{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-3812.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-3812.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-3812.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-3812.html"}],"law_id":61530,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61530,"structure_id":13063,"section_number":"15.2-3812","catch_line":"Effect when town becomes city","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-83; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-983; 1979, c. 85; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"If a town becomes a city under this chapter, then:\n\n1\n\nIts charter, if it has one, shall remain in full force and effect insofar as its provisions do not conflict with this chapter;2\n\nIts ordinances shall be the ordinances of the city, insofar as they are applicable, until they are repealed by the city;3\n\nThe officers of the town shall be the officers of the city until their successors are elected or appointed and qualify, except as provided in this chapter, and shall discharge the duties and be subject to the penalties imposed by such charter and ordinances and by general law; and4\n\nProvisions of the town charter in conflict with this title or other provisions of general law shall be repealed thereby.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":224687,"text":"If a town becomes a city under this chapter, then:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":224688,"text":"Its charter, if it has one, shall remain in full force and effect insofar as its provisions do not conflict with this chapter;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":224689,"text":"Its ordinances shall be the ordinances of the city, insofar as they are applicable, until they are repealed by the city;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":224690,"text":"The officers of the town shall be the officers of the city until their successors are elected or appointed and qualify, except as provided in this chapter, and shall discharge the duties and be subject to the penalties imposed by such charter and ordinances and by general law; and","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":224691,"text":"Provisions of the town charter in conflict with this title or other provisions of general law shall be repealed thereby.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3812\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1979, chapter 85; 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":157607,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61530,"identifier":"15.2-3812","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3812","url":"\/15.2-3812\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3812\/","token":"15.2\/III\/38\/15.2-3812","dublin_core":{"Title":"Effect when town becomes city","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3812","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>If a <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> becomes a <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> under this chapter, then:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Its charter, if it has one, shall remain in full force and effect insofar as its provisions do not conflict with this chapter; <a id=\"paragraph-224688\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-3812\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Its <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinances<\/span> shall be the <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinances<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span>, insofar as they are applicable, until they are repealed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span>; <a id=\"paragraph-224689\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-3812\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> The officers of the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> shall be the officers of the <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> until their successors are elected or appointed and qualify, except as provided in this chapter, and shall discharge the duties and be subject to the penalties imposed by such charter and <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinances<\/span> and by general <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>; and <a id=\"paragraph-224690\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-3812\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Provisions of the <span class=\"dictionary\">town<\/span> charter in conflict with this title or other provisions of general <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> shall be repealed thereby. <a id=\"paragraph-224691\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-3812\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEFFECT WHEN TOWN BECOMES CITY (\u00a7 15.2-3812)\n\nIf a town becomes a city under this chapter, then:\n\n1. Its charter, if it has one, shall remain in full force and effect insofar as\nits provisions do not conflict with this chapter;\n\n2. Its ordinances shall be the ordinances of the city, insofar as they are\napplicable, until they are repealed by the city;\n\n3. The officers of the town shall be the officers of the city until their\nsuccessors are elected or appointed and qualify, except as provided in this\nchapter, and shall discharge the duties and be subject to the penalties imposed\nby such charter and ordinances and by general law; and\n\n4. Provisions of the town charter in conflict with this title or other\nprovisions of general law shall be repealed thereby.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-83; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-983; 1979, c. 85; 1997, c.\n587.","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}}