{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-2316.8.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-2316.8.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-2316.8.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-2316.8.html"}],"law_id":61188,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61188,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.8","catch_line":"Powers of host localities","history":"2020, c. 802; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 57, 58.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of a host locality shall have the power to:1\n\nHire and pay consultants and other experts on behalf of the host locality in matters pertaining to the siting of a solar project or energy storage project;2\n\nMeet, discuss, and negotiate a siting agreement with an applicant; and3\n\nEnter into a siting agreement with an applicant that is binding upon the governing body of the host locality and enforceable against it and future governing bodies of the host locality in any court of competent jurisdiction by signing a siting agreement pursuant to this article. Such contract may be assignable at the parties’ option.B\n\nIf the parties to the siting agreement agree upon the terms and conditions of a siting agreement, the host locality shall schedule a public hearing, pursuant to subsection A of § 15.2-2204, for the purpose of consideration of such siting agreement. If a majority of a quorum of the members of the governing body present at such public hearing approve of such siting agreement, the siting agreement shall be executed by the signatures of (i) the chief executive officer of the host locality and (ii) the applicant or the applicant’s authorized agent. The siting agreement shall continue in effect until it is amended, revoked, or suspended.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":223618,"text":"The governing body of a host locality shall have the power to:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":223619,"text":"Hire and pay consultants and other experts on behalf of the host locality in matters pertaining to the siting of a solar project or energy storage project;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":223620,"text":"Meet, discuss, and negotiate a siting agreement with an applicant; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":223621,"text":"Enter into a siting agreement with an applicant that is binding upon the governing body of the host locality and enforceable against it and future governing bodies of the host locality in any court of competent jurisdiction by signing a siting agreement pursuant to this article. Such contract may be assignable at the parties’ option.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":223622,"text":"If the parties to the siting agreement agree upon the terms and conditions of a siting agreement, the host locality shall schedule a public hearing, pursuant to subsection A of § 15.2-2204, for the purpose of consideration of such siting agreement. If a majority of a quorum of the members of the governing body present at such public hearing approve of such siting agreement, the siting agreement shall be executed by the signatures of (i) the chief executive officer of the host locality and (ii) the applicant or the applicant’s authorized agent. The siting agreement shall continue in effect until it is amended, revoked, or suspended.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15847,"edition_id":1,"name":"Siting of Solar Projects and Energy Storage Projects","identifier":"7.3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12774,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:00:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:00:29","permalink":{"id":155515,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15847,"identifier":"7.3","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3","url":"\/15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12774,"edition_id":1,"name":"Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning","identifier":"22","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":154795,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12774,"identifier":"22","token":"15.2\/II\/22","url":"\/15.2\/II\/22\/","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":78550,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.6","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-2316.6\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.6","metadata":false},{"id":68113,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.7","catch_line":"Negotiations; siting agreement","url":"\/15.2-2316.7\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.7","metadata":false},{"id":61188,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.8","catch_line":"Powers of host localities","url":"\/15.2-2316.8\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.8","metadata":false},{"id":69655,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.9","catch_line":"Effect of executed siting agreement; land use approval","url":"\/15.2-2316.9\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68113,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.7","catch_line":"Negotiations; siting agreement","url":"\/15.2-2316.7\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.7","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69655,"structure_id":15847,"section_number":"15.2-2316.9","catch_line":"Effect of executed siting agreement; land use approval","url":"\/15.2-2316.9\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.9","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-2316.8\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 802<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69655,"section_number":"15.2-2316.9","catch_line":"Effect of executed siting agreement; land use approval","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2316.9\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73996,"section_number":"15.2-2204","catch_line":"Advertisement of plans, ordinances, etc.; joint public hearings; written notice of certain amendments","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2204\/"}],"permalink":{"id":155525,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61188,"identifier":"15.2-2316.8","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.8","url":"\/15.2-2316.8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-2316.8\/","token":"15.2\/II\/22\/7.3\/15.2-2316.8","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers of host localities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-2316.8","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of a host locality<\/span> shall have the power to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Hire and pay consultants and other experts on behalf of the host locality<\/span> in matters pertaining to the siting of a solar project<\/span> or energy storage project<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Meet, discuss, and negotiate a siting agreement with an applicant; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Enter into a siting agreement with an applicant that is binding upon the governing body<\/span> of the host locality<\/span> and enforceable against it and future governing bodies of the host locality<\/span> in any court<\/span> of competent jurisdiction<\/span> by signing a siting agreement pursuant to this article. Such contract<\/span> may be assignable at the parties’ option. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> If the parties to the siting agreement agree upon the terms and conditions of a siting agreement, the host locality<\/span> shall schedule a public hearing<\/span>, pursuant to subsection A of § 15.2-2204<\/a>, for the purpose of consideration of such siting agreement. If a majority of a quorum of the members of the governing body<\/span> present at such public hearing<\/span> approve of such siting agreement, the siting agreement shall be executed by the signatures of (i) the chief executive officer of the host locality<\/span> and (ii) the applicant or the applicant’s authorized agent. The siting agreement shall continue in effect until it is amended, revoked, or suspended. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS OF HOST LOCALITIES (\u00a7 15.2-2316.8)\n\nA. The governing body of a host locality shall have the power to:\n\n 1. Hire and pay consultants and other experts on behalf of the host locality\n in matters pertaining to the siting of a solar project or energy storage\n project;\n\n 2. Meet, discuss, and negotiate a siting agreement with an applicant; and\n\n 3. Enter into a siting agreement with an applicant that is binding upon the\n governing body of the host locality and enforceable against it and future\n governing bodies of the host locality in any court of competent jurisdiction\n by signing a siting agreement pursuant to this article. Such contract may be\n assignable at the parties’ option.\n\nB. If the parties to the siting agreement agree upon the terms and conditions of\na siting agreement, the host locality shall schedule a public hearing, pursuant\nto subsection A of § 15.2-2204, for the purpose of consideration of such\nsiting agreement. If a majority of a quorum of the members of the governing body\npresent at such public hearing approve of such siting agreement, the siting\nagreement shall be executed by the signatures of (i) the chief executive officer\nof the host locality and (ii) the applicant or the applicant’s authorized\nagent. The siting agreement shall continue in effect until it is amended,\nrevoked, or suspended.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 802; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 57, 58.","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}}