{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3503.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3503.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3503.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3503.html"}],"law_id":78673,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78673,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3503","catch_line":"Petition requesting agreement","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-164; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1073; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"The voters of any locality whose governing body has not taken the initiative under \u00a7 15.2-3502 may require the governing body to do so by filing a petition with the governing body. The petition shall be signed by not less than ten percent of the voters of the locality registered as of January 1 of the year in which the petition is filed, which in no case shall be less than 100 voters, and shall ask the governing body to effect, in accordance with \u00a7 15.2-3502, a consolidation agreement with the locality named in the petition and to petition the judge for a referendum on the question. A copy of the petition of the voters shall also be filed with the judge of the circuit court for the locality. If the governing body within six months is unable or for any reason fails to perfect such consolidation agreement, then the judge of the circuit court for the locality shall appoint a committee of five representative citizens of the locality to act for and in lieu of the governing body in perfecting the consolidation agreement and in petitioning for a referendum.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":281907,"text":"The voters of any locality whose governing body has not taken the initiative under \u00a7 15.2-3502 may require the governing body to do so by filing a petition with the governing body. The petition shall be signed by not less than ten percent of the voters of the locality registered as of January 1 of the year in which the petition is filed, which in no case shall be less than 100 voters, and shall ask the governing body to effect, in accordance with \u00a7 15.2-3502, a consolidation agreement with the locality named in the petition and to petition the judge for a referendum on the question. A copy of the petition of the voters shall also be filed with the judge of the circuit court for the locality. If the governing body within six months is unable or for any reason fails to perfect such consolidation agreement, then the judge of the circuit court for the locality shall appoint a committee of five representative citizens of the locality to act for and in lieu of the governing body in perfecting the consolidation agreement and in petitioning for a referendum.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13099,"edition_id":1,"name":"Consolidation of Like Units of Local Government","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13098,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":157269,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13099,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13098,"edition_id":1,"name":"Consolidation of Localities","identifier":"35","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":157267,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13098,"identifier":"35","token":"15.2\/III\/35","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13062,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":156919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13062,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","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":71162,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3500","catch_line":"Application of article","url":"\/15.2-3500\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3500","metadata":false},{"id":73676,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3501","catch_line":"Authority to consolidate counties, cities or towns","url":"\/15.2-3501\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3501","metadata":false},{"id":60605,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3502","catch_line":"Agreement for consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3502\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3502","metadata":false},{"id":78673,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3503","catch_line":"Petition requesting agreement","url":"\/15.2-3503\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3503","metadata":false},{"id":84601,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3504","catch_line":"Publication of agreement","url":"\/15.2-3504\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3504","metadata":false},{"id":84014,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3505","catch_line":"Order for election","url":"\/15.2-3505\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3505","metadata":false},{"id":72393,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3506","catch_line":"Conduct of election","url":"\/15.2-3506\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3506","metadata":false},{"id":57181,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3507","catch_line":"Result of election","url":"\/15.2-3507\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3507","metadata":false},{"id":83387,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3508","catch_line":"Election or appointment of county officers","url":"\/15.2-3508\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3508","metadata":false},{"id":79155,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3509","catch_line":"Election or appointment of city or town officers","url":"\/15.2-3509\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3509","metadata":false},{"id":76880,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3510","catch_line":"General effect of consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3510\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3510","metadata":false},{"id":60969,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3511","catch_line":"Liabilities","url":"\/15.2-3511\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3511","metadata":false},{"id":66923,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3512","catch_line":"Suits and prosecutions","url":"\/15.2-3512\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3512","metadata":false},{"id":56981,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3513","catch_line":"Magisterial, school and election districts, etc","url":"\/15.2-3513\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3513","metadata":false},{"id":62474,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3514","catch_line":"Courts and judicial circuits","url":"\/15.2-3514\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3514","metadata":false},{"id":80444,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3515","catch_line":"Congressional and assembly districts","url":"\/15.2-3515\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3515","metadata":false},{"id":66680,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3516","catch_line":"Registration of voters","url":"\/15.2-3516\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3516","metadata":false},{"id":72581,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3517","catch_line":"Existing ordinances","url":"\/15.2-3517\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3517","metadata":false},{"id":69809,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3518","catch_line":"Determination of rights","url":"\/15.2-3518\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3518","metadata":false},{"id":54141,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3519","catch_line":"Repeal of certain charters","url":"\/15.2-3519\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3519","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60605,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3502","catch_line":"Agreement for consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3502\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3502","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84601,"structure_id":13099,"section_number":"15.2-3504","catch_line":"Publication of agreement","url":"\/15.2-3504\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3504","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3503\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. 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 1962, chapter 623; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":60605,"section_number":"15.2-3502","catch_line":"Agreement for consolidation","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3502\/"}],"permalink":{"id":157283,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78673,"identifier":"15.2-3503","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3503","url":"\/15.2-3503\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3503\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/1\/15.2-3503","dublin_core":{"Title":"Petition requesting agreement","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3503","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The voters<\/span> of any locality<\/span> whose governing body<\/span> has not taken the initiative under \u00a7 15.2-3502<\/a> may require the governing body<\/span> to do so by filing a petition<\/span> with the governing body<\/span>. The petition<\/span> shall be signed by not less than ten percent of the voters<\/span> of the locality<\/span> registered as of January 1 of the year in which the petition<\/span> is filed, which in no case shall be less than 100 voters<\/span>, and shall ask the governing body<\/span> to effect, in accordance with \u00a7 15.2-3502<\/a>, a consolidation<\/span> agreement with the locality<\/span> named in the petition<\/span> and to petition<\/span> the judge<\/span> for a referendum<\/span> on the question. A copy of the petition<\/span> of the voters<\/span> shall also be filed with the judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the locality<\/span>. If the governing body<\/span> within six months is unable or for any reason fails to perfect such consolidation<\/span> agreement, then the judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the locality<\/span> shall appoint a committee of five representative citizens of the locality<\/span> to act for and in lieu of the governing body<\/span> in perfecting the consolidation<\/span> agreement and in petitioning for a referendum<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPETITION REQUESTING AGREEMENT (\u00a7 15.2-3503)\n\nThe voters of any locality whose governing body has not taken the initiative\nunder \u00a7 15.2-3502 may require the governing body to do so by filing a petition\nwith the governing body. The petition shall be signed by not less than ten\npercent of the voters of the locality registered as of January 1 of the year in\nwhich the petition is filed, which in no case shall be less than 100 voters, and\nshall ask the governing body to effect, in accordance with \u00a7 15.2-3502, a\nconsolidation agreement with the locality named in the petition and to petition\nthe judge for a referendum on the question. A copy of the petition of the voters\nshall also be filed with the judge of the circuit court for the locality. If the\ngoverning body within six months is unable or for any reason fails to perfect\nsuch consolidation agreement, then the judge of the circuit court for the\nlocality shall appoint a committee of five representative citizens of the\nlocality to act for and in lieu of the governing body in perfecting the\nconsolidation agreement and in petitioning for a referendum.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-164; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1073; 1997, c. 587.","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}}