{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-2006.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-2006.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-2006.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-2006.html"}],"law_id":72383,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72383,"structure_id":14750,"section_number":"15.2-2006","catch_line":"Alteration and vacation of public rights-of-way; appeal from decision","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-766; 1950, p. 725; 1952, c. 580; 1956, c. 487; 1958, c. 196; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-364; 1964, c. 13; 1972, c. 357; 1973, c. 71; 1980, c. 236; 1982, c. 381; 1983, c. 33; 1984, c. 175; 1986, c. 41; 1997, c. 587; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","full_text":"In addition to (i) the powers contained in the charter of any locality, (ii) any powers now had by such governing bodies under the common law or (iii) powers by other provisions of law, public rights-of-way in localities may be altered or vacated on motion of such governing bodies or on application of any person after notice of intention to do so has been published twice in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the hearing. The notice shall specify the time and place of a hearing at which persons affected may appear and be heard. The cost of publishing the notice shall be taxed to the applicant. At the conclusion of the hearing and on application of any person, the governing body may appoint three to five people to view such public right-of-way and report in writing any inconvenience that would result from discontinuing the right-of-way. The governing body may allow the viewers up to fifty dollars each for their services. The sum allowed shall be paid by the person making the application to alter or vacate the public right-of-way. From such report and other evidence, if any, and after the land owners affected thereby, along the public right-of-way proposed to be altered or vacated, have been notified, the governing body may discontinue the public right-of-way. When an applicant requests a vacation to accommodate expansion or development of an existing or proposed business, the governing body may condition the vacation upon commencement of the expansion or development within a specified period of time. Failing to commence within such time may render the vacation, at the option of the governing body, void. A certified copy of the ordinance of vacation shall be recorded as deeds are recorded and indexed in the name of the locality. A conditional vacation shall not be recorded until the condition has been met.\n\t\tAny appeal shall be filed within sixty days of adoption of the ordinance with the circuit court for the locality in which the public right-of-way is located.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":260746,"text":"In addition to (i) the powers contained in the charter of any locality, (ii) any powers now had by such governing bodies under the common law or (iii) powers by other provisions of law, public rights-of-way in localities may be altered or vacated on motion of such governing bodies or on application of any person after notice of intention to do so has been published twice in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the hearing. The notice shall specify the time and place of a hearing at which persons affected may appear and be heard. The cost of publishing the notice shall be taxed to the applicant. At the conclusion of the hearing and on application of any person, the governing body may appoint three to five people to view such public right-of-way and report in writing any inconvenience that would result from discontinuing the right-of-way. The governing body may allow the viewers up to fifty dollars each for their services. The sum allowed shall be paid by the person making the application to alter or vacate the public right-of-way. From such report and other evidence, if any, and after the land owners affected thereby, along the public right-of-way proposed to be altered or vacated, have been notified, the governing body may discontinue the public right-of-way. When an applicant requests a vacation to accommodate expansion or development of an existing or proposed business, the governing body may condition the vacation upon commencement of the expansion or development within a specified period of time. Failing to commence within such time may render the vacation, at the option of the governing body, void. A certified copy of the ordinance of vacation shall be recorded as deeds are recorded and indexed in the name of the locality. A conditional vacation shall not be recorded until the condition has been met.\n\t\tAny appeal shall be filed within sixty days of adoption of the ordinance with the circuit court for the locality in which the public right-of-way is located.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14750,"edition_id":1,"name":"Vacation, Etc., of Public Rights-Of-Way","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13584,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:43","permalink":{"id":154213,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14750,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2","url":"\/15.2\/II\/20\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13584,"edition_id":1,"name":"Streets and Alleys","identifier":"20","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:19","permalink":{"id":154185,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13584,"identifier":"20","token":"15.2\/II\/20","url":"\/15.2\/II\/20\/","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":72383,"structure_id":14750,"section_number":"15.2-2006","catch_line":"Alteration and vacation of public rights-of-way; appeal from decision","url":"\/15.2-2006\/","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2006","metadata":false},{"id":82774,"structure_id":14750,"section_number":"15.2-2007","catch_line":"Fee for processing application under \u00a7 15.2-2006","url":"\/15.2-2007\/","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2007","metadata":false},{"id":78632,"structure_id":14750,"section_number":"15.2-2007.1","catch_line":"Appointment of viewers in certain cities","url":"\/15.2-2007.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2007.1","metadata":false},{"id":56490,"structure_id":14750,"section_number":"15.2-2008","catch_line":"Sale of public rights-of-way, easements, etc., to certain purchasers","url":"\/15.2-2008\/","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2008","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":82774,"structure_id":14750,"section_number":"15.2-2007","catch_line":"Fee for processing application under \u00a7 15.2-2006","url":"\/15.2-2007\/","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2007","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-2006\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 14 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 1952, chapter 580; in 1956, chapter 487; in 1958, chapter 196; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1964, chapter 13; in 1972, chapter 357; in 1973, chapter 71; in 1980, chapter 236; in 1982, chapter 381; in 1983, chapter 33; in 1984, chapter 175; in 1986, chapter 41; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 225<\/a> and 242<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82774,"section_number":"15.2-2007","catch_line":"Fee for processing application under \u00a7 15.2-2006","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2007\/"},{"id":78632,"section_number":"15.2-2007.1","catch_line":"Appointment of viewers in certain cities","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2007.1\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":154215,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72383,"identifier":"15.2-2006","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2006","url":"\/15.2-2006\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-2006\/","token":"15.2\/II\/20\/2\/15.2-2006","dublin_core":{"Title":"Alteration and vacation of public rights-of-way; appeal from decision","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-2006","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In addition to (i) the powers contained in the charter of any locality<\/span>, (ii) any powers now had by such governing bodies under the common law<\/span> or (iii) powers by other provisions of law, public rights-of-way in localities may be altered or vacated on motion<\/span> of such governing bodies or on application of any person after notice of intention to do so has been published twice in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality<\/span>, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the hearing<\/span>. The notice shall specify the time and place of a hearing<\/span> at which persons affected may appear and be heard. The cost of publishing the notice shall be taxed to the applicant. At the conclusion of the hearing<\/span> and on application of any person, the governing body<\/span> may appoint three to five people to view such public right-of-way and report in writing any inconvenience that would result from discontinuing the right-of-way. The governing body<\/span> may allow the viewers up to fifty dollars each for their services. The sum allowed shall be paid by the person making the application to alter or vacate the public right-of-way. From such report and other evidence<\/span>, if any, and after the land owners affected thereby, along the public right-of-way proposed to be altered or vacated, have been notified, the governing body<\/span> may discontinue the public right-of-way. When an applicant requests a vacation to accommodate expansion or development of an existing or proposed business, the governing body<\/span> may condition the vacation upon commencement of the expansion or development within a specified period of time. Failing to commence within such time may render the vacation, at the option of the governing body<\/span>, void. A certified copy of the ordinance<\/span> of vacation shall be recorded as deeds are recorded and indexed in the name of the locality<\/span>. A conditional vacation shall not be recorded until the condition has been met.\n\t\tAny appeal<\/span> shall be filed within sixty days of adoption of the ordinance<\/span> with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the locality<\/span> in which the public right-of-way is located.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nALTERATION AND VACATION OF PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY; APPEAL FROM DECISION (\u00a7\n15.2-2006)\n\nIn addition to (i) the powers contained in the charter of any locality, (ii) any\npowers now had by such governing bodies under the common law or (iii) powers by\nother provisions of law, public rights-of-way in localities may be altered or\nvacated on motion of such governing bodies or on application of any person after\nnotice of intention to do so has been published twice in a newspaper having\ngeneral circulation in the locality, with the first notice appearing no more\nthan 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days\nbefore the hearing. The notice shall specify the time and place of a hearing at\nwhich persons affected may appear and be heard. The cost of publishing the\nnotice shall be taxed to the applicant. At the conclusion of the hearing and on\napplication of any person, the governing body may appoint three to five people\nto view such public right-of-way and report in writing any inconvenience that\nwould result from discontinuing the right-of-way. The governing body may allow\nthe viewers up to fifty dollars each for their services. The sum allowed shall\nbe paid by the person making the application to alter or vacate the public\nright-of-way. From such report and other evidence, if any, and after the land\nowners affected thereby, along the public right-of-way proposed to be altered or\nvacated, have been notified, the governing body may discontinue the public\nright-of-way. When an applicant requests a vacation to accommodate expansion or\ndevelopment of an existing or proposed business, the governing body may\ncondition the vacation upon commencement of the expansion or development within\na specified period of time. Failing to commence within such time may render the\nvacation, at the option of the governing body, void. A certified copy of the\nordinance of vacation shall be recorded as deeds are recorded and indexed in the\nname of the locality. A conditional vacation shall not be recorded until the\ncondition has been met.\n\t\tAny appeal shall be filed within sixty days of adoption of the ordinance with\nthe circuit court for the locality in which the public right-of-way is located.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-766; 1950, p. 725; 1952, c. 580; 1956, c. 487; 1958,\nc. 196; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-364; 1964, c. 13; 1972, c. 357; 1973, c. 71; 1980,\nc. 236; 1982, c. 381; 1983, c. 33; 1984, c. 175; 1986, c. 41; 1997, c. 587;\n2024, cc. 225, 242.","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}}