{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1806.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1806.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1806.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1806.html"}],"law_id":58354,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58354,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1806","catch_line":"Parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, etc","history":"1997, c. 587; 2008, c. 381; 2018, cc. 720, 721; 2023, cc. 131, 132.","full_text":"A\n\nA locality may establish parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds; set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it; and acquire land, buildings and other facilities pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1800 for the aforesaid purposes.\n\t\t\tIn regard to its parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds, a locality may:1\n\nFix, prescribe, and provide for the collection of fees for their use;2\n\nLevy and collect an annual tax upon all property in the locality subject to local taxation to pay, in whole or in part, the expenses incident to their maintenance and operation;3\n\nOperate their use through a department or bureau of recreation or delegate the operation thereof to a recreation board created by it, to a school board, or any other appropriate existing board or commission.B\n\nA locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of trails for all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, or both, as those terms are defined in § 46.2-100, and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses, easements, leases, or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of boating, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing activities on waterways and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it.\n\t\t\tIn furtherance of the purposes of this subsection, a locality may provide for the protection of persons whose property interests, or personal liability, may be related to or affected by the use of such trails or waterways. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the use and enjoyment of private property.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":213712,"text":"A locality may establish parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds; set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it; and acquire land, buildings and other facilities pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1800 for the aforesaid purposes.\n\t\t\tIn regard to its parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds, a locality may:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":213713,"text":"Fix, prescribe, and provide for the collection of fees for their use;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":213714,"text":"Levy and collect an annual tax upon all property in the locality subject to local taxation to pay, in whole or in part, the expenses incident to their maintenance and operation;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":213715,"text":"Operate their use through a department or bureau of recreation or delegate the operation thereof to a recreation board created by it, to a school board, or any other appropriate existing board or commission.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":213716,"text":"A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of trails for all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, or both, as those terms are defined in § 46.2-100, and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses, easements, leases, or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of boating, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing activities on waterways and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it.\n\t\t\tIn furtherance of the purposes of this subsection, a locality may provide for the protection of persons whose property interests, or personal liability, may be related to or affected by the use of such trails or waterways. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the use and enjoyment of private property.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15327,"edition_id":1,"name":"Parks, Recreation Facilities and Playgrounds","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14773,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:59","permalink":{"id":154039,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15327,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2","url":"\/15.2\/II\/18\/2\/","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":58354,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1806","catch_line":"Parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, etc","url":"\/15.2-1806\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1806","metadata":false},{"id":58596,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1807","catch_line":"Recreation, etc., system; petition and election for establishment","url":"\/15.2-1807\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1807","metadata":false},{"id":70509,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1808","catch_line":"Certain sports facilities","url":"\/15.2-1808\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1808","metadata":false},{"id":72126,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1809","catch_line":"Liability of localities and certain authorities in the operation of parks, recreational facilities and playgrounds","url":"\/15.2-1809\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1809","metadata":false},{"id":63379,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1809.1","catch_line":"Liability of localities for the site of trails or waterways","url":"\/15.2-1809.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1809.1","metadata":false},{"id":66988,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1810","catch_line":"Leasing land for swimming pool purposes","url":"\/15.2-1810\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1810","metadata":false},{"id":62858,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1811","catch_line":"Counties and cities may operate parks, recreational facilities and swimming pools in sanitary districts","url":"\/15.2-1811\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1811","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":58596,"structure_id":15327,"section_number":"15.2-1807","catch_line":"Recreation, etc., system; petition and election for establishment","url":"\/15.2-1807\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1807","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1806\/","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 2008, chapter 381<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 720<\/a> and 721<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 131<\/a> and 132<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63379,"section_number":"15.2-1809.1","catch_line":"Liability of localities for the site of trails or waterways","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1809.1\/"},{"id":55958,"section_number":"8.01-226.13","catch_line":"Limited standing to seek injunctive relief against manufacturing companies","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-226.13\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82693,"section_number":"15.2-1800","catch_line":"Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1800\/"},{"id":82691,"section_number":"46.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":154041,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58354,"identifier":"15.2-1806","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1806","url":"\/15.2-1806\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1806\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/2\/15.2-1806","dublin_core":{"Title":"Parks, recreation facilities, playgrounds, etc","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1806","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may establish parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds; set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it; and acquire land, buildings and other facilities pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1800<\/a> for the aforesaid purposes.\n\t\t\tIn regard to its parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds, a locality<\/span> may: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Fix, prescribe, and provide for the collection of fees for their use; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Levy<\/span> and collect an annual tax upon all property in the locality<\/span> subject to local taxation to pay, in whole or in part, the expenses incident to their maintenance and operation; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Operate their use through a department or bureau of recreation or delegate the operation thereof to a recreation board created by it, to a school board, or any other appropriate existing board or commission. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality<\/span> may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of trails for all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, or both, as those terms are defined in § 46.2-100<\/a>, and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses, easements, leases, or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality<\/span> may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of boating, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing activities on waterways and may set apart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for such use on land not owned or leased by it.\n\t\t\tIn furtherance of the purposes of this subsection, a locality<\/span> may provide for the protection of persons whose property interests, or personal liability, may be related to or affected by the use of such trails or waterways. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the use and enjoyment of private property. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPARKS, RECREATION FACILITIES, PLAYGROUNDS, ETC (\u00a7 15.2-1806)\n\nA. A locality may establish parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds; set\napart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it; and acquire\nland, buildings and other facilities pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1800 for the aforesaid\npurposes.\n\t\t\tIn regard to its parks, recreation facilities and playgrounds, a locality\nmay:\n\n 1. Fix, prescribe, and provide for the collection of fees for their use;\n\n 2. Levy and collect an annual tax upon all property in the locality subject to\n local taxation to pay, in whole or in part, the expenses incident to their\n maintenance and operation;\n\n 3. Operate their use through a department or bureau of recreation or delegate\n the operation thereof to a recreation board created by it, to a school board,\n or any other appropriate existing board or commission.\n\nB. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of walking,\nhiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and may set apart for such use any\nland or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or permits for\nsuch use on land not owned or leased by it. A locality may also establish,\nconduct, and regulate a system of trails for all-terrain vehicles, off-road\nmotorcycles, or both, as those terms are defined in § 46.2-100, and may set\napart for such use any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain\nlicenses, easements, leases, or permits for such use on land not owned or leased\nby it. A locality may also establish, conduct, and regulate a system of boating,\ncanoeing, kayaking, or tubing activities on waterways and may set apart for such\nuse any land or buildings owned or leased by it and may obtain licenses or\npermits for such use on land not owned or leased by it.\n\t\t\tIn furtherance of the purposes of this subsection, a locality may provide for\nthe protection of persons whose property interests, or personal liability, may\nbe related to or affected by the use of such trails or waterways. Nothing\ncontained in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the use and\nenjoyment of private property.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 587; 2008, c. 381; 2018, cc. 720, 721; 2023, cc. 131, 132.","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}}