{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-819.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-819.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-819.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-819.html"}],"law_id":70153,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70153,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-819","catch_line":"Demolition of historic structures; civil penalty","history":"1991, c. 201, \u00a7 15.1-499.2; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"A county may adopt an ordinance which establishes a civil penalty for the demolition, razing or moving of a building or structure which is located in an historic district or which has been designated by the governing body as an historic structure or landmark without the prior approval from either the architectural review board or the governing body as provided by subdivision A 2 of \u00a7 15.2-2306.\n\t\tThe civil penalty imposed for a violation of such an ordinance shall not exceed the market value of the property as determined by the assessed value of the property at the time of the destruction or removal of the building or structure. Such value shall include the value of any structures and the value of the real property upon which any such structure or structures were located. Such ordinances may be enforced by the county attorney by bringing an action in the name of the county in the circuit court. Such actions shall be brought against the party or parties deemed responsible for the violation. It shall be the burden of the county to show the liability of the violator by a preponderance of the evidence.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall preclude action by the zoning administrator under subdivision A 4 of \u00a7 15.2-2286 or action by the board under \u00a7 15.2-2208.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":253299,"text":"A county may adopt an ordinance which establishes a civil penalty for the demolition, razing or moving of a building or structure which is located in an historic district or which has been designated by the governing body as an historic structure or landmark without the prior approval from either the architectural review board or the governing body as provided by subdivision A 2 of \u00a7 15.2-2306.\n\t\tThe civil penalty imposed for a violation of such an ordinance shall not exceed the market value of the property as determined by the assessed value of the property at the time of the destruction or removal of the building or structure. Such value shall include the value of any structures and the value of the real property upon which any such structure or structures were located. Such ordinances may be enforced by the county attorney by bringing an action in the name of the county in the circuit court. Such actions shall be brought against the party or parties deemed responsible for the violation. It shall be the burden of the county to show the liability of the violator by a preponderance of the evidence.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall preclude action by the zoning administrator under subdivision A 4 of \u00a7 15.2-2286 or action by the board under \u00a7 15.2-2208.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14134,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14133,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:58","permalink":{"id":152111,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14134,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1","url":"\/15.2\/I\/8\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14133,"edition_id":1,"name":"Urban County Executive Form of Government","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13138,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:58","permalink":{"id":152109,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14133,"identifier":"8","token":"15.2\/I\/8","url":"\/15.2\/I\/8\/","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":58070,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-800","catch_line":"Designation of form of government; applicability of chapter","url":"\/15.2-800\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-800","metadata":false},{"id":63885,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-801","catch_line":"Adoption of urban county executive form","url":"\/15.2-801\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-801","metadata":false},{"id":60402,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-802","catch_line":"Powers of county vested in board of supervisors; membership, election, terms, etc., of board; vacancies; powers of chairman","url":"\/15.2-802\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-802","metadata":false},{"id":71067,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-803","catch_line":"General powers of board of supervisors","url":"\/15.2-803\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-803","metadata":false},{"id":87155,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-804","catch_line":"Appointment, qualifications and compensation of urban county executive; to devote full time to work","url":"\/15.2-804\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-804","metadata":false},{"id":58443,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-805","catch_line":"Tenure of county executive; suspension or removal","url":"\/15.2-805\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-805","metadata":false},{"id":83738,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-806","catch_line":"Absence or disability of county executive","url":"\/15.2-806\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-806","metadata":false},{"id":65130,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-807","catch_line":"Appointment of county officers and employees; federal employment, etc., not to disqualify; discussions with board","url":"\/15.2-807\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-807","metadata":false},{"id":70972,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-808","catch_line":"Tenure of county officers and employees; suspension or removal","url":"\/15.2-808\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-808","metadata":false},{"id":85295,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-809","catch_line":"Compensation of officers and employees","url":"\/15.2-809\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-809","metadata":false},{"id":82768,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-810","catch_line":"Restrictions on activities of former officers and employees","url":"\/15.2-810\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-810","metadata":false},{"id":77195,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-811","catch_line":"Powers and duties of county executive","url":"\/15.2-811\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-811","metadata":false},{"id":55276,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-812","catch_line":"County executive may act as director or head of department","url":"\/15.2-812\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-812","metadata":false},{"id":83953,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-813","catch_line":"Certain officers not affected by adoption of plan","url":"\/15.2-813\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-813","metadata":false},{"id":84977,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-814","catch_line":"Inquiries and investigations by board of supervisors","url":"\/15.2-814\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-814","metadata":false},{"id":75075,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-815","catch_line":"Regulation of garbage, trash and refuse pickup and disposal services; contracting for such services in certain counties","url":"\/15.2-815\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-815","metadata":false},{"id":85856,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-816","catch_line":"Maintenance of certain sewer lines","url":"\/15.2-816\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-816","metadata":false},{"id":60851,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-816.1","catch_line":"Underground electric distribution, telecommunications, cable, and other utility facilities","url":"\/15.2-816.1\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-816.1","metadata":false},{"id":78109,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-817","catch_line":"No unincorporated area to be incorporated after adoption of urban county form of government","url":"\/15.2-817\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-817","metadata":false},{"id":82761,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-818","catch_line":"City may petition to become part of county","url":"\/15.2-818\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-818","metadata":false},{"id":70153,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-819","catch_line":"Demolition of historic structures; civil penalty","url":"\/15.2-819\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-819","metadata":false},{"id":60424,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-820","catch_line":"Donations to legal entities owning recreational facilities","url":"\/15.2-820\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-820","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82761,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-818","catch_line":"City may petition to become part of county","url":"\/15.2-818\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-818","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60424,"structure_id":14134,"section_number":"15.2-820","catch_line":"Donations to legal entities owning recreational facilities","url":"\/15.2-820\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-820","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-819\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1991. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 201 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 1991 \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":false,"refers_to":[{"id":72291,"section_number":"15.2-2208","catch_line":"Restraining violations of chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2208\/"},{"id":67238,"section_number":"15.2-2286","catch_line":"Permitted provisions in zoning ordinances; amendments; applicant to pay delinquent taxes; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2286\/"},{"id":73526,"section_number":"15.2-2306","catch_line":"Preservation of historical sites and architectural areas; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2306\/"}],"permalink":{"id":152193,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70153,"identifier":"15.2-819","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-819","url":"\/15.2-819\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-819\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/1\/15.2-819","dublin_core":{"Title":"Demolition of historic structures; civil penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-819","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A county<\/span> may adopt an ordinance<\/span> which establishes a civil penalty<\/span> for the demolition, razing or moving of a building or structure which is located in an historic district or which has been designated by the governing body<\/span> as an historic structure or landmark without the prior approval from either the architectural review board or the governing body<\/span> as provided by subdivision A 2 of \u00a7 15.2-2306<\/a>.\n\t\tThe civil penalty<\/span> imposed for a violation of such an ordinance<\/span> shall not exceed the market value of the property as determined by the assessed value of the property at the time of the destruction or removal of the building or structure. Such value shall include the value of any structures and the value of the real property upon which any such structure or structures were located. Such ordinances<\/span> may be enforced by the county<\/span> attorney by bringing an action in the name of the county<\/span> in the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>. Such actions shall be brought against the party<\/span> or parties deemed responsible for the violation. It shall be the burden of the county<\/span> to show the liability of the violator by a preponderance of the evidence<\/span>.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall preclude action by the zoning administrator under subdivision A 4 of \u00a7 15.2-2286<\/a> or action by the board under \u00a7 15.2-2208<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEMOLITION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES; CIVIL PENALTY (\u00a7 15.2-819)\n\nA county may adopt an ordinance which establishes a civil penalty for the\ndemolition, razing or moving of a building or structure which is located in an\nhistoric district or which has been designated by the governing body as an\nhistoric structure or landmark without the prior approval from either the\narchitectural review board or the governing body as provided by subdivision A 2\nof \u00a7 15.2-2306.\n\t\tThe civil penalty imposed for a violation of such an ordinance shall not\nexceed the market value of the property as determined by the assessed value of\nthe property at the time of the destruction or removal of the building or\nstructure. Such value shall include the value of any structures and the value of\nthe real property upon which any such structure or structures were located. Such\nordinances may be enforced by the county attorney by bringing an action in the\nname of the county in the circuit court. Such actions shall be brought against\nthe party or parties deemed responsible for the violation. It shall be the\nburden of the county to show the liability of the violator by a preponderance of\nthe evidence.\n\t\tNothing in this section shall preclude action by the zoning administrator\nunder subdivision A 4 of \u00a7 15.2-2286 or action by the board under \u00a7 15.2-2208.\n\nHISTORY: 1991, c. 201, \u00a7 15.1-499.2; 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}}