{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/27-34.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/27-34.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/27-34.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/27-34.2.html"}],"law_id":73497,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73497,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.2","catch_line":"Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority","history":"1974, c. 334; 1975, c. 173; 1979, c. 402; 1984, c. 779; 1986, c. 60; 1988, c. 65; 1997, c. 436.","full_text":"In addition to such other duties as may be prescribed by law, the local fire marshal and his assistants appointed pursuant to \u00a7 27-36 shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county, city or town appointing the local fire marshal, have the authority to arrest, to procure and serve warrants of arrest and to issue summons in the manner authorized by general law for violation of fire prevention and fire safety laws and related ordinances. The authority granted in this section shall not be exercised by any local fire marshal or assistant until such person has satisfactorily completed a training course designed specifically for local fire marshals and their assistants, which course shall be approved by the Virginia Fire Services Board.\n\t\tThe Department of Fire Programs in cooperation with the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall have the authority to design, establish and maintain the required courses of instruction through such agencies and institutions as the Departments jointly may deem appropriate and to approve such other courses as such Departments determine appropriate.\n\t\tThe authority granted in this section shall not be construed to authorize a fire marshal or his assistants to wear or carry firearms.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":264471,"text":"In addition to such other duties as may be prescribed by law, the local fire marshal and his assistants appointed pursuant to \u00a7 27-36 shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county, city or town appointing the local fire marshal, have the authority to arrest, to procure and serve warrants of arrest and to issue summons in the manner authorized by general law for violation of fire prevention and fire safety laws and related ordinances. The authority granted in this section shall not be exercised by any local fire marshal or assistant until such person has satisfactorily completed a training course designed specifically for local fire marshals and their assistants, which course shall be approved by the Virginia Fire Services Board.\n\t\tThe Department of Fire Programs in cooperation with the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall have the authority to design, establish and maintain the required courses of instruction through such agencies and institutions as the Departments jointly may deem appropriate and to approve such other courses as such Departments determine appropriate.\n\t\tThe authority granted in this section shall not be construed to authorize a fire marshal or his assistants to wear or carry firearms.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15172,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Fire Marshals","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13504,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:41","permalink":{"id":190183,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15172,"identifier":"3","token":"27\/3","url":"\/27\/3\/","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":69739,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-30","catch_line":"Appointment of fire marshal","url":"\/27-30\/","token":"27\/3\/27-30","metadata":false},{"id":58177,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-31","catch_line":"Investigation of fires and explosions","url":"\/27-31\/","token":"27\/3\/27-31","metadata":false},{"id":66318,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32","catch_line":"Summoning witnesses and taking evidence","url":"\/27-32\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32","metadata":false},{"id":65417,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate cause of fire or explosion","url":"\/27-32.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32.1","metadata":false},{"id":70646,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-32.2","catch_line":"Issuance of fire investigation warrant","url":"\/27-32.2\/","token":"27\/3\/27-32.2","metadata":false},{"id":57781,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-33","catch_line":"Report of investigation","url":"\/27-33\/","token":"27\/3\/27-33","metadata":false},{"id":63090,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34","catch_line":"Duties and powers at fires","url":"\/27-34\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34","metadata":false},{"id":77843,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.1","catch_line":"Power of fire marshal or fire chief to take property found at scene of fire or explosion; restitution of such property","url":"\/27-34.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.1","metadata":false},{"id":73497,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.2","catch_line":"Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority","url":"\/27-34.2\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2","metadata":false},{"id":66294,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.2:1","catch_line":"Police powers of fire marshals","url":"\/27-34.2_1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":78703,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.3","catch_line":"Power to order immediate compliance with law, etc., or prohibit use of building or equipment","url":"\/27-34.3\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.3","metadata":false},{"id":63484,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.4","catch_line":"Inspection and review of plans of buildings under construction","url":"\/27-34.4\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.4","metadata":false},{"id":84379,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-35","catch_line":"Penalty for failure to discharge duty","url":"\/27-35\/","token":"27\/3\/27-35","metadata":false},{"id":83809,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-36","catch_line":"Appointment, powers and duties of assistant fire marshals","url":"\/27-36\/","token":"27\/3\/27-36","metadata":false},{"id":87151,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-37","catch_line":"Oath of fire marshal and assistants","url":"\/27-37\/","token":"27\/3\/27-37","metadata":false},{"id":84739,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-37.1","catch_line":"Right of entry to investigate releases of hazardous material, hazardous waste, or regulated substances","url":"\/27-37.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-37.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":77843,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.1","catch_line":"Power of fire marshal or fire chief to take property found at scene of fire or explosion; restitution of such property","url":"\/27-34.1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":66294,"structure_id":15172,"section_number":"27-34.2:1","catch_line":"Police powers of fire marshals","url":"\/27-34.2_1\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-34.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 334 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 1974 \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 1975, chapter 173; in 1979, chapter 402; in 1984, chapter 779; in 1986, chapter 60; in 1988, chapter 65; in 1997, chapter 436<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79946,"section_number":"18.2-31","catch_line":"Aggravated murder defined; punishment","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-31\/"},{"id":75915,"section_number":"18.2-371.4","catch_line":"Prohibiting the sale of novelty lighters to juveniles","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-371.4\/"},{"id":64628,"section_number":"18.2-57","catch_line":"Assault and battery; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57\/"},{"id":81472,"section_number":"9.1-206","catch_line":"State Fire Marshal; qualifications; powers and duties; power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants, and to issue summonses; limitation on authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-206\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":83809,"section_number":"27-36","catch_line":"Appointment, powers and duties of assistant fire marshals","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-36\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190217,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73497,"identifier":"27-34.2","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2","url":"\/27-34.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-34.2\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants and to issue summons; limitation on authority","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-34.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In addition to such other duties as may be prescribed by law<\/span>, the local fire marshal and his assistants appointed pursuant to \u00a7 27-36<\/a> shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county, city or town appointing the local fire marshal, have the authority to arrest<\/span>, to procure and serve warrants of arrest<\/span> and to issue<\/span> summons<\/span> in the manner authorized by general law<\/span> for violation of fire prevention and fire safety laws<\/span> and related ordinances<\/span>. The authority granted in this section shall not be exercised by any local fire marshal or assistant until such person has satisfactorily completed a training course designed specifically for local fire marshals and their assistants, which course shall be approved by the Virginia Fire Services Board.\n\t\tThe Department of Fire Programs in cooperation with the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall have the authority to design, establish and maintain the required courses of instruction through such agencies and institutions as the Departments jointly may deem appropriate and to approve such other courses as such Departments determine appropriate.\n\t\tThe authority granted in this section shall not be construed to authorize a fire marshal or his assistants to wear or carry firearms.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWER TO ARREST, TO PROCURE AND SERVE WARRANTS AND TO ISSUE SUMMONS; LIMITATION\nON AUTHORITY (\u00a7 27-34.2)\n\nIn addition to such other duties as may be prescribed by law, the local fire\nmarshal and his assistants appointed pursuant to \u00a7 27-36 shall, if authorized\nby the governing body of the county, city or town appointing the local fire\nmarshal, have the authority to arrest, to procure and serve warrants of arrest\nand to issue summons in the manner authorized by general law for violation of\nfire prevention and fire safety laws and related ordinances. The authority\ngranted in this section shall not be exercised by any local fire marshal or\nassistant until such person has satisfactorily completed a training course\ndesigned specifically for local fire marshals and their assistants, which course\nshall be approved by the Virginia Fire Services Board.\n\t\tThe Department of Fire Programs in cooperation with the Department of Criminal\nJustice Services shall have the authority to design, establish and maintain the\nrequired courses of instruction through such agencies and institutions as the\nDepartments jointly may deem appropriate and to approve such other courses as\nsuch Departments determine appropriate.\n\t\tThe authority granted in this section shall not be construed to authorize a\nfire marshal or his assistants to wear or carry firearms.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 334; 1975, c. 173; 1979, c. 402; 1984, c. 779; 1986, c. 60;\n1988, c. 65; 1997, c. 436.","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}}