{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-4305.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-4305.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-4305.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-4305.html"}],"law_id":55800,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55800,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4305","catch_line":"Application for creation of district in one or more localities; size and location of parcels","history":"1977, c. 681, \u00a7 15.1-1511; 1979, c. 377; 1981, c. 546; 1984, c. 20; 1985, c. 13; 1987, c. 552; 1993, cc. 745, 761; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 833; 2011, cc. 344, 355.","full_text":"On or before November 1 of each year or any other annual date selected by the locality, any owner or owners of land may submit an application to the locality for the creation of a district or addition of land to an existing district within the locality. Each district shall have a core of no less than 200 acres in one parcel or in contiguous parcels. A parcel not part of the core may be included in a district (i) if the nearest boundary of the parcel is within one mile of the boundary of the core, (ii) if it is contiguous to a parcel in the district the nearest boundary of which is within one mile of the boundary of the core, or (iii) if the local governing body finds, in consultation with the advisory committee or planning commission, that the parcel not part of the core or within one mile of the boundary of the core contains agriculturally and forestally significant land. No land shall be included in any district without the signature on the application, or the written approval of all owners thereof. A district may be located in more than one locality, provided that (i) separate application is made to each locality involved, (ii) each local governing body approves the district, and (iii) the district meets the size requirements of this section. In the event that one of the local governing bodies disapproves the creation of a district within its boundaries, the creation of the district within the adjacent localities’ boundaries shall not be affected, provided that the district otherwise meets the requirements set out in this chapter. In no event shall the act of creating a single district located in two localities pursuant to this subsection be construed to create two districts.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":204409,"text":"On or before November 1 of each year or any other annual date selected by the locality, any owner or owners of land may submit an application to the locality for the creation of a district or addition of land to an existing district within the locality. Each district shall have a core of no less than 200 acres in one parcel or in contiguous parcels. A parcel not part of the core may be included in a district (i) if the nearest boundary of the parcel is within one mile of the boundary of the core, (ii) if it is contiguous to a parcel in the district the nearest boundary of which is within one mile of the boundary of the core, or (iii) if the local governing body finds, in consultation with the advisory committee or planning commission, that the parcel not part of the core or within one mile of the boundary of the core contains agriculturally and forestally significant land. No land shall be included in any district without the signature on the application, or the written approval of all owners thereof. A district may be located in more than one locality, provided that (i) separate application is made to each locality involved, (ii) each local governing body approves the district, and (iii) the district meets the size requirements of this section. In the event that one of the local governing bodies disapproves the creation of a district within its boundaries, the creation of the district within the adjacent localities’ boundaries shall not be affected, provided that the district otherwise meets the requirements set out in this chapter. In no event shall the act of creating a single district located in two localities pursuant to this subsection be construed to create two districts.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13499,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act","identifier":"43","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12721,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:04","permalink":{"id":157997,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13499,"identifier":"43","token":"15.2\/IV\/43","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/43\/","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":83266,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4300","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/15.2-4300\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4300","metadata":false},{"id":78071,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4301","catch_line":"Declaration of policy findings and purpose","url":"\/15.2-4301\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4301","metadata":false},{"id":61769,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4302","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-4302\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4302","metadata":false},{"id":84802,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4303","catch_line":"Power of localities to enact ordinances; application form and fees; maps; sample form","url":"\/15.2-4303\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4303","metadata":false},{"id":67090,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4304","catch_line":"Agricultural and forestal districts advisory committee","url":"\/15.2-4304\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4304","metadata":false},{"id":55800,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4305","catch_line":"Application for creation of district in one or more localities; size and location of parcels","url":"\/15.2-4305\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4305","metadata":false},{"id":67788,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4306","catch_line":"Criteria for evaluating application","url":"\/15.2-4306\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4306","metadata":false},{"id":82465,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4307","catch_line":"Review of application; notice; hearing","url":"\/15.2-4307\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4307","metadata":false},{"id":54465,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4308","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/15.2-4308\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4308","metadata":false},{"id":58833,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4309","catch_line":"Hearing; creation of district; conditions; notice","url":"\/15.2-4309\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4309","metadata":false},{"id":56331,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4310","catch_line":"Additions to a district","url":"\/15.2-4310\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4310","metadata":false},{"id":78028,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4311","catch_line":"Review of districts","url":"\/15.2-4311\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4311","metadata":false},{"id":77285,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4312","catch_line":"Effects of districts","url":"\/15.2-4312\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4312","metadata":false},{"id":66279,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4313","catch_line":"Proposals as to land acquisition or construction within district","url":"\/15.2-4313\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4313","metadata":false},{"id":83920,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4314","catch_line":"Withdrawal of land from a district; termination of a district","url":"\/15.2-4314\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4314","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":67090,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4304","catch_line":"Agricultural and forestal districts advisory committee","url":"\/15.2-4304\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4304","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67788,"structure_id":13499,"section_number":"15.2-4306","catch_line":"Criteria for evaluating application","url":"\/15.2-4306\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4306","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-4305\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 681 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 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 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 1979, chapter 377; in 1981, chapter 546; in 1984, chapter 20; in 1985, chapter 13; in 1987, chapter 552; in 1993, chapters 745 and 761; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 833<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 344<\/a> and 355<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58833,"section_number":"15.2-4309","catch_line":"Hearing; creation of district; conditions; notice","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-4309\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":158019,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55800,"identifier":"15.2-4305","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4305","url":"\/15.2-4305\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-4305\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/43\/15.2-4305","dublin_core":{"Title":"Application for creation of district in one or more localities; size and location of parcels","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-4305","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

On or before November 1 of each year or any other annual date selected by the locality<\/span>, any owner or owners of land may submit an application<\/span> to the locality<\/span> for the creation of a district<\/span> or addition of land to an existing district<\/span> within the locality<\/span>. Each district<\/span> shall have a core of no less than 200 acres in one parcel or in contiguous parcels. A parcel not part of the core may be included in a district<\/span> (i) if the nearest boundary of the parcel is within one mile of the boundary of the core, (ii) if it is contiguous to a parcel in the district<\/span> the nearest boundary of which is within one mile of the boundary of the core, or (iii) if the local governing body<\/span> finds, in consultation with the advisory committee<\/span> or planning commission, that the parcel not part of the core or within one mile of the boundary of the core contains agriculturally and forestally significant land<\/span>. No land shall be included in any district<\/span> without the signature on the application<\/span>, or the written approval of all owners thereof. A district<\/span> may be located in more than one locality<\/span>, provided that (i) separate application<\/span> is made to each locality<\/span> involved, (ii) each local governing body<\/span> approves the district<\/span>, and (iii) the district<\/span> meets the size requirements of this section. In the event that one of the local governing bodies disapproves the creation of a district<\/span> within its boundaries, the creation of the district<\/span> within the adjacent localities’ boundaries shall not be affected, provided that the district<\/span> otherwise meets the requirements set out in this chapter. In no event shall the act of creating a single district<\/span> located in two localities pursuant to this subsection be construed to create two districts<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAPPLICATION FOR CREATION OF DISTRICT IN ONE OR MORE LOCALITIES; SIZE AND\nLOCATION OF PARCELS (\u00a7 15.2-4305)\n\nOn or before November 1 of each year or any other annual date selected by the\nlocality, any owner or owners of land may submit an application to the locality\nfor the creation of a district or addition of land to an existing district\nwithin the locality. Each district shall have a core of no less than 200 acres\nin one parcel or in contiguous parcels. A parcel not part of the core may be\nincluded in a district (i) if the nearest boundary of the parcel is within one\nmile of the boundary of the core, (ii) if it is contiguous to a parcel in the\ndistrict the nearest boundary of which is within one mile of the boundary of the\ncore, or (iii) if the local governing body finds, in consultation with the\nadvisory committee or planning commission, that the parcel not part of the core\nor within one mile of the boundary of the core contains agriculturally and\nforestally significant land. No land shall be included in any district without\nthe signature on the application, or the written approval of all owners thereof.\nA district may be located in more than one locality, provided that (i) separate\napplication is made to each locality involved, (ii) each local governing body\napproves the district, and (iii) the district meets the size requirements of\nthis section. In the event that one of the local governing bodies disapproves\nthe creation of a district within its boundaries, the creation of the district\nwithin the adjacent localities’ boundaries shall not be affected, provided\nthat the district otherwise meets the requirements set out in this chapter. In\nno event shall the act of creating a single district located in two localities\npursuant to this subsection be construed to create two districts.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 681, \u00a7 15.1-1511; 1979, c. 377; 1981, c. 546; 1984, c. 20;\n1985, c. 13; 1987, c. 552; 1993, cc. 745, 761; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 833; 2011,\ncc. 344, 355.","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}}