{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-4106.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-4106.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-4106.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-4106.html"}],"law_id":63501,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63501,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4106","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","history":"1988, c. 881, \u00a7 15.1-965.16; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A\n\nThe special court shall enter an order granting town status if, after hearing the evidence, the court finds that:1\n\nThe city has a current population of less than 50,000 people;2\n\nThe adjoining county or counties have been made party defendants to the proceedings;3\n\nThe proposed change from city to town status will not substantially impair the ability of the adjoining county in which the town will be located to meet the service needs of its population;4\n\nThe proposed change from city to town status will not result in a substantially inequitable sharing of the resources and liabilities of the town and the county;5\n\nThe proposed change from city to town status is, in the balance of equities, in the best interests of the city, the county, the Commonwealth, and the people of the county and the city; and6\n\nThe proposed change from city status to town status is in the best interests of the Commonwealth in promoting strong and viable units of government.B\n\nThe court shall have authority to impose such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate to:1\n\nEnsure an orderly transition from city status to town status;2\n\nAdjust financial inequities;3\n\nBalance the equities between the parties; and4\n\nEnsure protection of the best interests of the city, the county, the Commonwealth, and the people of the county and the city.C\n\nThe court shall render a written opinion in every case brought under the provisions of this chapter.D\n\nIn the event the court enters an order declaring the city eligible for town status, a copy of the order shall be certified to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":231329,"text":"The special court shall enter an order granting town status if, after hearing the evidence, the court finds that:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":231330,"text":"The city has a current population of less than 50,000 people;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":231331,"text":"The adjoining county or counties have been made party defendants to the proceedings;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":231332,"text":"The proposed change from city to town status will not substantially impair the ability of the adjoining county in which the town will be located to meet the service needs of its population;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":231333,"text":"The proposed change from city to town status will not result in a substantially inequitable sharing of the resources and liabilities of the town and the county;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":231334,"text":"The proposed change from city to town status is, in the balance of equities, in the best interests of the city, the county, the Commonwealth, and the people of the county and the city; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":231335,"text":"The proposed change from city status to town status is in the best interests of the Commonwealth in promoting strong and viable units of government.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"B"},"7":{"id":231336,"text":"The court shall have authority to impose such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate to:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"B1"},"8":{"id":231337,"text":"Ensure an orderly transition from city status to town status;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"9":{"id":231338,"text":"Adjust financial inequities;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"10":{"id":231339,"text":"Balance the equities between the parties; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"11":{"id":231340,"text":"Ensure protection of the best interests of the city, the county, the Commonwealth, and the people of the county and the city.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"12":{"id":231341,"text":"The court shall render a written opinion in every case brought under the provisions of this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"D"},"13":{"id":231342,"text":"In the event the court enters an order declaring the city eligible for town status, a copy of the order shall be certified to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14654,"edition_id":1,"name":"Transition of City to Town Status","identifier":"41","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13062,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:10","permalink":{"id":157807,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14654,"identifier":"41","token":"15.2\/III\/41","url":"\/15.2\/III\/41\/","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":78761,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4100","catch_line":"City may change to town status","url":"\/15.2-4100\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4100","metadata":false},{"id":73202,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4101","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for town status; notice of motion","url":"\/15.2-4101\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4101","metadata":false},{"id":83698,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4102","catch_line":"Citizen petition for town status","url":"\/15.2-4102\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4102","metadata":false},{"id":86293,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4103","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-4103\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4103","metadata":false},{"id":78957,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4104","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors; publication of order","url":"\/15.2-4104\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4104","metadata":false},{"id":59306,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4105","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-4105\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4105","metadata":false},{"id":63501,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4106","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-4106\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4106","metadata":false},{"id":69319,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4107","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-4107\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4107","metadata":false},{"id":57092,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4108","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-4108\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4108","metadata":false},{"id":65172,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4109","catch_line":"Declining a grant of town status","url":"\/15.2-4109\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4109","metadata":false},{"id":81033,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4110","catch_line":"Proceedings final for five years","url":"\/15.2-4110\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4110","metadata":false},{"id":79862,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4111","catch_line":"Effective date of transition","url":"\/15.2-4111\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4111","metadata":false},{"id":81773,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4112","catch_line":"Charter for resulting town","url":"\/15.2-4112\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4112","metadata":false},{"id":75673,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4113","catch_line":"Restriction on subsequent change in status","url":"\/15.2-4113\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4113","metadata":false},{"id":56234,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4114","catch_line":"Liabilities and assets of such city","url":"\/15.2-4114\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4114","metadata":false},{"id":58758,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4115","catch_line":"Effect when city becomes town; officers","url":"\/15.2-4115\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4115","metadata":false},{"id":62423,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4115.1","catch_line":"Disposition of police department or sheriff's department motorcycles","url":"\/15.2-4115.1\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4115.1","metadata":false},{"id":63233,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4116","catch_line":"Library aid continued","url":"\/15.2-4116\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4116","metadata":false},{"id":68768,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4117","catch_line":"Temporary restriction on annexation","url":"\/15.2-4117\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4117","metadata":false},{"id":58976,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4118","catch_line":"Effect on pending suits","url":"\/15.2-4118\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4118","metadata":false},{"id":72824,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4119","catch_line":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","url":"\/15.2-4119\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4119","metadata":false},{"id":63691,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4120","catch_line":"Court granting transition to town status to exist for 10 years","url":"\/15.2-4120\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4120","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59306,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4105","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-4105\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4105","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69319,"structure_id":14654,"section_number":"15.2-4107","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-4107\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4107","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-4106\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 881 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 1988 \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 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73202,"section_number":"15.2-4101","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court for town status; notice of motion","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4101\/"},{"id":56234,"section_number":"15.2-4114","catch_line":"Liabilities and assets of such city","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4114\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":157833,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63501,"identifier":"15.2-4106","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4106","url":"\/15.2-4106\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-4106\/","token":"15.2\/III\/41\/15.2-4106","dublin_core":{"Title":"Hearing and decision by court","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-4106","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The special court<\/span> shall enter an order<\/span> granting town<\/span> status if, after hearing<\/span> the evidence<\/span>, the court<\/span> finds that: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The city<\/span> has a current population of less than 50,000 people; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The adjoining county<\/span> or counties have been made party<\/span> defendants<\/span> to the proceedings; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The proposed change from city<\/span> to town<\/span> status will not substantially impair the ability of the adjoining county<\/span> in which the town<\/span> will be located to meet the service needs of its population; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The proposed change from city<\/span> to town<\/span> status will not result in a substantially inequitable sharing of the resources and liabilities of the town<\/span> and the county<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The proposed change from city<\/span> to town<\/span> status is, in the balance of equities, in the best interests of the city<\/span>, the county<\/span>, the Commonwealth, and the people of the county<\/span> and the city<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The proposed change from city<\/span> status to town<\/span> status is in the best interests of the Commonwealth in promoting strong and viable units of government. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The court<\/span> shall have authority to impose such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Ensure an orderly transition from city<\/span> status to town<\/span> status; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Adjust financial inequities; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Balance the equities between the parties; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Ensure protection of the best interests of the city<\/span>, the county<\/span>, the Commonwealth, and the people of the county<\/span> and the city<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The court<\/span> shall render a written opinion<\/span> in every case brought under the provisions of this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In the event the court<\/span> enters an order<\/span> declaring the city<\/span> eligible for town<\/span> status, a copy of the order<\/span> shall be certified to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHEARING AND DECISION BY COURT (\u00a7 15.2-4106)\n\nA. The special court shall enter an order granting town status if, after hearing\nthe evidence, the court finds that:\n\n 1. The city has a current population of less than 50,000 people;\n\n 2. The adjoining county or counties have been made party defendants to the\n proceedings;\n\n 3. The proposed change from city to town status will not substantially impair\n the ability of the adjoining county in which the town will be located to meet\n the service needs of its population;\n\n 4. The proposed change from city to town status will not result in a\n substantially inequitable sharing of the resources and liabilities of the town\n and the county;\n\n 5. The proposed change from city to town status is, in the balance of\n equities, in the best interests of the city, the county, the Commonwealth, and\n the people of the county and the city; and\n\n 6. The proposed change from city status to town status is in the best\n interests of the Commonwealth in promoting strong and viable units of\n government.\n\nB. The court shall have authority to impose such terms and conditions as it\ndeems appropriate to:\n\n 1. Ensure an orderly transition from city status to town status;\n\n 2. Adjust financial inequities;\n\n 3. Balance the equities between the parties; and\n\n 4. Ensure protection of the best interests of the city, the county, the\n Commonwealth, and the people of the county and the city.\n\nC. The court shall render a written opinion in every case brought under the\nprovisions of this chapter.\n\nD. In the event the court enters an order declaring the city eligible for town\nstatus, a copy of the order shall be certified to the Secretary of the\nCommonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, c. 881, \u00a7 15.1-965.16; 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}}