{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3803.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3803.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3803.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3803.html"}],"law_id":66107,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66107,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3803","catch_line":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading","history":"1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-982.3; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding for a grant of city status, a town shall serve notice on the county attorney, or if there is none, on the attorney for the Commonwealth, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors of the county or counties within which the town lies that it will, on a given day, petition the circuit court for a grant of city status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance. A copy of the notice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance and a reference to the place within the town where copies of the notice and ordinance may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the town and county, or counties, in which the town is situated. The notice and ordinance shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification from the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance shall be proof of publication.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":240155,"text":"At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding for a grant of city status, a town shall serve notice on the county attorney, or if there is none, on the attorney for the Commonwealth, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors of the county or counties within which the town lies that it will, on a given day, petition the circuit court for a grant of city status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance. A copy of the notice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance and a reference to the place within the town where copies of the notice and ordinance may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the town and county, or counties, in which the town is situated. The notice and ordinance shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification from the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance shall be proof of publication.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13063,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transition of Towns to Cities","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:12","permalink":{"id":157557,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13063,"identifier":"38","token":"15.2\/III\/38","url":"\/15.2\/III\/38\/","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":80368,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3800","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3800\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3800","metadata":false},{"id":59085,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3801","catch_line":"Referendum","url":"\/15.2-3801\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3801","metadata":false},{"id":80173,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3802","catch_line":"Town and county agreement concerning proposed city","url":"\/15.2-3802\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3802","metadata":false},{"id":66107,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3803","catch_line":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading","url":"\/15.2-3803\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3803","metadata":false},{"id":84061,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3804","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3804\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3804","metadata":false},{"id":72646,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3805","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors; publication of order","url":"\/15.2-3805\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3805","metadata":false},{"id":71867,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3806","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3806\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3806","metadata":false},{"id":83950,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3807","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3807\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3807","metadata":false},{"id":67826,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3808","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3808\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3808","metadata":false},{"id":62141,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3809","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3809\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3809","metadata":false},{"id":86663,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3810","catch_line":"Declining of grant of city status","url":"\/15.2-3810\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3810","metadata":false},{"id":68815,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3811","catch_line":"Proceeding final for three years","url":"\/15.2-3811\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3811","metadata":false},{"id":61530,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3812","catch_line":"Effect when town becomes city","url":"\/15.2-3812\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3812","metadata":false},{"id":70595,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3813","catch_line":"Town liabilities and assets","url":"\/15.2-3813\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3813","metadata":false},{"id":69704,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3814","catch_line":"Mayor of town to continue in office","url":"\/15.2-3814\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3814","metadata":false},{"id":59418,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3815","catch_line":"Council of town to continue in office; additional members","url":"\/15.2-3815\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3815","metadata":false},{"id":56370,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3816","catch_line":"Town treasurer to continue in office; appointment where town had no treasurer","url":"\/15.2-3816\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3816","metadata":false},{"id":87034,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3817","catch_line":"Commissioner of revenue or assessor to continue in office; appointment where town had no commissioner or assessor","url":"\/15.2-3817\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3817","metadata":false},{"id":74687,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3818","catch_line":"Town sergeant to continue in office","url":"\/15.2-3818\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3818","metadata":false},{"id":84553,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3819","catch_line":"Election and terms of office of mayor and councilmen after town becomes city","url":"\/15.2-3819\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3819","metadata":false},{"id":54116,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3820","catch_line":"Election and terms of other city officers","url":"\/15.2-3820\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3820","metadata":false},{"id":58702,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3821","catch_line":"Qualification of officers; vacancies","url":"\/15.2-3821\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3821","metadata":false},{"id":78502,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3822","catch_line":"Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction","url":"\/15.2-3822\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3822","metadata":false},{"id":71166,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3823","catch_line":"Tenure and reelection of county officer whose homesite becomes part of city","url":"\/15.2-3823\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3823","metadata":false},{"id":66773,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3824","catch_line":"Town officers","url":"\/15.2-3824\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3824","metadata":false},{"id":71501,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3825","catch_line":"Courts","url":"\/15.2-3825\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3825","metadata":false},{"id":66417,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3826","catch_line":"Appointment of electoral board, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and circuit court clerk","url":"\/15.2-3826\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3826","metadata":false},{"id":78169,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3827","catch_line":"Transfer of assessments to city books","url":"\/15.2-3827\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3827","metadata":false},{"id":61596,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3828","catch_line":"State, county and district taxes accruing before transition; county sales and use tax becomes city sales and use tax","url":"\/15.2-3828\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3828","metadata":false},{"id":61008,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3829","catch_line":"Assumption of debt; adjustment","url":"\/15.2-3829\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3829","metadata":false},{"id":69691,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3830","catch_line":"Certain costs and expenses to be apportioned between city and county","url":"\/15.2-3830\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3830","metadata":false},{"id":62813,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3831","catch_line":"Registrars and their duties","url":"\/15.2-3831\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3831","metadata":false},{"id":72807,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3832","catch_line":"Authority to city to provide by condemnation, etc., water, light, power and fuel","url":"\/15.2-3832\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3832","metadata":false},{"id":80329,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3833","catch_line":"Chapter not applicable to cities already existing","url":"\/15.2-3833\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3833","metadata":false},{"id":69864,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3834","catch_line":"Congressional, etc., districts and judicial circuit not changed","url":"\/15.2-3834\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3834","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":80173,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3802","catch_line":"Town and county agreement concerning proposed city","url":"\/15.2-3802\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3802","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84061,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3804","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3804\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3804","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3803\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 85 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. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":157571,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66107,"identifier":"15.2-3803","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3803","url":"\/15.2-3803\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3803\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3803","dublin_core":{"Title":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3803","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding for a grant of <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> status, a <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> shall serve notice on the <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> attorney, or if there is none, on the attorney for the Commonwealth, and on the chairman of the <span class=\"dictionary\">board of supervisors<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> or counties within which the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> lies that it will, on a given day, <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> for a grant of <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span>. A copy of the notice and <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span>, or a descriptive summary of the notice and <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> and a reference to the place within the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> where copies of the notice and <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span>, or counties, in which the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> is situated. The notice and <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> shall be returned after service to the clerk of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>. Certification from the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> shall be proof of publication.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNOTICE OF MOTION; SERVICE AND PUBLICATION; ANSWER OR OTHER PLEADING (\u00a7\n15.2-3803)\n\nAt least thirty days before instituting a proceeding for a grant of city status,\na town shall serve notice on the county attorney, or if there is none, on the\nattorney for the Commonwealth, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors\nof the county or counties within which the town lies that it will, on a given\nday, petition the circuit court for a grant of city status. The notice served on\neach official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance. A copy of the\nnotice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance and a\nreference to the place within the town where copies of the notice and ordinance\nmay be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive\nweeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the town and county, or\ncounties, in which the town is situated. The notice and ordinance shall be\nreturned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification from the\nowner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance\nshall be proof of publication.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-982.3; 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}}