{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-301.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-301.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-301.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-301.html"}],"law_id":57211,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57211,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-301","catch_line":"Petition or resolution asking for referendum; notice; conduct of election","history":"1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 741; 2024, cc. 225, 242.","full_text":"A\n\nA county may adopt one of the optional forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 of this title only after approval by voter referendum. The referendum shall be initiated by (i) a petition filed with the circuit court for the county signed by at least ten percent of the voters of the county, asking that a referendum be held on the question of adopting one of the forms of government or (ii) a resolution passed by the board of supervisors and filed with the circuit court asking for a referendum. The petition or resolution shall specify which of the forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 is to be placed on the ballot for consideration. Only one form may be placed on the ballot for consideration.B\n\nNotice of the election shall be published three times in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the election. Notice of the election shall also be posted at the door of the county courthouse.C\n\nThe election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of § 24.2-684. In addition to the certifications required by such section, the secretary of the appropriate electoral board shall certify the results to the Commission on Local Government.D\n\nPrior to adopting an optional form of government provided for in Chapter 5 or Chapter 6, a county shall also comply with the referendum requirements of § 24.2-686.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":209576,"text":"A county may adopt one of the optional forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 of this title only after approval by voter referendum. The referendum shall be initiated by (i) a petition filed with the circuit court for the county signed by at least ten percent of the voters of the county, asking that a referendum be held on the question of adopting one of the forms of government or (ii) a resolution passed by the board of supervisors and filed with the circuit court asking for a referendum. The petition or resolution shall specify which of the forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 is to be placed on the ballot for consideration. Only one form may be placed on the ballot for consideration.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":209577,"text":"Notice of the election shall be published three times in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the election. Notice of the election shall also be posted at the door of the county courthouse.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":209578,"text":"The election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of § 24.2-684. In addition to the certifications required by such section, the secretary of the appropriate electoral board shall certify the results to the Commission on Local Government.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":209579,"text":"Prior to adopting an optional form of government provided for in Chapter 5 or Chapter 6, a county shall also comply with the referendum requirements of § 24.2-686.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14998,"edition_id":1,"name":"Optional Forms of County Government; General Provisions","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13138,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:24","permalink":{"id":151387,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14998,"identifier":"3","token":"15.2\/I\/3","url":"\/15.2\/I\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13138,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions; Charters; Other Forms and Organization of Counties","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","permalink":{"id":151281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13138,"identifier":"I","token":"15.2\/I","url":"\/15.2\/I\/","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":83114,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-300","catch_line":"Adoption of optional forms of county government; inconsistent provisions of law","url":"\/15.2-300\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":57211,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-301","catch_line":"Petition or resolution asking for referendum; notice; conduct of election","url":"\/15.2-301\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":67820,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-302","catch_line":"When form of government to become effective","url":"\/15.2-302\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-302","metadata":false},{"id":83257,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-303","catch_line":"When new supervisors elected","url":"\/15.2-303\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":86966,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-304","catch_line":"Effect of change on other county officers","url":"\/15.2-304\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":69468,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-305","catch_line":"Changing from one form to another","url":"\/15.2-305\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":70975,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-306","catch_line":"Limitation as to frequency of elections","url":"\/15.2-306\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":86659,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-307","catch_line":"County forms of government adopted under prior acts","url":"\/15.2-307\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-307","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83114,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-300","catch_line":"Adoption of optional forms of county government; inconsistent provisions of law","url":"\/15.2-300\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-300","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67820,"structure_id":14998,"section_number":"15.2-302","catch_line":"When form of government to become effective","url":"\/15.2-302\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-302","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-301\/","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 2 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 2000, chapter 741<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 225<\/a> and 242<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":83114,"section_number":"15.2-300","catch_line":"Adoption of optional forms of county government; inconsistent provisions of law","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-300\/"},{"id":67820,"section_number":"15.2-302","catch_line":"When form of government to become effective","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-302\/"},{"id":83257,"section_number":"15.2-303","catch_line":"When new supervisors elected","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-303\/"},{"id":69468,"section_number":"15.2-305","catch_line":"Changing from one form to another","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-305\/"},{"id":68277,"section_number":"15.2-603","catch_line":"Referendum on election of supervisors by districts or at large","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-603\/"},{"id":59246,"section_number":"15.2-708","catch_line":"Term of office of county manager; salary and performance of duties; acting manager in case of temporary absence or disability; removal or suspension","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-708\/"},{"id":67928,"section_number":"24.2-686","catch_line":"Special elections; petition and referendum requirements; abolition of constitutional office by change in form of government","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-686\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82479,"section_number":"24.2-684","catch_line":"How referendum elections called and held, and the results ascertained and certified","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-684\/"},{"id":67928,"section_number":"24.2-686","catch_line":"Special elections; petition and referendum requirements; abolition of constitutional office by change in form of government","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-686\/"}],"permalink":{"id":151393,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57211,"identifier":"15.2-301","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-301","url":"\/15.2-301\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-301\/","token":"15.2\/I\/3\/15.2-301","dublin_core":{"Title":"Petition or resolution asking for referendum; notice; conduct of election","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-301","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A county<\/span> may adopt one of the optional forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 of this title only after approval by voter<\/span> referendum<\/span>. The referendum<\/span> shall be initiated by (i) a petition<\/span> filed with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the county<\/span> signed by at least ten percent of the voters<\/span> of the county<\/span>, asking that a referendum<\/span> be held on the question of adopting one of the forms of government or (ii) a resolution passed by the board of supervisors<\/span> and filed with the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> asking for a referendum<\/span>. The petition<\/span> or resolution shall specify which of the forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 is to be placed on the ballot for consideration. Only one form may be placed on the ballot for consideration. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notice of the election shall be published three times in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county<\/span>, with the first notice appearing no more than 35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the election. Notice of the election shall also be posted at the door of the county<\/span> courthouse. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of § 24.2-684<\/a>. In addition to the certifications required by such section, the secretary of the appropriate electoral board shall certify the results to the Commission on Local Government<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Prior to adopting an optional form of government provided for in Chapter 5 or Chapter 6, a county<\/span> shall also comply with the referendum<\/span> requirements of § 24.2-686<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPETITION OR RESOLUTION ASKING FOR REFERENDUM; NOTICE; CONDUCT OF ELECTION (\u00a7\n15.2-301)\n\nA. A county may adopt one of the optional forms of government provided for in\nChapters 4 through 8 of this title only after approval by voter referendum. The\nreferendum shall be initiated by (i) a petition filed with the circuit court for\nthe county signed by at least ten percent of the voters of the county, asking\nthat a referendum be held on the question of adopting one of the forms of\ngovernment or (ii) a resolution passed by the board of supervisors and filed\nwith the circuit court asking for a referendum. The petition or resolution shall\nspecify which of the forms of government provided for in Chapters 4 through 8 is\nto be placed on the ballot for consideration. Only one form may be placed on the\nballot for consideration.\n\nB. Notice of the election shall be published three times in a newspaper having a\ngeneral circulation in the county, with the first notice appearing no more than\n35 days before and the third notice appearing no less than seven days before the\nelection. Notice of the election shall also be posted at the door of the county\ncourthouse.\n\nC. The election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of §\n24.2-684. In addition to the certifications required by such section, the\nsecretary of the appropriate electoral board shall certify the results to the\nCommission on Local Government.\n\nD. Prior to adopting an optional form of government provided for in Chapter 5 or\nChapter 6, a county shall also comply with the referendum requirements of §\n24.2-686.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 741; 2024, 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}}