{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1812.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1812.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1812.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1812.html"}],"law_id":76258,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76258,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1812","catch_line":"Memorials for war veterans","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-696; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-270; 1982, c. 19; 1988, c. 284; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 752; 2005, c. 390; 2010, c. 860; 2020, cc. 1100, 1101.","full_text":"A\n\nA locality may, within the geographical limits of the locality, authorize and permit the erection of monuments or memorials for the veterans of any war or conflict, or any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following : Algonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Civil War (1861-1865), Spanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), Korean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm (1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001- ), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, a locality may remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any such monument or memorial on the locality’s public property, not including a monument or memorial located in a publicly owned cemetery, regardless of when the monument or memorial was erected, after complying with the provisions of subsection B.B\n\nPrior to removing, relocating, contextualizing, or covering any such publicly owned monument or memorial, the local governing body shall publish notice of such intent in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality. The notice shall specify the time and place of a public hearing at which interested persons may present their views, not less than 30 days after publication of the notice. After the completion of the hearing, the governing body may vote whether to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial. If the governing body votes to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial, the local governing body shall first, for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing body shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the monument or memorial.C\n\nA locality may, prior to initiating the provisions of subsection B, petition the judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over the locality for an advisory referendum to be held on the question of the proposal to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any monument or memorial located on the locality’s public property. Upon the receipt of such petition, the circuit court shall order an election to be held thereon at a time that is in conformity with § 24.2-682. The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and the results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24.2-684.D\n\nThe governing body may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds to complete or aid in the erection, removal, relocation, contextualizing, or covering of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars or conflicts, or any engagement of such wars or conflicts. The governing body may also make a special levy to raise the money necessary for the erection or completion of any such monuments or memorials, or to supplement the funds already raised or that may be raised by private persons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or other organizations. It may also appropriate, out of any funds of such locality, a sufficient sum of money to permanently care for, protect, and preserve such monuments or memorials and may expend the same thereafter as other funds are expended.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":273783,"text":"A locality may, within the geographical limits of the locality, authorize and permit the erection of monuments or memorials for the veterans of any war or conflict, or any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following : Algonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Civil War (1861-1865), Spanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), Korean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm (1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001- ), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, a locality may remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any such monument or memorial on the locality’s public property, not including a monument or memorial located in a publicly owned cemetery, regardless of when the monument or memorial was erected, after complying with the provisions of subsection B.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":273784,"text":"Prior to removing, relocating, contextualizing, or covering any such publicly owned monument or memorial, the local governing body shall publish notice of such intent in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality. The notice shall specify the time and place of a public hearing at which interested persons may present their views, not less than 30 days after publication of the notice. After the completion of the hearing, the governing body may vote whether to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial. If the governing body votes to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial, the local governing body shall first, for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing body shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the monument or memorial.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":273785,"text":"A locality may, prior to initiating the provisions of subsection B, petition the judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over the locality for an advisory referendum to be held on the question of the proposal to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any monument or memorial located on the locality’s public property. Upon the receipt of such petition, the circuit court shall order an election to be held thereon at a time that is in conformity with § 24.2-682. The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and the results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24.2-684.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":273786,"text":"The governing body may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds to complete or aid in the erection, removal, relocation, contextualizing, or covering of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars or conflicts, or any engagement of such wars or conflicts. The governing body may also make a special levy to raise the money necessary for the erection or completion of any such monuments or memorials, or to supplement the funds already raised or that may be raised by private persons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or other organizations. It may also appropriate, out of any funds of such locality, a sufficient sum of money to permanently care for, protect, and preserve such monuments or memorials and may expend the same thereafter as other funds are expended.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14774,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14773,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:49","permalink":{"id":154069,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14774,"identifier":"3","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3","url":"\/15.2\/II\/18\/3\/","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":76258,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1812","catch_line":"Memorials for war veterans","url":"\/15.2-1812\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1812","metadata":false},{"id":80918,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1812.1","catch_line":"Action for damage to memorials for war veterans","url":"\/15.2-1812.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1812.1","metadata":false},{"id":79991,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1812.2","catch_line":"Willful and malicious damage to or defacement of public or private facilities; penalty","url":"\/15.2-1812.2\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1812.2","metadata":false},{"id":60170,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1813","catch_line":"Notice when public hearing required","url":"\/15.2-1813\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1813","metadata":false},{"id":56543,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1814","catch_line":"Acquisition authorized by chapter declared to be for public use","url":"\/15.2-1814\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1814","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":80918,"structure_id":14774,"section_number":"15.2-1812.1","catch_line":"Action for damage to memorials for war veterans","url":"\/15.2-1812.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1812.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1812\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1982, chapter 19; in 1988, chapter 284; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 752<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 390<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 860<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 1100<\/a> and 1101<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80918,"section_number":"15.2-1812.1","catch_line":"Action for damage to memorials for war veterans","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1812.1\/"},{"id":83724,"section_number":"18.2-137","catch_line":"Injuring, etc., any property, monument, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-137\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":77612,"section_number":"24.2-682","catch_line":"Times for special elections","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-682\/"}],"permalink":{"id":154071,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76258,"identifier":"15.2-1812","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1812","url":"\/15.2-1812\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1812\/","token":"15.2\/II\/18\/3\/15.2-1812","dublin_core":{"Title":"Memorials for war veterans","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1812","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may, within the geographical limits of the locality<\/span>, authorize and permit the erection of monuments or memorials for the veterans of any war or conflict, or any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following : Algonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Civil War (1861-1865), Spanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), Korean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm (1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001- ), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, general or special, a locality<\/span> may remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any such monument or memorial on the locality<\/span>’s public property, not including a monument or memorial located in a publicly owned cemetery, regardless of when the monument or memorial was erected, after complying with the provisions of subsection B. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Prior to removing, relocating, contextualizing, or covering any such publicly owned monument or memorial, the local governing body<\/span> shall publish notice of such intent<\/span> in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality<\/span>. The notice shall specify the time and place of a public hearing<\/span> at which interested persons may present their views, not less than 30 days after publication of the notice. After the completion of the hearing<\/span>, the governing body<\/span> may vote whether to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial. If the governing body<\/span> votes to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial, the local governing body<\/span> shall first, for a period of 30 days, offer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing body<\/span> shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition<\/span> of the monument or memorial. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may, prior to initiating the provisions of subsection B, petition<\/span> the judge<\/span> of a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> over the locality<\/span> for an advisory referendum<\/span> to be held on the question of the proposal to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover any monument or memorial located on the locality<\/span>’s public property. Upon the receipt of such petition<\/span>, the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> shall order<\/span> an election to be held thereon at a time that is in conformity with § 24.2-682<\/a>. The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and the results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24.2-684<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds to complete or aid in the erection, removal, relocation, contextualizing, or covering of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars or conflicts, or any engagement of such wars or conflicts. The governing body<\/span> may also make a special levy<\/span> to raise the money necessary for the erection or completion of any such monuments or memorials, or to supplement the funds already raised or that may be raised by private persons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or other organizations. It may also appropriate, out of any funds of such locality<\/span>, a sufficient sum of money to permanently care for, protect, and preserve such monuments or memorials and may expend the same thereafter as other funds are expended. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMEMORIALS FOR WAR VETERANS (\u00a7 15.2-1812)\n\nA. A locality may, within the geographical limits of the locality, authorize and\npermit the erection of monuments or memorials for the veterans of any war or\nconflict, or any engagement of such war or conflict, to include the following :\nAlgonquin (1622), French and Indian (1754-1763), Revolutionary (1775-1783), War\nof 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican (1846-1848), Civil War (1861-1865),\nSpanish-American (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945),\nKorean (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Desert Shield-Desert Storm\n(1990-1991), Global War on Terrorism (2000- ), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-\n), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003- ). Notwithstanding any other provision of\nlaw, general or special, a locality may remove, relocate, contextualize, or\ncover any such monument or memorial on the locality’s public property, not\nincluding a monument or memorial located in a publicly owned cemetery,\nregardless of when the monument or memorial was erected, after complying with\nthe provisions of subsection B.\n\nB. Prior to removing, relocating, contextualizing, or covering any such publicly\nowned monument or memorial, the local governing body shall publish notice of\nsuch intent in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality. The\nnotice shall specify the time and place of a public hearing at which interested\npersons may present their views, not less than 30 days after publication of the\nnotice. After the completion of the hearing, the governing body may vote whether\nto remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument or memorial. If the\ngoverning body votes to remove, relocate, contextualize, or cover the monument\nor memorial, the local governing body shall first, for a period of 30 days,\noffer the monument or memorial for relocation and placement to any museum,\nhistorical society, government, or military battlefield. The local governing\nbody shall have sole authority to determine the final disposition of the\nmonument or memorial.\n\nC. A locality may, prior to initiating the provisions of subsection B, petition\nthe judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over the locality for an\nadvisory referendum to be held on the question of the proposal to remove,\nrelocate, contextualize, or cover any monument or memorial located on the\nlocality’s public property. Upon the receipt of such petition, the circuit\ncourt shall order an election to be held thereon at a time that is in conformity\nwith § 24.2-682. The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and\nthe results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner\nprescribed by § 24.2-684.\n\nD. The governing body may appropriate a sufficient sum of money out of its funds\nto complete or aid in the erection, removal, relocation, contextualizing, or\ncovering of monuments or memorials to the veterans of such wars or conflicts, or\nany engagement of such wars or conflicts. The governing body may also make a\nspecial levy to raise the money necessary for the erection or completion of any\nsuch monuments or memorials, or to supplement the funds already raised or that\nmay be raised by private persons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion,\nor other organizations. It may also appropriate, out of any funds of such\nlocality, a sufficient sum of money to permanently care for, protect, and\npreserve such monuments or memorials and may expend the same thereafter as other\nfunds are expended.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-696; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-270; 1982, c. 19; 1988, c.\n284; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 752; 2005, c. 390; 2010, c. 860; 2020, cc. 1100,\n1101.","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}}