{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-77.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-77.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-77.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-77.html"}],"law_id":62707,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62707,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-77","catch_line":"Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-75; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1977, c. 63; 1978, c. 443; 1993, c. 406; 1997, c. 832.","full_text":"A\n\nIf any person maliciously (i) burns, or by use of any explosive device or substance destroys, in whole or in part, or causes to be burned or destroyed, or (ii) aids, counsels or procures the burning or destruction of any dwelling house or manufactured home whether belonging to himself or another, or any occupied hotel, hospital, mental health facility, or other house in which persons usually dwell or lodge, any occupied railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft in which persons usually dwell or lodge, or any occupied jail or prison, or any occupied church or occupied building owned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, he shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for life or for any period not less than five years and, subject to subdivision g of § 18.2-10, a fine of not more than $100,000. Any person who maliciously sets fire to anything, or aids, counsels or procures the setting fire to anything, by the burning whereof such occupied dwelling house, manufactured home, hotel, hospital, mental health facility or other house, or railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft, jail or prison, church or building owned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, is burned shall be guilty of a violation of this subsection.B\n\nAny such burning or destruction when the building or other place mentioned in subsection A is unoccupied, shall be punishable as a Class 4 felony.C\n\nFor purposes of this section, “church” shall be defined as in § 18.2-127.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":228644,"text":"If any person maliciously (i) burns, or by use of any explosive device or substance destroys, in whole or in part, or causes to be burned or destroyed, or (ii) aids, counsels or procures the burning or destruction of any dwelling house or manufactured home whether belonging to himself or another, or any occupied hotel, hospital, mental health facility, or other house in which persons usually dwell or lodge, any occupied railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft in which persons usually dwell or lodge, or any occupied jail or prison, or any occupied church or occupied building owned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, he shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for life or for any period not less than five years and, subject to subdivision g of § 18.2-10, a fine of not more than $100,000. Any person who maliciously sets fire to anything, or aids, counsels or procures the setting fire to anything, by the burning whereof such occupied dwelling house, manufactured home, hotel, hospital, mental health facility or other house, or railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft, jail or prison, church or building owned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, is burned shall be guilty of a violation of this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":228645,"text":"Any such burning or destruction when the building or other place mentioned in subsection A is unoccupied, shall be punishable as a Class 4 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":228646,"text":"For purposes of this section, “church” shall be defined as in § 18.2-127.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13820,"edition_id":1,"name":"Arson and Related Crimes","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13243,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:59","permalink":{"id":165301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13820,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/5\/1","url":"\/18.2\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13243,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Property","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":165299,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13243,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/5","url":"\/18.2\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62707,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-77","catch_line":"Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc","url":"\/18.2-77\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-77","metadata":false},{"id":57816,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-78","catch_line":"What not deemed dwelling house","url":"\/18.2-78\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-78","metadata":false},{"id":61666,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-79","catch_line":"Burning or destroying meeting house, etc","url":"\/18.2-79\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-79","metadata":false},{"id":54834,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-80","catch_line":"Burning or destroying any other building or structure","url":"\/18.2-80\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-80","metadata":false},{"id":65432,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-81","catch_line":"Burning or destroying personal property, standing grain, etc","url":"\/18.2-81\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-81","metadata":false},{"id":57865,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-82","catch_line":"Burning building or structure while in such building or structure with intent to commit felony","url":"\/18.2-82\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-82","metadata":false},{"id":65236,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-83","catch_line":"Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; false information as to danger to such buildings, etc.; punishment; venue","url":"\/18.2-83\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-83","metadata":false},{"id":82342,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-84","catch_line":"Causing, inciting, etc., commission of act proscribed by \u00a7 18.2-83","url":"\/18.2-84\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-84","metadata":false},{"id":82444,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-85","catch_line":"Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties","url":"\/18.2-85\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-85","metadata":false},{"id":62664,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-86","catch_line":"Setting fire to woods, fences, grass, etc","url":"\/18.2-86\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-86","metadata":false},{"id":83992,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-87","catch_line":"Setting woods, etc., on fire intentionally whereby another is damaged or jeopardized","url":"\/18.2-87\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-87","metadata":false},{"id":78938,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-87.1","catch_line":"Setting off chemical bombs capable of producing smoke in certain public buildings","url":"\/18.2-87.1\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-87.1","metadata":false},{"id":76729,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-88","catch_line":"Carelessly damaging property by fire","url":"\/18.2-88\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-88","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":57816,"structure_id":13820,"section_number":"18.2-78","catch_line":"What not deemed dwelling house","url":"\/18.2-78\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-78","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-77\/","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 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1977, chapter 63; in 1978, chapter 443; in 1993, chapter 406; in 1997, chapter 832<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":56409,"section_number":"15.2-2307","catch_line":"Vested rights not impaired; nonconforming uses","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2307\/"},{"id":57160,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-260\/"},{"id":74120,"section_number":"16.1-301","catch_line":"Confidentiality of juvenile law-enforcement records; disclosures to school principal and others","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-301\/"},{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":79594,"section_number":"18.2-461","catch_line":"Falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-461\/"},{"id":68291,"section_number":"18.2-513","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-513\/"},{"id":60995,"section_number":"18.2-90","catch_line":"Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-90\/"},{"id":55574,"section_number":"18.2-91","catch_line":"Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery or other felony","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-91\/"},{"id":77143,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":56020,"section_number":"19.2-297.1","catch_line":"Sentence of person twice previously convicted of certain violent felonies","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-297.1\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":78541,"section_number":"19.2-83.1","catch_line":"Report of arrest of school employees and adult students for certain offenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-83.1\/"},{"id":64677,"section_number":"22.1-254","catch_line":"Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-254\/"},{"id":65417,"section_number":"27-32.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate cause of fire or explosion","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-32.1\/"},{"id":69423,"section_number":"32.1-318","catch_line":"Knowing failure to deposit, transfer or maintain patient trust funds in separate account; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-318\/"},{"id":63586,"section_number":"53.1-202.3","catch_line":"Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202.3\/"},{"id":58640,"section_number":"53.1-40.02","catch_line":"Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-40.02\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":83800,"section_number":"18.2-10","catch_line":"Punishment for conviction of felony; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-10\/"},{"id":78721,"section_number":"18.2-127","catch_line":"Injuries to churches, church property, cemeteries, burial grounds, etc.; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-127\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165303,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62707,"identifier":"18.2-77","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-77","url":"\/18.2-77\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-77\/","token":"18.2\/5\/1\/18.2-77","dublin_core":{"Title":"Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-77","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If any person maliciously (i) burns, or by use of any explosive device or substance destroys, in whole or in part, or causes to be burned or destroyed, or (ii) aids, counsels<\/span> or procures the burning or destruction of any dwelling house or manufactured home whether belonging to himself or another, or any occupied hotel, hospital, mental health facility, or other house in which persons usually dwell or lodge, any occupied railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft in which persons usually dwell or lodge, or any occupied jail or prison, or any occupied church or occupied building owned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, he shall be guilty of a felony<\/span>, punishable by imprisonment for life or for any period not less than five years and, subject to subdivision g of § 18.2-10<\/a>, a fine of not more than $100,000. Any person who maliciously sets fire to anything, or aids, counsels<\/span> or procures the setting fire to anything, by the burning whereof such occupied dwelling house, manufactured home, hotel, hospital, mental health facility or other house, or railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft, jail or prison, church or building owned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, is burned shall be guilty of a violation of this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any such burning or destruction when the building or other place mentioned in subsection A is unoccupied, shall be punishable as a Class 4 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> For purposes of this section, “church” shall be defined as in § 18.2-127<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBURNING OR DESTROYING DWELLING HOUSE, ETC (\u00a7 18.2-77)\n\nA. If any person maliciously (i) burns, or by use of any explosive device or\nsubstance destroys, in whole or in part, or causes to be burned or destroyed, or\n(ii) aids, counsels or procures the burning or destruction of any dwelling house\nor manufactured home whether belonging to himself or another, or any occupied\nhotel, hospital, mental health facility, or other house in which persons usually\ndwell or lodge, any occupied railroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft in which\npersons usually dwell or lodge, or any occupied jail or prison, or any occupied\nchurch or occupied building owned or leased by a church that is immediately\nadjacent to a church, he shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment\nfor life or for any period not less than five years and, subject to subdivision\ng of § 18.2-10, a fine of not more than $100,000. Any person who\nmaliciously sets fire to anything, or aids, counsels or procures the setting\nfire to anything, by the burning whereof such occupied dwelling house,\nmanufactured home, hotel, hospital, mental health facility or other house, or\nrailroad car, boat, vessel, or river craft, jail or prison, church or building\nowned or leased by a church that is immediately adjacent to a church, is burned\nshall be guilty of a violation of this subsection.\n\nB. Any such burning or destruction when the building or other place mentioned in\nsubsection A is unoccupied, shall be punishable as a Class 4 felony.\n\nC. For purposes of this section, “church” shall be defined as in\n§ 18.2-127.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-75; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1977, c. 63;\n1978, c. 443; 1993, c. 406; 1997, c. 832.","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}}