{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-856.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-856.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-856.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-856.html"}],"law_id":64085,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64085,"structure_id":14881,"section_number":"15.2-856","catch_line":"Changes in boundaries of districts","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-384.75; 1960, c. 382; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-788; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 201; 1972, c. 852; 1981, c. 12; 1990, c. 500; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"After the publication of the official results of each United States decennial census, the board shall make such changes in district boundaries as are required to meet the tests of equitable population distribution among the districts with a minimum disruption of the then existing district pattern of service. In 1971 and every ten years thereafter, and also whenever the boundaries of such districts are changed, the board shall reapportion the representation in the governing body among the districts, and may, within the limits established in \u00a7 15.2-855, increase or decrease the number of districts.\n\t\tEach such reapportionment, other than decennial, shall become effective on January 1 following the year in which it occurs. If such reapportionment, other than decennial, results in the creation of a district or districts in which no member of the governing body resides, such vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided for by \u00a7 15.2-802. Each decennial reapportionment shall become effective as provided in \u00a7 24.2-311.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":233346,"text":"After the publication of the official results of each United States decennial census, the board shall make such changes in district boundaries as are required to meet the tests of equitable population distribution among the districts with a minimum disruption of the then existing district pattern of service. In 1971 and every ten years thereafter, and also whenever the boundaries of such districts are changed, the board shall reapportion the representation in the governing body among the districts, and may, within the limits established in \u00a7 15.2-855, increase or decrease the number of districts.\n\t\tEach such reapportionment, other than decennial, shall become effective on January 1 following the year in which it occurs. If such reapportionment, other than decennial, results in the creation of a district or districts in which no member of the governing body resides, such vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided for by \u00a7 15.2-802. Each decennial reapportionment shall become effective as provided in \u00a7 24.2-311.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Election Districts","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14133,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:32","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:32","permalink":{"id":152349,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14881,"identifier":"4","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4","url":"\/15.2\/I\/8\/4\/","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":60014,"structure_id":14881,"section_number":"15.2-855","catch_line":"Division of county into districts; functions of districts; appointees to planning commission and school board","url":"\/15.2-855\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-855","metadata":false},{"id":64085,"structure_id":14881,"section_number":"15.2-856","catch_line":"Changes in boundaries of districts","url":"\/15.2-856\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-856","metadata":false},{"id":56824,"structure_id":14881,"section_number":"15.2-857","catch_line":"Judicial review; mandamus","url":"\/15.2-857\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-857","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60014,"structure_id":14881,"section_number":"15.2-855","catch_line":"Division of county into districts; functions of districts; appointees to planning commission and school board","url":"\/15.2-855\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-855","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56824,"structure_id":14881,"section_number":"15.2-857","catch_line":"Judicial review; mandamus","url":"\/15.2-857\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-857","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-856\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1960, chapter 382; in 1962, chapter 623; in 1972, chapter 852; in 1981, chapter 12; in 1990, chapter 500; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":60402,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-802\/"},{"id":60014,"section_number":"15.2-855","catch_line":"Division of county into districts; functions of districts; appointees to planning commission and school board","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-855\/"},{"id":76285,"section_number":"24.2-311","catch_line":"Effective date of decennial redistricting measures; elections following decennial redistricting","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-311\/"}],"permalink":{"id":152355,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64085,"identifier":"15.2-856","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-856","url":"\/15.2-856\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-856\/","token":"15.2\/I\/8\/4\/15.2-856","dublin_core":{"Title":"Changes in boundaries of districts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-856","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

After the publication of the official results of each United States decennial census, the board shall make such changes in district boundaries as are required to meet the tests of equitable<\/span> population distribution among the districts with a minimum disruption of the then existing district pattern of service. In 1971 and every ten years thereafter, and also whenever the boundaries of such districts are changed, the board shall reapportion the representation in the governing body<\/span> among the districts, and may, within the limits established in \u00a7 15.2-855<\/a>, increase or decrease the number of districts.\n\t\tEach such reapportionment, other than decennial, shall become effective on January 1 following the year in which it occurs. If such reapportionment, other than decennial, results in the creation of a district or districts in which no member of the governing body<\/span> resides, such vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided for by \u00a7 15.2-802<\/a>. Each decennial reapportionment shall become effective as provided in \u00a7 24.2-311<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCHANGES IN BOUNDARIES OF DISTRICTS (\u00a7 15.2-856)\n\nAfter the publication of the official results of each United States decennial\ncensus, the board shall make such changes in district boundaries as are required\nto meet the tests of equitable population distribution among the districts with\na minimum disruption of the then existing district pattern of service. In 1971\nand every ten years thereafter, and also whenever the boundaries of such\ndistricts are changed, the board shall reapportion the representation in the\ngoverning body among the districts, and may, within the limits established in \u00a7\n15.2-855, increase or decrease the number of districts.\n\t\tEach such reapportionment, other than decennial, shall become effective on\nJanuary 1 following the year in which it occurs. If such reapportionment, other\nthan decennial, results in the creation of a district or districts in which no\nmember of the governing body resides, such vacancy shall be filled in the manner\nprovided for by \u00a7 15.2-802. Each decennial reapportionment shall become\neffective as provided in \u00a7 24.2-311.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-384.75; 1960, c. 382; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-788; 1971,\nEx. Sess., c. 201; 1972, c. 852; 1981, c. 12; 1990, c. 500; 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}}