{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3529.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3529.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3529.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3529.html"}],"law_id":67012,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67012,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3529","catch_line":"Consolidation agreement generally; advisory committee; filing agreement and referendum petition with court","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-221; 1956, c. 554; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1131; 1968, c. 694; 1975, c. 517; 1979, c. 85; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"The board of supervisors or council of the locality desiring to consolidate into a county or city, or any county and all incorporated towns located entirely therein desiring to consolidate into a county or city may enter into a joint agreement for such consolidation, setting forth in such consolidation agreement the following:\n\n1\n\nThe names of the localities proposing to consolidate;2\n\nThe name of the county or counties or city into which the localities propose to consolidate; or that the localities agree to conduct a subsequent referendum to be voted on by the people of the consolidated county or city prior to the effective date of the consolidation to select the name for the consolidated county or city. The name chosen shall not be one that has been restricted or prohibited by law;3\n\nThe property, real or personal, belonging to each locality, and the fair value thereof in current money of the United States;4\n\nThe indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of each locality;5\n\nThe day upon which the consolidation agreement shall become effective, provided that, if an agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city, the effective date shall be stated in the charter enacted by the General Assembly; and6\n\nAny other provisions which may be properly embodied in the agreement.\n\t\t\tEach governing body may appoint an advisory committee composed of three persons to assist it in the preparation of an agreement, and may pay the members of the advisory committee reasonable compensation, which shall be approved by the circuit court for the locality.\n\t\t\tThe original of the consolidation agreement, together with a petition on behalf of the several governing bodies, signed by the chairman and the mayor and the clerk of each of the bodies, asking that a referendum on the question of consolidation of the localities, shall be filed with a judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over any of the localities proposing to consolidate; however, when the consolidation agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city that includes at least one county, the petition shall ask for proceedings pursuant to §§ 15.2-3521 through 15.2-3528 prior to such referendum. A copy of the agreement shall be filed with the judge of each circuit court having jurisdiction in the localities that are parties to the agreement.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242890,"text":"The board of supervisors or council of the locality desiring to consolidate into a county or city, or any county and all incorporated towns located entirely therein desiring to consolidate into a county or city may enter into a joint agreement for such consolidation, setting forth in such consolidation agreement the following:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":242891,"text":"The names of the localities proposing to consolidate;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":242892,"text":"The name of the county or counties or city into which the localities propose to consolidate; or that the localities agree to conduct a subsequent referendum to be voted on by the people of the consolidated county or city prior to the effective date of the consolidation to select the name for the consolidated county or city. The name chosen shall not be one that has been restricted or prohibited by law;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":242893,"text":"The property, real or personal, belonging to each locality, and the fair value thereof in current money of the United States;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":242894,"text":"The indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of each locality;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":242895,"text":"The day upon which the consolidation agreement shall become effective, provided that, if an agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city, the effective date shall be stated in the charter enacted by the General Assembly; and","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":242896,"text":"Any other provisions which may be properly embodied in the agreement.\n\t\t\tEach governing body may appoint an advisory committee composed of three persons to assist it in the preparation of an agreement, and may pay the members of the advisory committee reasonable compensation, which shall be approved by the circuit court for the locality.\n\t\t\tThe original of the consolidation agreement, together with a petition on behalf of the several governing bodies, signed by the chairman and the mayor and the clerk of each of the bodies, asking that a referendum on the question of consolidation of the localities, shall be filed with a judge of a circuit court having jurisdiction over any of the localities proposing to consolidate; however, when the consolidation agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city that includes at least one county, the petition shall ask for proceedings pursuant to §§ 15.2-3521 through 15.2-3528 prior to such referendum. A copy of the agreement shall be filed with the judge of each circuit court having jurisdiction in the localities that are parties to the agreement.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13191,"edition_id":1,"name":"Consolidation of Certain Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13098,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:25","permalink":{"id":157351,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13191,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/2\/","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":62773,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3520","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative consolidations","url":"\/15.2-3520\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3520","metadata":false},{"id":76869,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3521","catch_line":"Proposed consolidated city; notice of motion; service and publication","url":"\/15.2-3521\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3521","metadata":false},{"id":76330,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3522","catch_line":"Petition; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3522\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3522","metadata":false},{"id":77723,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3523","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3523\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3523","metadata":false},{"id":56869,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3524","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors","url":"\/15.2-3524\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3524","metadata":false},{"id":63758,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3525","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3525\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3525","metadata":false},{"id":72751,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3526","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3526\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3526","metadata":false},{"id":81937,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3527","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3527\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3527","metadata":false},{"id":74300,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3528","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3528\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3528","metadata":false},{"id":67012,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3529","catch_line":"Consolidation agreement generally; advisory committee; filing agreement and referendum petition with court","url":"\/15.2-3529\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3529","metadata":false},{"id":57135,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3530","catch_line":"Continuation of services of Department of Transportation after consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3530\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3530","metadata":false},{"id":66517,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3531","catch_line":"Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum","url":"\/15.2-3531\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3531","metadata":false},{"id":80311,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3532","catch_line":"Required provisions of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3532\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3532","metadata":false},{"id":54885,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3533","catch_line":"Transfer of property and indebtedness","url":"\/15.2-3533\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3533","metadata":false},{"id":57984,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3534","catch_line":"Optional provisions of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3534\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3534","metadata":false},{"id":55792,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3535","catch_line":"Advertising of charter","url":"\/15.2-3535\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3535","metadata":false},{"id":58929,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3536","catch_line":"Charter for consolidated city","url":"\/15.2-3536\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3536","metadata":false},{"id":74992,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3537","catch_line":"Publication of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3537\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3537","metadata":false},{"id":57289,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3538","catch_line":"Order for election","url":"\/15.2-3538\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3538","metadata":false},{"id":76047,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3539","catch_line":"Conduct of election","url":"\/15.2-3539\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3539","metadata":false},{"id":87413,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3540","catch_line":"Result of elections; determination of form of government","url":"\/15.2-3540\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3540","metadata":false},{"id":85286,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3541","catch_line":"General effect of consolidation; officers","url":"\/15.2-3541\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3541","metadata":false},{"id":84944,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3542","catch_line":"Governing body to be elected and take office before effective date of consolidation in certain cases; powers","url":"\/15.2-3542\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3542","metadata":false},{"id":67281,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3543","catch_line":"Electoral board, general registrar and officers of election","url":"\/15.2-3543\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3543","metadata":false},{"id":54206,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3544","catch_line":"Effect on pending suits","url":"\/15.2-3544\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3544","metadata":false},{"id":66202,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3545","catch_line":"Effect on assembly districts","url":"\/15.2-3545\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3545","metadata":false},{"id":81817,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3546","catch_line":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","url":"\/15.2-3546\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3546","metadata":false},{"id":60743,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3547","catch_line":"Consolidation of entire county requires no action of town council","url":"\/15.2-3547\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3547","metadata":false},{"id":82967,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3548","catch_line":"Effect on town charter","url":"\/15.2-3548\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3548","metadata":false},{"id":66812,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3549","catch_line":"Powers of a tier-city","url":"\/15.2-3549\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3549","metadata":false},{"id":77012,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3550","catch_line":"Effect of consolidation into single county; exceptions for tier-city","url":"\/15.2-3550\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3550","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74300,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3528","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3528\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3528","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57135,"structure_id":13191,"section_number":"15.2-3530","catch_line":"Continuation of services of Department of Transportation after consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3530\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3530","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3529\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 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 1956, chapter 554; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1968, chapter 694; in 1975, chapter 517; in 1979, chapter 85; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":62773,"section_number":"15.2-3520","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative consolidations","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3520\/"},{"id":76330,"section_number":"15.2-3522","catch_line":"Petition; appointment of special court","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3522\/"},{"id":66517,"section_number":"15.2-3531","catch_line":"Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3531\/"},{"id":80311,"section_number":"15.2-3532","catch_line":"Required provisions of consolidation agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3532\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":76869,"section_number":"15.2-3521","catch_line":"Proposed consolidated city; notice of motion; service and publication","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3521\/"},{"id":74300,"section_number":"15.2-3528","catch_line":"Appeals","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-3528\/"}],"permalink":{"id":157389,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67012,"identifier":"15.2-3529","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3529","url":"\/15.2-3529\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3529\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3529","dublin_core":{"Title":"Consolidation agreement generally; advisory committee; filing agreement and referendum petition with court","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3529","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The board of supervisors<\/span> or council<\/span> of the locality<\/span> desiring to consolidate into a county<\/span> or city<\/span>, or any county<\/span> and all incorporated towns<\/span> located entirely therein desiring to consolidate into a county<\/span> or city<\/span> may enter into a joint agreement for such consolidation<\/span>, setting forth in such consolidation<\/span> agreement the following:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The names of the localities proposing to consolidate; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The name of the county<\/span> or counties or city<\/span> into which the localities propose to consolidate; or that the localities agree to conduct a subsequent referendum<\/span> to be voted on by the people of the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span> prior to the effective date of the consolidation<\/span> to select the name for the consolidated county<\/span> or city<\/span>. The name chosen shall not be one that has been restricted or prohibited by law<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The property, real or personal, belonging to each locality<\/span>, and the fair value thereof in current money of the United States; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of each locality<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The day upon which the consolidation<\/span> agreement shall become effective, provided that, if an agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city<\/span>, the effective date shall be stated in the charter enacted by the General Assembly; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Any other provisions which may be properly embodied in the agreement.\n\t\t\tEach governing body<\/span> may appoint an advisory committee composed of three persons to assist it in the preparation of an agreement, and may pay the members of the advisory committee reasonable compensation, which shall be approved by the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for the locality<\/span>.\n\t\t\tThe original of the consolidation<\/span> agreement, together with a petition<\/span> on behalf of the several governing bodies, signed by the chairman and the mayor and the clerk of each of the bodies, asking that a referendum<\/span> on the question of consolidation<\/span> of the localities, shall be filed with a judge<\/span> of a circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> over any of the localities proposing to consolidate; however, when the consolidation<\/span> agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city<\/span> that includes at least one county<\/span>, the petition<\/span> shall ask for proceedings pursuant to §§ 15.2-3521<\/a> through 15.2-3528<\/a> prior to such referendum<\/span>. A copy of the agreement shall be filed with the judge<\/span> of each circuit<\/span> court<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> in the localities that are parties to the agreement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT GENERALLY; ADVISORY COMMITTEE; FILING AGREEMENT AND\nREFERENDUM PETITION WITH COURT (\u00a7 15.2-3529)\n\nThe board of supervisors or council of the locality desiring to consolidate into\na county or city, or any county and all incorporated towns located entirely\ntherein desiring to consolidate into a county or city may enter into a joint\nagreement for such consolidation, setting forth in such consolidation agreement\nthe following:\n\n1. The names of the localities proposing to consolidate;\n\n2. The name of the county or counties or city into which the localities propose\nto consolidate; or that the localities agree to conduct a subsequent referendum\nto be voted on by the people of the consolidated county or city prior to the\neffective date of the consolidation to select the name for the consolidated\ncounty or city. The name chosen shall not be one that has been restricted or\nprohibited by law;\n\n3. The property, real or personal, belonging to each locality, and the fair\nvalue thereof in current money of the United States;\n\n4. The indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, of each locality;\n\n5. The day upon which the consolidation agreement shall become effective,\nprovided that, if an agreement proposes the creation of a consolidated city, the\neffective date shall be stated in the charter enacted by the General Assembly;\nand\n\n6. Any other provisions which may be properly embodied in the agreement.\n\t\t\tEach governing body may appoint an advisory committee composed of three\npersons to assist it in the preparation of an agreement, and may pay the members\nof the advisory committee reasonable compensation, which shall be approved by\nthe circuit court for the locality.\n\t\t\tThe original of the consolidation agreement, together with a petition on\nbehalf of the several governing bodies, signed by the chairman and the mayor and\nthe clerk of each of the bodies, asking that a referendum on the question of\nconsolidation of the localities, shall be filed with a judge of a circuit court\nhaving jurisdiction over any of the localities proposing to consolidate;\nhowever, when the consolidation agreement proposes the creation of a\nconsolidated city that includes at least one county, the petition shall ask for\nproceedings pursuant to §§ 15.2-3521 through 15.2-3528 prior to such\nreferendum. A copy of the agreement shall be filed with the judge of each\ncircuit court having jurisdiction in the localities that are parties to the\nagreement.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-221; 1956, c. 554; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-1131; 1968,\nc. 694; 1975, c. 517; 1979, c. 85; 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}}