{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/27-17.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/27-17.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/27-17.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/27-17.1.html"}],"law_id":69462,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69462,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-17.1","catch_line":"Remaining on premises after fire extinguished","history":"1978, c. 149; 2001, c. 142; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"The chief or other authorized officer of any fire department or fire company in command at a fire, and his subordinates upon his order or direction, shall have the right to remain at the scene of fire, including remaining in any building or house, for purposes of protecting the property and preventing the public from entry into the premises, until such reasonable time as the owner may resume responsibility for the protection of the property.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":251174,"text":"The chief or other authorized officer of any fire department or fire company in command at a fire, and his subordinates upon his order or direction, shall have the right to remain at the scene of fire, including remaining in any building or house, for purposes of protecting the property and preventing the public from entry into the premises, until such reasonable time as the owner may resume responsibility for the protection of the property.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13506,"edition_id":1,"name":"Provisions Applicable to Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13505,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","permalink":{"id":190019,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13506,"identifier":"1","token":"27\/2\/1","url":"\/27\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13505,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fire\/Ems Departments and Fire\/Ems Companies","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13504,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","permalink":{"id":190017,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13505,"identifier":"2","token":"27\/2","url":"\/27\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13504,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fire Protection","identifier":"27","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:05","permalink":{"id":189965,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13504,"identifier":"27","token":"27","url":"\/27\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62509,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-10","catch_line":"Dissolution of fire company","url":"\/27-10\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-10","metadata":false},{"id":56382,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-11","catch_line":"Duty of members on alarm of fire or call of a medical emergency","url":"\/27-11\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-11","metadata":false},{"id":61993,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-12","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-12\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-12","metadata":false},{"id":73496,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-13","catch_line":"Appointment of chief and other officers","url":"\/27-13\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-13","metadata":false},{"id":85945,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-14","catch_line":"Ordinances as to fire departments and fire companies","url":"\/27-14\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-14","metadata":false},{"id":58359,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-15\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15","metadata":false},{"id":84253,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.1","catch_line":"Authority of chief or other officer in charge when answering alarm; penalty for refusal to obey orders","url":"\/27-15.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1","metadata":false},{"id":65165,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.1:1","catch_line":"Penalty for refusing or neglecting to obey order of chief or other officer in command","url":"\/27-15.1_1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":83050,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.2","catch_line":"Purchase, maintenance, etc., of equipment; donated equipment","url":"\/27-15.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.2","metadata":false},{"id":66768,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-15.3","catch_line":"Purchase of service-issued boots or helmet by certain firefighters","url":"\/27-15.3\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-15.3","metadata":false},{"id":78029,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-16\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-16","metadata":false},{"id":71895,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-17","catch_line":"Entry of buildings on fire and premises adjoining","url":"\/27-17\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17","metadata":false},{"id":69462,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-17.1","catch_line":"Remaining on premises after fire extinguished","url":"\/27-17.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17.1","metadata":false},{"id":73862,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-18\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-18","metadata":false},{"id":81538,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-19","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-19\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-19","metadata":false},{"id":83964,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-20","catch_line":"Destruction of property to prevent spread of fire","url":"\/27-20\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-20","metadata":false},{"id":55035,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-21","catch_line":"Owner may recover amount of actual damage","url":"\/27-21\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-21","metadata":false},{"id":54471,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-22","catch_line":"But not for property which would have been destroyed by the fire","url":"\/27-22\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-22","metadata":false},{"id":61677,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-23\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23","metadata":false},{"id":57518,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.1","catch_line":"Establishment of fire zones or districts; tax levies","url":"\/27-23.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.1","metadata":false},{"id":83173,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.10","catch_line":"Ordinances to effectuate purposes of \u00a7 27-23.9","url":"\/27-23.10\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.10","metadata":false},{"id":60550,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.11","catch_line":"Firefighter electric vehicles fire training","url":"\/27-23.11\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.11","metadata":false},{"id":70342,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.2","catch_line":"Advances by city or county to fire zone or district","url":"\/27-23.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.2","metadata":false},{"id":59783,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.3","catch_line":"Reimbursement for advances","url":"\/27-23.3\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.3","metadata":false},{"id":77459,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.4","catch_line":"Validation of prior advances","url":"\/27-23.4\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.4","metadata":false},{"id":77638,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.5","catch_line":"Exclusion of certain areas from fire zones or districts and exemption of such areas from certain levies","url":"\/27-23.5\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.5","metadata":false},{"id":74020,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-23.6\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.6","metadata":false},{"id":80310,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.7","catch_line":"Special levy for fire protection in certain counties","url":"\/27-23.7\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.7","metadata":false},{"id":82775,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.8","catch_line":"Trial board for members of fire departments in certain counties","url":"\/27-23.8\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.8","metadata":false},{"id":60111,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-23.9","catch_line":"Supervision and control of joint services of fire companies or departments","url":"\/27-23.9\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-23.9","metadata":false},{"id":67456,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-6\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6","metadata":false},{"id":66545,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.01","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/27-6.01\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.01","metadata":false},{"id":86797,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.02","catch_line":"Provision of firefighting services","url":"\/27-6.02\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.02","metadata":false},{"id":70855,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.1","catch_line":"Establishment of fire department; chief, officers, and employees","url":"\/27-6.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":83645,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-6.2","catch_line":"Applicant preemployment information with fire departments","url":"\/27-6.2\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-6.2","metadata":false},{"id":78046,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-7","catch_line":"Bylaws of fire department; compensation of officers and employees; information on check stubs, time cards, etc","url":"\/27-7\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-7","metadata":false},{"id":67801,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-8","catch_line":"Who may form a fire company; limit on number of persons in combined companies","url":"\/27-8\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-8","metadata":false},{"id":56841,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-8.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-8.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-8.1","metadata":false},{"id":80425,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-9","catch_line":"Organization of fire company","url":"\/27-9\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71895,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-17","catch_line":"Entry of buildings on fire and premises adjoining","url":"\/27-17\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":73862,"structure_id":13506,"section_number":"27-18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/27-18\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-18","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-17.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1978. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 149 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 1978 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0142\">142<\/a>; in 2015, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0502\">502<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0503\">503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71954,"section_number":"44-208","catch_line":"Securing site of structural failure, fire, explosion, or industrial or transportation accident","order_by":null,"url":"\/44-208\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":190069,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69462,"identifier":"27-17.1","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17.1","url":"\/27-17.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-17.1\/","token":"27\/2\/1\/27-17.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Remaining on premises after fire extinguished","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-17.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The chief or other authorized officer of any <span class=\"dictionary\">fire department<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">fire company<\/span> in command at a fire, and his subordinates upon his <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> or direction, shall have the right to remain at the scene of fire, including remaining in any building or house, for purposes of protecting the property and preventing the public from entry into the premises, until such reasonable time as the owner may resume responsibility for the protection of the property.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREMAINING ON PREMISES AFTER FIRE EXTINGUISHED (\u00a7 27-17.1)\n\nThe chief or other authorized officer of any fire department or fire company in\ncommand at a fire, and his subordinates upon his order or direction, shall have\nthe right to remain at the scene of fire, including remaining in any building or\nhouse, for purposes of protecting the property and preventing the public from\nentry into the premises, until such reasonable time as the owner may resume\nresponsibility for the protection of the property.\n\nHISTORY: 1978, c. 149; 2001, c. 142; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","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}}