{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/21-117.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/21-117.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/21-117.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/21-117.html"}],"law_id":85899,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85899,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-117","catch_line":"Merger of sanitary districts","history":"1942, p. 247; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 1560s1; 2017, c. 14.","full_text":"Any two or more sanitary districts heretofore or hereafter created in any county under the provisions of this article may be merged into a single district by the governing body of the county, by ordinance, upon the petition of not less than 50 qualified voters residing within the boundaries of each of the districts desiring to be so merged, which ordinance shall prescribe the metes and bounds and the name or other designation of the single district created by such merger. From and after the adoption of such ordinance, the governing body of such county shall, as to the single districts so created, have all the powers and duties, and be subject to all the conditions and limitations prescribed by \u00a7 21-118, and all funds then on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged shall be merged into a single fund for the use and benefit of the consolidated district, unless otherwise ordered by the governing body of the county upon the hearing next herein provided for.\n\t\tUpon the filing of the petition, a hearing shall be had before the governing body of the county, after notice as provided by \u00a7 21-114, which notice shall require all interested parties to appear and show cause, if any they can, (i) why the funds then on hand to the credit of each of the merged districts should not be merged into a single fund for the purpose above mentioned; and (ii) why a special tax should not be levied on all the property within the limits of the consolidated district, subject to local taxation, sufficient to pay the interest and create a sinking fund for payment of the principal at maturity of any then outstanding bonds theretofore issued by any one or more of the districts so merged.\n\t\tUpon the hearing, such ordinance shall be adopted as to the governing body of the county may seem equitable and proper, concerning the combination of the funds on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged and the levying of a special tax on all the taxable property within the limits of the consolidated district, for the purposes hereinabove mentioned, provided that such ordinance shall preserve and protect the rights of the holders of any such outstanding bonds, whose rights and interests shall not be limited or affected by any of the provisions of this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":307680,"text":"Any two or more sanitary districts heretofore or hereafter created in any county under the provisions of this article may be merged into a single district by the governing body of the county, by ordinance, upon the petition of not less than 50 qualified voters residing within the boundaries of each of the districts desiring to be so merged, which ordinance shall prescribe the metes and bounds and the name or other designation of the single district created by such merger. From and after the adoption of such ordinance, the governing body of such county shall, as to the single districts so created, have all the powers and duties, and be subject to all the conditions and limitations prescribed by \u00a7 21-118, and all funds then on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged shall be merged into a single fund for the use and benefit of the consolidated district, unless otherwise ordered by the governing body of the county upon the hearing next herein provided for.\n\t\tUpon the filing of the petition, a hearing shall be had before the governing body of the county, after notice as provided by \u00a7 21-114, which notice shall require all interested parties to appear and show cause, if any they can, (i) why the funds then on hand to the credit of each of the merged districts should not be merged into a single fund for the purpose above mentioned; and (ii) why a special tax should not be levied on all the property within the limits of the consolidated district, subject to local taxation, sufficient to pay the interest and create a sinking fund for payment of the principal at maturity of any then outstanding bonds theretofore issued by any one or more of the districts so merged.\n\t\tUpon the hearing, such ordinance shall be adopted as to the governing body of the county may seem equitable and proper, concerning the combination of the funds on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged and the levying of a special tax on all the taxable property within the limits of the consolidated district, for the purposes hereinabove mentioned, provided that such ordinance shall preserve and protect the rights of the holders of any such outstanding bonds, whose rights and interests shall not be limited or affected by any of the provisions of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14019,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14018,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":179475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14019,"identifier":"1","token":"21\/2\/1","url":"\/21\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14018,"edition_id":1,"name":"Sanitary Districts","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13075,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":179473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14018,"identifier":"2","token":"21\/2","url":"\/21\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13075,"edition_id":1,"name":"Drainage, Soil Conservation, Sanitation and Public Facilities Districts","identifier":"21","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":179465,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13075,"identifier":"21","token":"21","url":"\/21\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":79910,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-112.22","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/21-112.22\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-112.22","metadata":false},{"id":79759,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-113","catch_line":"Creation; inclusion of town in new or enlarged district","url":"\/21-113\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-113","metadata":false},{"id":59808,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-114","catch_line":"Hearing and notice thereof","url":"\/21-114\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-114","metadata":false},{"id":71490,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-115","catch_line":"Answer and defense","url":"\/21-115\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-115","metadata":false},{"id":64324,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-116","catch_line":"Enlargement of sanitary districts","url":"\/21-116\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-116","metadata":false},{"id":60593,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-116.1","catch_line":"Alteration of boundaries or reduction of area of sanitary districts in certain counties","url":"\/21-116.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-116.1","metadata":false},{"id":85899,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-117","catch_line":"Merger of sanitary districts","url":"\/21-117\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-117","metadata":false},{"id":78368,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-117.1","catch_line":"Abolishing sanitary districts","url":"\/21-117.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-117.1","metadata":false},{"id":73089,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118","catch_line":"Powers and duties of governing body","url":"\/21-118\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118","metadata":false},{"id":75138,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.1","catch_line":"Authority to acquire property from United States or any agency thereof","url":"\/21-118.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.1","metadata":false},{"id":60375,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.2","catch_line":"Certain counties authorized to use sanitary district funds for certain purposes","url":"\/21-118.2\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.2","metadata":false},{"id":58517,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.3","catch_line":"Levy and expenditure of taxes in certain counties; validation of expenditures","url":"\/21-118.3\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.3","metadata":false},{"id":55541,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.4","catch_line":"Certain additional powers of governing body","url":"\/21-118.4\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.4","metadata":false},{"id":60162,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.5","catch_line":"Unified water supply and sewerage systems for counties and sanitary districts; power of county governing body to fix rates; application of Public Finance Act","url":"\/21-118.5\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.5","metadata":false},{"id":64467,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.6","catch_line":"Same; application of revenues; tax levy where revenues insufficient","url":"\/21-118.6\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.6","metadata":false},{"id":55514,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.7","catch_line":"Same; payment to county of revenues held by district","url":"\/21-118.7\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.7","metadata":false},{"id":75754,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-118.8","catch_line":"Same; ratification of prior agreements","url":"\/21-118.8\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-118.8","metadata":false},{"id":60483,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-119","catch_line":"Sanitary districts are special taxing districts; nature of improvements; jurisdiction of governing bodies, etc., not affected","url":"\/21-119\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-119","metadata":false},{"id":85540,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-119.1","catch_line":"Transfer of certain sanitary districts to towns","url":"\/21-119.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-119.1","metadata":false},{"id":59431,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-120","catch_line":"In certain cities and counties","url":"\/21-120\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-120","metadata":false},{"id":58535,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121","catch_line":"Validation of proceedings","url":"\/21-121\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121","metadata":false},{"id":55109,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.1","catch_line":"Further validation of proceedings","url":"\/21-121.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.1","metadata":false},{"id":60765,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.2","catch_line":"Additional validation of proceedings","url":"\/21-121.2\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.2","metadata":false},{"id":72800,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.2:1","catch_line":"Same; bond issues","url":"\/21-121.2_1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":76866,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.3","catch_line":"Powers of districts created under other laws","url":"\/21-121.3\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.3","metadata":false},{"id":77568,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.4","catch_line":"Powers of boards of supervisors and other governing bodies of counties with respect to sanitary districts","url":"\/21-121.4\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.4","metadata":false},{"id":78011,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.5","catch_line":"Validation of certain actions","url":"\/21-121.5\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.5","metadata":false},{"id":66618,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-121.6","catch_line":"Sanitary districts in certain counties with a water and sewer authority","url":"\/21-121.6\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-121.6","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":60593,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-116.1","catch_line":"Alteration of boundaries or reduction of area of sanitary districts in certain counties","url":"\/21-116.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-116.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78368,"structure_id":14019,"section_number":"21-117.1","catch_line":"Abolishing sanitary districts","url":"\/21-117.1\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-117.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/21-117\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 2017, chapter 14<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77568,"section_number":"21-121.4","catch_line":"Powers of boards of supervisors and other governing bodies of counties with respect to sanitary districts","order_by":null,"url":"\/21-121.4\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":59808,"section_number":"21-114","catch_line":"Hearing and notice thereof","order_by":null,"url":"\/21-114\/"},{"id":73089,"section_number":"21-118","catch_line":"Powers and duties of governing body","order_by":null,"url":"\/21-118\/"}],"permalink":{"id":179501,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85899,"identifier":"21-117","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-117","url":"\/21-117\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/21-117\/","token":"21\/2\/1\/21-117","dublin_core":{"Title":"Merger of sanitary districts","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 21-117","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any two or more sanitary districts heretofore or hereafter created in any county under the provisions of this article may be merged into a single district by the governing body of the county, by ordinance<\/span>, upon the petition<\/span> of not less than 50 qualified voters residing within the boundaries of each of the districts desiring to be so merged, which ordinance<\/span> shall prescribe the metes and bounds and the name or other designation of the single district created by such merger. From and after the adoption of such ordinance<\/span>, the governing body of such county shall, as to the single districts so created, have all the powers and duties, and be subject to all the conditions and limitations prescribed by \u00a7 21-118<\/a>, and all funds then on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged shall be merged into a single fund for the use and benefit of the consolidated district, unless otherwise ordered by the governing body of the county upon the hearing<\/span> next herein provided for.\n\t\tUpon the filing of the petition<\/span>, a hearing<\/span> shall be had before the governing body of the county, after notice as provided by \u00a7 21-114<\/a>, which notice shall require all interested parties to appear and show cause, if any they can, (i) why the funds then on hand to the credit of each of the merged districts should not be merged into a single fund for the purpose above mentioned; and (ii) why a special tax should not be levied on all the property within the limits of the consolidated district, subject to local taxation, sufficient to pay the interest and create a sinking fund for payment of the principal at maturity of any then outstanding bonds<\/span> theretofore issued by any one or more of the districts so merged.\n\t\tUpon the hearing<\/span>, such ordinance<\/span> shall be adopted as to the governing body of the county may seem equitable<\/span> and proper, concerning the combination of the funds on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged and the levying of a special tax on all the taxable property within the limits of the consolidated district, for the purposes hereinabove mentioned, provided that such ordinance<\/span> shall preserve and protect the rights of the holders of any such outstanding bonds<\/span>, whose rights and interests shall not be limited or affected by any of the provisions of this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMERGER OF SANITARY DISTRICTS (\u00a7 21-117)\n\nAny two or more sanitary districts heretofore or hereafter created in any county\nunder the provisions of this article may be merged into a single district by the\ngoverning body of the county, by ordinance, upon the petition of not less than\n50 qualified voters residing within the boundaries of each of the districts\ndesiring to be so merged, which ordinance shall prescribe the metes and bounds\nand the name or other designation of the single district created by such merger.\nFrom and after the adoption of such ordinance, the governing body of such county\nshall, as to the single districts so created, have all the powers and duties,\nand be subject to all the conditions and limitations prescribed by \u00a7 21-118,\nand all funds then on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged\nshall be merged into a single fund for the use and benefit of the consolidated\ndistrict, unless otherwise ordered by the governing body of the county upon the\nhearing next herein provided for.\n\t\tUpon the filing of the petition, a hearing shall be had before the governing\nbody of the county, after notice as provided by \u00a7 21-114, which notice shall\nrequire all interested parties to appear and show cause, if any they can, (i)\nwhy the funds then on hand to the credit of each of the merged districts should\nnot be merged into a single fund for the purpose above mentioned; and (ii) why a\nspecial tax should not be levied on all the property within the limits of the\nconsolidated district, subject to local taxation, sufficient to pay the interest\nand create a sinking fund for payment of the principal at maturity of any then\noutstanding bonds theretofore issued by any one or more of the districts so\nmerged.\n\t\tUpon the hearing, such ordinance shall be adopted as to the governing body of\nthe county may seem equitable and proper, concerning the combination of the\nfunds on hand to the credit of each of the districts so merged and the levying\nof a special tax on all the taxable property within the limits of the\nconsolidated district, for the purposes hereinabove mentioned, provided that\nsuch ordinance shall preserve and protect the rights of the holders of any such\noutstanding bonds, whose rights and interests shall not be limited or affected\nby any of the provisions of this section.\n\nHISTORY: 1942, p. 247; Michie Code 1942, \u00a7 1560s1; 2017, c. 14.","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}}