{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/17.1-281.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/17.1-281.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/17.1-281.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/17.1-281.html"}],"law_id":58625,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58625,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-281","catch_line":"Assessment for courthouse construction, renovation or maintenance","history":"1990, c. 543, \u00a7 14.1-133.2; 1991, c. 689; 1992, cc. 698, 863; 1998, c. 872; 1999, c. 9; 2002, c. 831; 2009, cc. 814, 857.","full_text":"A\n\nAny county or city, through its governing body, may assess a sum not in excess of two dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action filed in the district or circuit courts located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit court in which the defendant is charged with a violation of any statute or ordinance. If a town provides court facilities for a county, the governing body of the county shall return to the town a portion of the assessments collected based on the number of civil, criminal and traffic cases originating and heard in the town.B\n\nThe imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing body which may provide for different sums in circuit courts and district courts. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the action is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body for the construction, renovation, or maintenance of courthouse or jail and court-related facilities and to defray increases in the cost of heating, cooling, electricity, and ordinary maintenance.C\n\nAny county or city which, on or after January 1, 2008, operated a courthouse not in compliance with the current safety and security guidelines contained in the Virginia Courthouse Facility Guidelines, as certified by the Department of General Services upon application to the Department by the county or city, and which cannot be feasibly renovated to correct such non-compliance, through its governing body, may assess an additional sum not in excess of three dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action filed in the district or circuit courts located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit court in which the defendant is charged with a violation of any statute or ordinance. Such additional fee assessed under this subsection shall not be assessed in any civil action if the amount in controversy is $500 or less. Any locality which applies for certification from the Department under this subsection shall reimburse the Department for the actual costs incurred by the Department in complying with the certification request.D\n\nThe imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing body, which may provide for different sums in circuit courts and district courts. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the action is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city, and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body solely for the construction, reconstruction, renovation of, or adaptive re-use of a structure for a courthouse.E\n\nThe assessments provided for herein shall be in addition to any other fees prescribed by law. The assessments shall be required in each felony, misdemeanor, or traffic infraction case, regardless of the existence of a local ordinance requiring their payment.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":214832,"text":"Any county or city, through its governing body, may assess a sum not in excess of two dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action filed in the district or circuit courts located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit court in which the defendant is charged with a violation of any statute or ordinance. If a town provides court facilities for a county, the governing body of the county shall return to the town a portion of the assessments collected based on the number of civil, criminal and traffic cases originating and heard in the town.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":214833,"text":"The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing body which may provide for different sums in circuit courts and district courts. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the action is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body for the construction, renovation, or maintenance of courthouse or jail and court-related facilities and to defray increases in the cost of heating, cooling, electricity, and ordinary maintenance.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":214834,"text":"Any county or city which, on or after January 1, 2008, operated a courthouse not in compliance with the current safety and security guidelines contained in the Virginia Courthouse Facility Guidelines, as certified by the Department of General Services upon application to the Department by the county or city, and which cannot be feasibly renovated to correct such non-compliance, through its governing body, may assess an additional sum not in excess of three dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action filed in the district or circuit courts located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit court in which the defendant is charged with a violation of any statute or ordinance. Such additional fee assessed under this subsection shall not be assessed in any civil action if the amount in controversy is $500 or less. Any locality which applies for certification from the Department under this subsection shall reimburse the Department for the actual costs incurred by the Department in complying with the certification request.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":214835,"text":"The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing body, which may provide for different sums in circuit courts and district courts. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the action is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city, and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body solely for the construction, reconstruction, renovation of, or adaptive re-use of a structure for a courthouse.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":214836,"text":"The assessments provided for herein shall be in addition to any other fees prescribed by law. The assessments shall be required in each felony, misdemeanor, or traffic infraction case, regardless of the existence of a local ordinance requiring their payment.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13880,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fees","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13472,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:09","permalink":{"id":163289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13880,"identifier":"7","token":"17.1\/2\/7","url":"\/17.1\/2\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13472,"edition_id":1,"name":"Clerks, Clerks' Offices and Records","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12766,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:58","permalink":{"id":162961,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13472,"identifier":"2","token":"17.1\/2","url":"\/17.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12766,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":162799,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12766,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83818,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-266","catch_line":"Services rendered in Commonwealth's cases","url":"\/17.1-266\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-266","metadata":false},{"id":63126,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-267","catch_line":"Services for which clerks may not charge","url":"\/17.1-267\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-267","metadata":false},{"id":68160,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-268","catch_line":"Fee for effort to serve when person cannot be found","url":"\/17.1-268\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-268","metadata":false},{"id":71647,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-269","catch_line":"To whom fees charged","url":"\/17.1-269\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-269","metadata":false},{"id":56555,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-270","catch_line":"Officer to state fees, etc., on affidavit, deposition or report","url":"\/17.1-270\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-270","metadata":false},{"id":54909,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-271","catch_line":"Deposit of money in bank","url":"\/17.1-271\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-271","metadata":false},{"id":85531,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-272","catch_line":"Process and service fees generally","url":"\/17.1-272\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-272","metadata":false},{"id":61224,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-273","catch_line":"Establishment and disposition of fees collected by certain high constable","url":"\/17.1-273\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-273","metadata":false},{"id":70312,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-274","catch_line":"Commission on forthcoming bond","url":"\/17.1-274\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-274","metadata":false},{"id":71931,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","url":"\/17.1-275\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275","metadata":false},{"id":61643,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.1","catch_line":"Fixed felony fee","url":"\/17.1-275.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.1","metadata":false},{"id":70084,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.10","catch_line":"Additional fee","url":"\/17.1-275.10\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.10","metadata":false},{"id":64932,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.11","catch_line":"Additional fee assessed for conviction of certain offenses","url":"\/17.1-275.11\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.11","metadata":false},{"id":67534,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.11:1","catch_line":"Additional fee assessed for conviction requiring computer analysis","url":"\/17.1-275.11_1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.11_1","metadata":false},{"id":62558,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.12","catch_line":"Additional fee for Internet Crimes Against Children Fund","url":"\/17.1-275.12\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.12","metadata":false},{"id":76004,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.13","catch_line":"Additional fee for offenses related to sex trafficking","url":"\/17.1-275.13\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.13","metadata":false},{"id":75019,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.14","catch_line":"Additional fee for Virginia State Police Electronic Summons System Fund","url":"\/17.1-275.14\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.14","metadata":false},{"id":87137,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.2","catch_line":"Fixed fee for felony reduced to misdemeanor","url":"\/17.1-275.2\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.2","metadata":false},{"id":60091,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.3","catch_line":"Fixed felony revocation fee","url":"\/17.1-275.3\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.3","metadata":false},{"id":87119,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.4","catch_line":"Fixed misdemeanor reduced from felony revocation fee","url":"\/17.1-275.4\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.4","metadata":false},{"id":59038,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.5","catch_line":"Amounts to be added; judgment in favor of the Commonwealth","url":"\/17.1-275.5\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.5","metadata":false},{"id":76933,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.6","catch_line":"Fees collected from court reporter fund","url":"\/17.1-275.6\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.6","metadata":false},{"id":78190,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.7","catch_line":"Fixed misdemeanor fee","url":"\/17.1-275.7\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.7","metadata":false},{"id":69998,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.8","catch_line":"Fixed drug misdemeanor fee","url":"\/17.1-275.8\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.8","metadata":false},{"id":59327,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-275.9","catch_line":"Fixed misdemeanor revocation fee","url":"\/17.1-275.9\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-275.9","metadata":false},{"id":59820,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-276","catch_line":"Fee allowed for providing secure remote access to land records","url":"\/17.1-276\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-276","metadata":false},{"id":65621,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-277","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-277\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-277","metadata":false},{"id":80536,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-278","catch_line":"Additional fees in certain courts; use by Virginia State Bar","url":"\/17.1-278\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-278","metadata":false},{"id":69820,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-279","catch_line":"Additional fee to be assessed by circuit court clerks for information technology","url":"\/17.1-279\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279","metadata":false},{"id":64013,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-279.1","catch_line":"Additional assessment for electronic summons system","url":"\/17.1-279.1\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-279.1","metadata":false},{"id":83751,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-280","catch_line":"What costs chargeable against prosecutor","url":"\/17.1-280\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-280","metadata":false},{"id":58625,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-281","catch_line":"Assessment for courthouse construction, renovation or maintenance","url":"\/17.1-281\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-281","metadata":false},{"id":55497,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-282","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/17.1-282\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-282","metadata":false},{"id":80073,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-283","catch_line":"Statements required of clerks of courts of record; exceptions","url":"\/17.1-283\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-283","metadata":false},{"id":59790,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-284","catch_line":"How excess payable into state or local treasury determined","url":"\/17.1-284\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-284","metadata":false},{"id":74204,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-285","catch_line":"Payment of excess","url":"\/17.1-285\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-285","metadata":false},{"id":70363,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-286","catch_line":"Disposition of state funds locally collected","url":"\/17.1-286\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-286","metadata":false},{"id":79643,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-287","catch_line":"Salaries of clerks of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-287\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-287","metadata":false},{"id":62341,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-288","catch_line":"Compensation and expenses of clerks of circuit courts in Cities of Richmond and Newport News","url":"\/17.1-288\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-288","metadata":false},{"id":63028,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-289","catch_line":"Commission on certain local collections not otherwise provided for","url":"\/17.1-289\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-289","metadata":false},{"id":65042,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-290","catch_line":"Contracts by cities","url":"\/17.1-290\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-290","metadata":false},{"id":78653,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-291","catch_line":"Penalty for officers","url":"\/17.1-291\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-291","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83751,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-280","catch_line":"What costs chargeable against prosecutor","url":"\/17.1-280\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-280","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55497,"structure_id":13880,"section_number":"17.1-282","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/17.1-282\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-282","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-281\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1990. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 543 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 1990 \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 1991, chapter 689; in 1992, chapters 698 and 863; in 1998, chapter 872<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 9<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 831<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 814<\/a> and 857<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71931,"section_number":"17.1-275","catch_line":"Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generally","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-275\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":163415,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58625,"identifier":"17.1-281","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-281","url":"\/17.1-281\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-281\/","token":"17.1\/2\/7\/17.1-281","dublin_core":{"Title":"Assessment for courthouse construction, renovation or maintenance","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-281","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any county or city, through its governing body, may assess a sum not in excess of two dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action<\/span> filed in the district or circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit<\/span> court<\/span> in which the defendant<\/span> is charged with a violation of any statute<\/span> or ordinance<\/span>. If a town provides court<\/span> facilities for a county, the governing body of the county shall return to the town a portion of the assessments collected based on the number of civil, criminal and traffic cases originating and heard in the town. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance<\/span> of the governing body which may provide for different sums in circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> and district courts<\/span>. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court<\/span> in which the action is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body for the construction, renovation, or maintenance of courthouse or jail and court<\/span>-related facilities and to defray increases in the cost of heating, cooling, electricity, and ordinary maintenance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any county or city which, on or after January 1, 2008, operated a courthouse not in compliance with the current safety and security guidelines contained in the Virginia Courthouse Facility Guidelines, as certified by the Department of General Services upon application to the Department by the county or city, and which cannot be feasibly renovated to correct such non-compliance, through its governing body, may assess an additional sum not in excess of three dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action<\/span> filed in the district or circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in its district or circuit<\/span> court<\/span> in which the defendant<\/span> is charged with a violation of any statute<\/span> or ordinance<\/span>. Such additional fee assessed under this subsection shall not be assessed in any civil action<\/span> if the amount in controversy is $500 or less. Any locality which applies for certification from the Department under this subsection shall reimburse the Department for the actual costs incurred by the Department in complying with the certification request. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance<\/span> of the governing body, which may provide for different sums in circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> and district courts<\/span>. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court<\/span> in which the action is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city, and held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body solely for the construction, reconstruction, renovation of, or adaptive re-use of a structure for a courthouse. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The assessments provided for herein shall be in addition to any other fees prescribed by law<\/span>. The assessments shall be required in each felony<\/span>, misdemeanor<\/span>, or traffic infraction case, regardless of the existence of a local ordinance<\/span> requiring their payment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nASSESSMENT FOR COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION OR MAINTENANCE (\u00a7 17.1-281)\n\nA. Any county or city, through its governing body, may assess a sum not in\nexcess of two dollars as part of the costs in (i) each civil action filed in the\ndistrict or circuit courts located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal\nor traffic case in its district or circuit court in which the defendant is\ncharged with a violation of any statute or ordinance. If a town provides court\nfacilities for a county, the governing body of the county shall return to the\ntown a portion of the assessments collected based on the number of civil,\ncriminal and traffic cases originating and heard in the town.\n\nB. The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing body\nwhich may provide for different sums in circuit courts and district courts. The\nassessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the action is\nfiled, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city and held by\nsuch treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body for the\nconstruction, renovation, or maintenance of courthouse or jail and court-related\nfacilities and to defray increases in the cost of heating, cooling, electricity,\nand ordinary maintenance.\n\nC. Any county or city which, on or after January 1, 2008, operated a courthouse\nnot in compliance with the current safety and security guidelines contained in\nthe Virginia Courthouse Facility Guidelines, as certified by the Department of\nGeneral Services upon application to the Department by the county or city, and\nwhich cannot be feasibly renovated to correct such non-compliance, through its\ngoverning body, may assess an additional sum not in excess of three dollars as\npart of the costs in (i) each civil action filed in the district or circuit\ncourts located within its boundaries and (ii) each criminal or traffic case in\nits district or circuit court in which the defendant is charged with a violation\nof any statute or ordinance. Such additional fee assessed under this subsection\nshall not be assessed in any civil action if the amount in controversy is $500\nor less. Any locality which applies for certification from the Department under\nthis subsection shall reimburse the Department for the actual costs incurred by\nthe Department in complying with the certification request.\n\nD. The imposition of such assessment shall be by ordinance of the governing\nbody, which may provide for different sums in circuit courts and district\ncourts. The assessment shall be collected by the clerk of the court in which the\naction is filed, remitted to the treasurer of the appropriate county or city,\nand held by such treasurer subject to disbursements by the governing body solely\nfor the construction, reconstruction, renovation of, or adaptive re-use of a\nstructure for a courthouse.\n\nE. The assessments provided for herein shall be in addition to any other fees\nprescribed by law. The assessments shall be required in each felony,\nmisdemeanor, or traffic infraction case, regardless of the existence of a local\nordinance requiring their payment.\n\nHISTORY: 1990, c. 543, \u00a7 14.1-133.2; 1991, c. 689; 1992, cc. 698, 863; 1998, c.\n872; 1999, c. 9; 2002, c. 831; 2009, cc. 814, 857.","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}}