{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-502.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-502.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-502.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-502.html"}],"law_id":59152,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59152,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-502","catch_line":"Powers vested in board of county supervisors; election and terms of members; vacancies","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-273; 1952, c. 346; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-589; 1966, c. 463; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 65; 1982, c. 139; 1983, c. 350; 1997, c. 587; 1999, c. 718; 2007, c. 268.","full_text":"A\n\nThe powers of the county as a body politic and corporate shall be vested in a board of county supervisors (the board), to consist of not less than three nor more than nine members to be elected by the voters of the county at large, or solely by the voters of the respective magisterial or election district of which each member is a qualified voter. There shall be on the board for each magisterial or election district one member, and no more, who shall be a qualified voter of the district.\n\t\t\tThe supervisors first elected shall hold office until January 1 following the next regular election provided by general law for the election of supervisors. At such election their successors shall be elected for terms of four years each.B\n\nWhen any vacancy occurs in the board, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with § 24.2-228, except that the board shall have the option in its petition to the court to request that the election to fill the vacancy be held prior to the next or second ensuing general election, as the case may be. In that event, such election shall be held within sixty days of the issuance of the writ, or, if such election would fall within the sixty days prior to a general or primary election, on the general election day or within sixty days following the primary election.C\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of subsection B, the provisions of this subsection shall apply to any county with the county executive form of government that is contiguous to a county with the urban county executive form of government. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-226 and 24.2-228, when any vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, the judge of the circuit court of the county shall issue a writ for a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. The judge shall issue the writ within fifteen days of the occurrence of the vacancy. He shall order the election to be held not fewer than forty-five days and not more than sixty days after the issuance of the writ. However, if the election would fall within sixty days before a general election, the judge shall order the election to be held on the general election day; and, if the election would fall within sixty days before a primary election, the judge shall order the election to be held not fewer than thirty days and not more than sixty days after the primary. If the vacancy occurs prior to a general election and there is insufficient time to order the election to be held at the general election, the judge shall order the election to be held not fewer than 45 days and not more than 60 after the general election. The local electoral board shall determine and announce within three business days after the date of the writ the candidate filing deadline for the special election. The remaining members of the board shall not make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy. However, if the vacancy occurs within the 180 days before the expiration of the term of office, there shall be no special election, and the remaining members of the board shall fill the vacancy by appointment pursuant to § 24.2-228 within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy and after holding a public hearing on the appointment. The appointment shall be for the duration of the unexpired term.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":216867,"text":"The powers of the county as a body politic and corporate shall be vested in a board of county supervisors (the board), to consist of not less than three nor more than nine members to be elected by the voters of the county at large, or solely by the voters of the respective magisterial or election district of which each member is a qualified voter. There shall be on the board for each magisterial or election district one member, and no more, who shall be a qualified voter of the district.\n\t\t\tThe supervisors first elected shall hold office until January 1 following the next regular election provided by general law for the election of supervisors. At such election their successors shall be elected for terms of four years each.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":216868,"text":"When any vacancy occurs in the board, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with § 24.2-228, except that the board shall have the option in its petition to the court to request that the election to fill the vacancy be held prior to the next or second ensuing general election, as the case may be. In that event, such election shall be held within sixty days of the issuance of the writ, or, if such election would fall within the sixty days prior to a general or primary election, on the general election day or within sixty days following the primary election.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":216869,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B, the provisions of this subsection shall apply to any county with the county executive form of government that is contiguous to a county with the urban county executive form of government. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-226 and 24.2-228, when any vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, the judge of the circuit court of the county shall issue a writ for a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. The judge shall issue the writ within fifteen days of the occurrence of the vacancy. He shall order the election to be held not fewer than forty-five days and not more than sixty days after the issuance of the writ. However, if the election would fall within sixty days before a general election, the judge shall order the election to be held on the general election day; and, if the election would fall within sixty days before a primary election, the judge shall order the election to be held not fewer than thirty days and not more than sixty days after the primary. If the vacancy occurs prior to a general election and there is insufficient time to order the election to be held at the general election, the judge shall order the election to be held not fewer than 45 days and not more than 60 after the general election. The local electoral board shall determine and announce within three business days after the date of the writ the candidate filing deadline for the special election. The remaining members of the board shall not make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy. However, if the vacancy occurs within the 180 days before the expiration of the term of office, there shall be no special election, and the remaining members of the board shall fill the vacancy by appointment pursuant to § 24.2-228 within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy and after holding a public hearing on the appointment. The appointment shall be for the duration of the unexpired term.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14021,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adoption of County Executive Form","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13139,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":151501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14021,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1","url":"\/15.2\/I\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13139,"edition_id":1,"name":"County Executive Form of Government","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13138,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","permalink":{"id":151499,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13139,"identifier":"5","token":"15.2\/I\/5","url":"\/15.2\/I\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13138,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions; Charters; Other Forms and Organization of Counties","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:20","permalink":{"id":151281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13138,"identifier":"I","token":"15.2\/I","url":"\/15.2\/I\/","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":66591,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-500","catch_line":"Title of form; applicability of chapter","url":"\/15.2-500\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-500","metadata":false},{"id":64981,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-501","catch_line":"Adoption of county executive form","url":"\/15.2-501\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-501","metadata":false},{"id":59152,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-502","catch_line":"Powers vested in board of county supervisors; election and terms of members; vacancies","url":"\/15.2-502\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-502","metadata":false},{"id":55111,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-503","catch_line":"Referendum on election of the county chairman from the county at large; powers and duties of chairman","url":"\/15.2-503\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-503","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64981,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-501","catch_line":"Adoption of county executive form","url":"\/15.2-501\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-501","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55111,"structure_id":14021,"section_number":"15.2-503","catch_line":"Referendum on election of the county chairman from the county at large; powers and duties of chairman","url":"\/15.2-503\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-503","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-502\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1952, chapter 346; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1966, chapter 463; in 1982, chapter 139; in 1983, chapter 350; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 718<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 268<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":55111,"section_number":"15.2-503","catch_line":"Referendum on election of the county chairman from the county at large; powers and duties of chairman","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-503\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":60735,"section_number":"24.2-226","catch_line":"Election to fill vacancy","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-226\/"},{"id":73512,"section_number":"24.2-228","catch_line":"Interim appointment to local governing body or elected school board; elected mayor","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-228\/"}],"permalink":{"id":151511,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59152,"identifier":"15.2-502","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-502","url":"\/15.2-502\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-502\/","token":"15.2\/I\/5\/1\/15.2-502","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers vested in board of county supervisors; election and terms of members; vacancies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-502","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The powers of the county<\/span> as a body politic and corporate shall be vested in a board of county<\/span> supervisors<\/span> (the board), to consist of not less than three nor more than nine members to be elected by the voters<\/span> of the county<\/span> at large, or solely by the voters<\/span> of the respective magisterial or election district of which each member is a qualified voter<\/span>. There shall be on the board for each magisterial or election district one member, and no more, who shall be a qualified voter<\/span> of the district.\n\t\t\tThe supervisors<\/span> first elected shall hold office until January 1 following the next regular election provided by general law<\/span> for the election of supervisors<\/span>. At such election their successors shall be elected for terms of four years each. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> When any vacancy occurs in the board, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with § 24.2-228<\/a>, except that the board shall have the option in its petition<\/span> to the court<\/span> to request that the election to fill the vacancy be held prior to the next or second ensuing general election, as the case may be. In that event, such election shall be held within sixty days of the issuance of the writ<\/span>, or, if such election would fall within the sixty days prior to a general or primary election, on the general election day or within sixty days following the primary election. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B, the provisions of this subsection shall apply to any county<\/span> with the county<\/span> executive form of government that is contiguous to a county<\/span> with the urban county<\/span> executive form of government. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-226<\/a> and 24.2-228<\/a>, when any vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, the judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county<\/span> shall issue<\/span> a writ<\/span> for a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. The judge<\/span> shall issue<\/span> the writ<\/span> within fifteen days of the occurrence of the vacancy. He shall order<\/span> the election to be held not fewer than forty-five days and not more than sixty days after the issuance of the writ<\/span>. However, if the election would fall within sixty days before a general election, the judge<\/span> shall order<\/span> the election to be held on the general election day; and, if the election would fall within sixty days before a primary election, the judge<\/span> shall order<\/span> the election to be held not fewer than thirty days and not more than sixty days after the primary. If the vacancy occurs prior to a general election and there is insufficient time to order<\/span> the election to be held at the general election, the judge<\/span> shall order<\/span> the election to be held not fewer than 45 days and not more than 60 after the general election. The local electoral board shall determine and announce within three business days after the date of the writ<\/span> the candidate filing deadline for the special election. The remaining members of the board shall not make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy. However, if the vacancy occurs within the 180 days before the expiration of the term of office, there shall be no special election, and the remaining members of the board shall fill the vacancy by appointment pursuant to § 24.2-228<\/a> within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy and after holding a public hearing<\/span> on the appointment. The appointment shall be for the duration of the unexpired term. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS VESTED IN BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS; ELECTION AND TERMS OF MEMBERS;\nVACANCIES (\u00a7 15.2-502)\n\nA. The powers of the county as a body politic and corporate shall be vested in a\nboard of county supervisors (the board), to consist of not less than three nor\nmore than nine members to be elected by the voters of the county at large, or\nsolely by the voters of the respective magisterial or election district of which\neach member is a qualified voter. There shall be on the board for each\nmagisterial or election district one member, and no more, who shall be a\nqualified voter of the district.\n\t\t\tThe supervisors first elected shall hold office until January 1 following the\nnext regular election provided by general law for the election of supervisors.\nAt such election their successors shall be elected for terms of four years each.\n\nB. When any vacancy occurs in the board, the vacancy shall be filled in\naccordance with § 24.2-228, except that the board shall have the option in\nits petition to the court to request that the election to fill the vacancy be\nheld prior to the next or second ensuing general election, as the case may be.\nIn that event, such election shall be held within sixty days of the issuance of\nthe writ, or, if such election would fall within the sixty days prior to a\ngeneral or primary election, on the general election day or within sixty days\nfollowing the primary election.\n\nC. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B, the provisions of this\nsubsection shall apply to any county with the county executive form of\ngovernment that is contiguous to a county with the urban county executive form\nof government. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 24.2-226 and\n24.2-228, when any vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, the judge of\nthe circuit court of the county shall issue a writ for a special election to\nfill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. The judge shall issue\nthe writ within fifteen days of the occurrence of the vacancy. He shall order\nthe election to be held not fewer than forty-five days and not more than sixty\ndays after the issuance of the writ. However, if the election would fall within\nsixty days before a general election, the judge shall order the election to be\nheld on the general election day; and, if the election would fall within sixty\ndays before a primary election, the judge shall order the election to be held\nnot fewer than thirty days and not more than sixty days after the primary. If\nthe vacancy occurs prior to a general election and there is insufficient time to\norder the election to be held at the general election, the judge shall order the\nelection to be held not fewer than 45 days and not more than 60 after the\ngeneral election. The local electoral board shall determine and announce within\nthree business days after the date of the writ the candidate filing deadline for\nthe special election. The remaining members of the board shall not make a\ntemporary appointment to fill the vacancy. However, if the vacancy occurs within\nthe 180 days before the expiration of the term of office, there shall be no\nspecial election, and the remaining members of the board shall fill the vacancy\nby appointment pursuant to § 24.2-228 within thirty days of the occurrence\nof the vacancy and after holding a public hearing on the appointment. The\nappointment shall be for the duration of the unexpired term.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-273; 1952, c. 346; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-589; 1966, c.\n463; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 65; 1982, c. 139; 1983, c. 350; 1997, c. 587; 1999, c.\n718; 2007, c. 268.","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}}