{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1901.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1901.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1901.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1901.html"}],"law_id":80108,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80108,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1901","catch_line":"Condemnation authority","history":"1997, c. 587; 2001, c. 538; 2013, c. 581; 2022, c. 735.","full_text":"A\n\nIn addition to the authority granted to localities pursuant to any applicable charter provision or other provision of law, whenever a locality is authorized to acquire real or personal property or property interests for a public use, it may do so by exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as provided in subsection B.B\n\nA locality may acquire property or property interests outside its boundaries by exercise of the power of eminent domain only if such authority is expressly conferred by general law or special act. However, cities and towns shall have the right to acquire property outside their boundaries for the purposes set forth in § 15.2-2109 by exercise of the power of eminent domain. The exercise of such condemnation authority by a city or town shall not be construed to exempt the municipality from the provisions of subsection F of § 56-580.C\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, no locality shall condition or delay the timely consideration, advancement, or approval of any application for or grant of any permit or other approval for any real property over which it enjoys jurisdiction for the purpose, expressed or implied, of allowing the condemnation or acquisition of the property or to commence any process to consider whether to undertake condemnation or acquisition of the property.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286856,"text":"In addition to the authority granted to localities pursuant to any applicable charter provision or other provision of law, whenever a locality is authorized to acquire real or personal property or property interests for a public use, it may do so by exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as provided in subsection B.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":286857,"text":"A locality may acquire property or property interests outside its boundaries by exercise of the power of eminent domain only if such authority is expressly conferred by general law or special act. However, cities and towns shall have the right to acquire property outside their boundaries for the purposes set forth in § 15.2-2109 by exercise of the power of eminent domain. The exercise of such condemnation authority by a city or town shall not be construed to exempt the municipality from the provisions of subsection F of § 56-580.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":286858,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, no locality shall condition or delay the timely consideration, advancement, or approval of any application for or grant of any permit or other approval for any real property over which it enjoys jurisdiction for the purpose, expressed or implied, of allowing the condemnation or acquisition of the property or to commence any process to consider whether to undertake condemnation or acquisition of the property.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15455,"edition_id":1,"name":"Condemnation","identifier":"19","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:10","permalink":{"id":154105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15455,"identifier":"19","token":"15.2\/II\/19","url":"\/15.2\/II\/19\/","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":69088,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1900","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-1900\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1900","metadata":false},{"id":80108,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1901","catch_line":"Condemnation authority","url":"\/15.2-1901\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1901","metadata":false},{"id":58874,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1901.1","catch_line":"Condemnation by localities authorized","url":"\/15.2-1901.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1901.1","metadata":false},{"id":59804,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1902","catch_line":"Condemnation proceedings generally","url":"\/15.2-1902\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1902","metadata":false},{"id":78741,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1903","catch_line":"Requirements for initiating condemnation; filing of ordinance or resolution with petition; voluntary conveyance","url":"\/15.2-1903\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1903","metadata":false},{"id":64664,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1904","catch_line":"Possession of property prior to condemnation; authority to utilize expedited acquisition procedure conferred","url":"\/15.2-1904\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1904","metadata":false},{"id":81900,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1905","catch_line":"Special provisions for counties","url":"\/15.2-1905\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1905","metadata":false},{"id":77592,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1906","catch_line":"Condemnation of existing water or sewage disposal systems","url":"\/15.2-1906\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1906","metadata":false},{"id":69706,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1907","catch_line":"Condemnation for water supplies and water lines","url":"\/15.2-1907\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1907","metadata":false},{"id":72161,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1907.1","catch_line":"Condemnation of lands for compensatory mitigation of wetlands","url":"\/15.2-1907.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1907.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69088,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1900","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-1900\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1900","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58874,"structure_id":15455,"section_number":"15.2-1901.1","catch_line":"Condemnation by localities authorized","url":"\/15.2-1901.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1901.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1901\/","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 2001, chapter 538<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 581<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 735<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82693,"section_number":"15.2-1800","catch_line":"Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1800\/"},{"id":64664,"section_number":"15.2-1904","catch_line":"Possession of property prior to condemnation; authority to utilize expedited acquisition procedure conferred","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1904\/"}],"refers_to":[{"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\/"}],"permalink":{"id":154111,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80108,"identifier":"15.2-1901","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1901","url":"\/15.2-1901\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1901\/","token":"15.2\/II\/19\/15.2-1901","dublin_core":{"Title":"Condemnation authority","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1901","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In addition to the authority granted to localities pursuant to any applicable charter provision or other provision of law<\/span>, whenever a locality<\/span> is authorized to acquire real or personal property or property interests for a public use, it may do so by exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as provided in subsection B. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A locality<\/span> may acquire property or property interests outside its boundaries by exercise of the power of eminent domain only if such authority is expressly conferred by general law<\/span> or special act. However, cities and towns<\/span> shall have the right to acquire property outside their boundaries for the purposes set forth in § 15.2-2109<\/a> by exercise of the power of eminent domain. The exercise of such condemnation authority by a city<\/span> or town<\/span> shall not be construed to exempt the municipality from the provisions of subsection F of § 56-580<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, general or special, no locality<\/span> shall condition or delay the timely consideration, advancement, or approval of any application for or grant of any permit or other approval for any real property over which it enjoys jurisdiction<\/span> for the purpose, expressed or implied, of allowing the condemnation or acquisition of the property or to commence any process to consider whether to undertake condemnation or acquisition of the property. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONDEMNATION AUTHORITY (\u00a7 15.2-1901)\n\nA. In addition to the authority granted to localities pursuant to any applicable\ncharter provision or other provision of law, whenever a locality is authorized\nto acquire real or personal property or property interests for a public use, it\nmay do so by exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as provided in\nsubsection B.\n\nB. A locality may acquire property or property interests outside its boundaries\nby exercise of the power of eminent domain only if such authority is expressly\nconferred by general law or special act. However, cities and towns shall have\nthe right to acquire property outside their boundaries for the purposes set\nforth in § 15.2-2109 by exercise of the power of eminent domain. The\nexercise of such condemnation authority by a city or town shall not be construed\nto exempt the municipality from the provisions of subsection F of § 56-580.\n\nC. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, no locality\nshall condition or delay the timely consideration, advancement, or approval of\nany application for or grant of any permit or other approval for any real\nproperty over which it enjoys jurisdiction for the purpose, expressed or\nimplied, of allowing the condemnation or acquisition of the property or to\ncommence any process to consider whether to undertake condemnation or\nacquisition of the property.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 587; 2001, c. 538; 2013, c. 581; 2022, c. 735.","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}}