that are consistent with the local capital improvement\nprogram, involving improvement of property owned by the locality. The provisions\nof this section shall not apply to the vacation of public interests in real\nproperty under the provisions of Articles 6 (§ 15.2-2240 et seq.) and 7\n(§ 15.2-2280 et seq.) of Chapter 22.\n\nC. A city or town may also acquire real property for a public use outside its\nboundaries; a county may acquire real property for a public use outside its\nboundaries when expressly authorized by law.\n\nD. A locality may construct, insure, and equip buildings, structures and other\nimprovements on real property owned or leased by it.\n\nE. A locality may operate, maintain, and regulate the use of its real property\nor may contract with other persons to do so.\n\t\t\tNotwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, no\nlocality providing access and opportunity to use its real property, whether\nimproved or unimproved, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such\nreal property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America\nor the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to\nrequire any locality to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of\nthe USA, or to exempt any such groups from local policies governing access to\nand use of a locality’s real property. The provisions of this paragraph\napplicable to a locality shall also apply equally to any local governmental\nentity, including a department, agency, or authority.\n\nF. This section shall not be construed to deprive the resident judge or judges\nof the right to control the use of the courthouse.\n\nG. “Public use” as used in this section shall have the same meaning\nas in § 1-219.1.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-692; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-262; 1968, c. 418; 1974, c.\n282; 1977, c. 269; 1979, c. 431; 1980, cc. 212, 559; 1984, c. 241; 1986, cc.\n477, 573; 1990, c. 813; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 696; 2005, c. 822; 2006, c. 57;\n2007, cc. 882, 901, 926; 2017, c. 401.","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}}