{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-4209.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-4209.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-4209.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-4209.html"}],"law_id":73965,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73965,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4209","catch_line":"Preparation and adoption of regional strategic plan","history":"1968, c. 224, \u00a7 15.1-1406; 1976, c. 760; 1981, c. 315; 1995, cc. 732, 796; 1997, c. 587; 1998, cc. 668, 686; 2013, c. 607.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept in planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission shall prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. The plan shall concern those elements which are of importance in more than one of the localities within the district, as distinguished from matters of only local importance. The plan shall include regional goals and objectives, strategies to meet those goals and objectives and mechanisms for measuring progress toward the goals and objectives. The strategic plan shall include those subjects necessary to promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social and economic elements of the district such as transportation, housing, economic development and environmental management. The plan may be divided into parts or sections as the planning district commission deems desirable. In developing the regional strategic plan, the planning district commission shall seek input from a wide range of organizations in the region, including local governing bodies, the business community and citizen organizations.B\n\nIn planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission may prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. If prepared in accordance with this section, such plan shall conform with the requirements of subsection A and also shall include references to the relevant provisions of the most current regional strategic plan prepared by the multi-state council of governments that includes any of the area comprising the planning district.C\n\nBefore the strategic plan is adopted, it shall be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development and to the governing body of each locality within the district for a period of not less than thirty days prior to a hearing to be held by the planning district commission thereon, after notice as provided in § 15.2-2204. Each such local governing body shall make recommendations to the planning district commission on or before the date of the hearing with respect to the effect of the plan within its locality. The Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the planning district commission prior to the hearing as to whether the proposed strategic plan conflicts with plans of adjacent planning districts.D\n\nUpon approval of the strategic plan by a planning district commission after a public hearing, it shall be submitted to the governing body of each locality (excluding towns of less than 3,500 population unless members of the commission) within the district for review and possible adoption. The plan shall become effective with respect to all action of a planning district commission upon approval by the planning district commission. The plan shall not become effective with respect to the action of the governing body of any locality within the district until adopted by the governing body of such locality.E\n\nThe adopted strategic plan shall be submitted within thirty days of adoption to the Department of Housing and Community Development for information and coordination purposes.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":266030,"text":"Except in planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission shall prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. The plan shall concern those elements which are of importance in more than one of the localities within the district, as distinguished from matters of only local importance. The plan shall include regional goals and objectives, strategies to meet those goals and objectives and mechanisms for measuring progress toward the goals and objectives. The strategic plan shall include those subjects necessary to promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social and economic elements of the district such as transportation, housing, economic development and environmental management. The plan may be divided into parts or sections as the planning district commission deems desirable. In developing the regional strategic plan, the planning district commission shall seek input from a wide range of organizations in the region, including local governing bodies, the business community and citizen organizations.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":266031,"text":"In planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils of government, each planning district commission may prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. If prepared in accordance with this section, such plan shall conform with the requirements of subsection A and also shall include references to the relevant provisions of the most current regional strategic plan prepared by the multi-state council of governments that includes any of the area comprising the planning district.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":266032,"text":"Before the strategic plan is adopted, it shall be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development and to the governing body of each locality within the district for a period of not less than thirty days prior to a hearing to be held by the planning district commission thereon, after notice as provided in § 15.2-2204. Each such local governing body shall make recommendations to the planning district commission on or before the date of the hearing with respect to the effect of the plan within its locality. The Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the planning district commission prior to the hearing as to whether the proposed strategic plan conflicts with plans of adjacent planning districts.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":266033,"text":"Upon approval of the strategic plan by a planning district commission after a public hearing, it shall be submitted to the governing body of each locality (excluding towns of less than 3,500 population unless members of the commission) within the district for review and possible adoption. The plan shall become effective with respect to all action of a planning district commission upon approval by the planning district commission. The plan shall not become effective with respect to the action of the governing body of any locality within the district until adopted by the governing body of such locality.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":266034,"text":"The adopted strategic plan shall be submitted within thirty days of adoption to the Department of Housing and Community Development for information and coordination purposes.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15334,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regional Cooperation Act","identifier":"42","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12721,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:02","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:02","permalink":{"id":157899,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15334,"identifier":"42","token":"15.2\/IV\/42","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/42\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12721,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Governmental Entities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":157897,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12721,"identifier":"IV","token":"15.2\/IV","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/","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":58779,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4200","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/15.2-4200\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4200","metadata":false},{"id":68634,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4201","catch_line":"Purpose of chapter","url":"\/15.2-4201\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4201","metadata":false},{"id":58368,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4202","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-4202\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4202","metadata":false},{"id":71788,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4203","catch_line":"Organization of planning district commission","url":"\/15.2-4203\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4203","metadata":false},{"id":66538,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4204","catch_line":"Disposition of earnings and 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plan","url":"\/15.2-4209\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4209","metadata":false},{"id":67641,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4210","catch_line":"Commission to act only in conformity with regional strategic plan","url":"\/15.2-4210\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4210","metadata":false},{"id":63747,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4211","catch_line":"Amendment of regional strategic plan","url":"\/15.2-4211\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4211","metadata":false},{"id":62612,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4212","catch_line":"Review of regional strategic plan by commission","url":"\/15.2-4212\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4212","metadata":false},{"id":70486,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4213","catch_line":"Commission to be informed of applications for state or federal aid by local governing 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Fund","url":"\/15.2-4217.1\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4217.1","metadata":false},{"id":76668,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4218","catch_line":"Local governing bodies authorized to appropriate or lend funds","url":"\/15.2-4218\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4218","metadata":false},{"id":62810,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4219","catch_line":"Exemption of commission from taxation","url":"\/15.2-4219\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4219","metadata":false},{"id":76315,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4220","catch_line":"Dual membership authorized","url":"\/15.2-4220\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4220","metadata":false},{"id":78768,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4221","catch_line":"Merger of two planning district commissions","url":"\/15.2-4221\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4221","metadata":false},{"id":67114,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4222","catch_line":"Inconsistent laws inapplicable","url":"\/15.2-4222\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4222","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73451,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4208","catch_line":"General duties of planning district commissions","url":"\/15.2-4208\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4208","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67641,"structure_id":15334,"section_number":"15.2-4210","catch_line":"Commission to act only in conformity with regional strategic plan","url":"\/15.2-4210\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4210","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-4209\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1968. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 224 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 1968 \u201cActs\u201d aren\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 1976, chapter 760; in 1981, chapter 315; in 1995, chapters 732<\/a> and 796<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 668<\/a> and 686<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 607<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73451,"section_number":"15.2-4208","catch_line":"General duties of planning district commissions","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4208\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73996,"section_number":"15.2-2204","catch_line":"Advertisement of plans, ordinances, etc.; joint public hearings; written notice of certain amendments","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2204\/"}],"permalink":{"id":157937,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73965,"identifier":"15.2-4209","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4209","url":"\/15.2-4209\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-4209\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/42\/15.2-4209","dublin_core":{"Title":"Preparation and adoption of regional strategic plan","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-4209","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except in planning districts<\/span> in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils<\/span> of government, each planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> shall prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. The plan shall concern those elements which are of importance in more than one of the localities within the district, as distinguished from matters of only local importance. The plan shall include regional goals and objectives, strategies to meet those goals and objectives and mechanisms for measuring progress toward the goals and objectives. The strategic plan shall include those subjects necessary to promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social and economic elements of the district such as transportation, housing, economic development and environmental management. The plan may be divided into parts or sections as the planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> deems desirable. In developing the regional strategic plan, the planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> shall seek input from a wide range of organizations in the region, including local governing bodies, the business community and citizen organizations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In planning districts<\/span> in which regional planning also is conducted by multi-state councils<\/span> of government, each planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> may prepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. If prepared in accordance with this section, such plan shall conform with the requirements of subsection A and also shall include references to the relevant provisions of the most current regional strategic plan prepared by the multi-state council<\/span> of governments that includes any of the area comprising the planning district<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Before the strategic plan is adopted, it shall be submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development and to the governing body<\/span> of each locality<\/span> within the district for a period of not less than thirty days prior to a hearing<\/span> to be held by the planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> thereon, after notice as provided in § 15.2-2204<\/a>. Each such local governing body<\/span> shall make recommendations to the planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> on or before the date of the hearing<\/span> with respect to the effect of the plan within its locality<\/span>. The Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> prior to the hearing<\/span> as to whether the proposed strategic plan conflicts with plans of adjacent planning districts<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Upon approval of the strategic plan by a planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> after a public hearing<\/span>, it shall be submitted to the governing body<\/span> of each locality<\/span> (excluding towns<\/span> of less than 3,500 population unless members of the commission<\/span>) within the district for review and possible adoption. The plan shall become effective with respect to all action of a planning district<\/span> commission<\/span> upon approval by the planning district<\/span> commission<\/span>. The plan shall not become effective with respect to the action of the governing body<\/span> of any locality<\/span> within the district until adopted by the governing body<\/span> of such locality<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The adopted strategic plan shall be submitted within thirty days of adoption to the Department of Housing and Community Development for information and coordination purposes. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPREPARATION AND ADOPTION OF REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (\u00a7 15.2-4209)\n\nA. Except in planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by\nmulti-state councils of government, each planning district commission shall\nprepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. The plan\nshall concern those elements which are of importance in more than one of the\nlocalities within the district, as distinguished from matters of only local\nimportance. The plan shall include regional goals and objectives, strategies to\nmeet those goals and objectives and mechanisms for measuring progress toward the\ngoals and objectives. The strategic plan shall include those subjects necessary\nto promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social and\neconomic elements of the district such as transportation, housing, economic\ndevelopment and environmental management. The plan may be divided into parts or\nsections as the planning district commission deems desirable. In developing the\nregional strategic plan, the planning district commission shall seek input from\na wide range of organizations in the region, including local governing bodies,\nthe business community and citizen organizations.\n\nB. In planning districts in which regional planning also is conducted by\nmulti-state councils of government, each planning district commission may\nprepare a regional strategic plan for the guidance of the district. If prepared\nin accordance with this section, such plan shall conform with the requirements\nof subsection A and also shall include references to the relevant provisions of\nthe most current regional strategic plan prepared by the multi-state council of\ngovernments that includes any of the area comprising the planning district.\n\nC. Before the strategic plan is adopted, it shall be submitted to the Department\nof Housing and Community Development and to the governing body of each locality\nwithin the district for a period of not less than thirty days prior to a hearing\nto be held by the planning district commission thereon, after notice as provided\nin § 15.2-2204. Each such local governing body shall make recommendations\nto the planning district commission on or before the date of the hearing with\nrespect to the effect of the plan within its locality. The Department of Housing\nand Community Development shall notify the planning district commission prior to\nthe hearing as to whether the proposed strategic plan conflicts with plans of\nadjacent planning districts.\n\nD. Upon approval of the strategic plan by a planning district commission after a\npublic hearing, it shall be submitted to the governing body of each locality\n(excluding towns of less than 3,500 population unless members of the commission)\nwithin the district for review and possible adoption. The plan shall become\neffective with respect to all action of a planning district commission upon\napproval by the planning district commission. The plan shall not become\neffective with respect to the action of the governing body of any locality\nwithin the district until adopted by the governing body of such locality.\n\nE. The adopted strategic plan shall be submitted within thirty days of adoption\nto the Department of Housing and Community Development for information and\ncoordination purposes.\n\nHISTORY: 1968, c. 224, \u00a7 15.1-1406; 1976, c. 760; 1981, c. 315; 1995, cc. 732,\n796; 1997, c. 587; 1998, cc. 668, 686; 2013, c. 607.","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}}