{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/27-34.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/27-34.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/27-34.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/27-34.3.html"}],"law_id":78703,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"1975, c. 216; 1988, c. 199.","full_text":"The local fire marshal shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county, city or town appointing him, have the authority to exercise the powers authorized by the Fire Prevention Code. However, an order prohibiting the use of a building or equipment issued pursuant to this section shall not be effective beyond the date of a determination made by the authorities identified in and pursuant to \u00a7 27-97, regardless of whether or not said determination overrules, modifies or affirms the order of the local fire marshal. If an order of the local fire marshal issued pursuant to this section conflicts to any degree with an order previously issued by an authority identified in and pursuant to \u00a7 27-97, the latter order shall prevail. The local fire marshal shall immediately report to the authorities identified in \u00a7 27-97 on the issuance and content of any order issued pursuant to this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":282017,"text":"The local fire marshal shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county, city or town appointing him, have the authority to exercise the powers authorized by the Fire Prevention Code. However, an order prohibiting the use of a building or equipment issued pursuant to this section shall not be effective beyond the date of a determination made by the authorities identified in and pursuant to \u00a7 27-97, regardless of whether or not said determination overrules, modifies or affirms the order of the local fire marshal. If an order of the local fire marshal issued pursuant to this section conflicts to any degree with an order previously issued by an authority identified in and pursuant to \u00a7 27-97, the latter order shall prevail. The local fire marshal shall immediately report to the authorities identified in \u00a7 27-97 on the issuance and content of any order issued pursuant to this section.","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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/27-34.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 216 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 1975 \u201cActs\u201d aren\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 1988, chapter 199.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":68330,"section_number":"27-97","catch_line":"Adoption of Fire Prevention Code","order_by":null,"url":"\/27-97\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190225,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78703,"identifier":"27-34.3","token":"27\/3\/27-34.3","url":"\/27-34.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/27-34.3\/","token":"27\/3\/27-34.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Power to order immediate compliance with law, etc., or prohibit use of building or equipment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 27-34.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The local fire marshal shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county, city or town appointing him, have the authority to exercise the powers authorized by the Fire Prevention Code. However, an order<\/span> prohibiting the use of a building or equipment issued pursuant to this section shall not be effective beyond the date of a determination made by the authorities identified in and pursuant to \u00a7 27-97<\/a>, regardless of whether or not said determination overrules<\/span>, modifies or affirms<\/span> the order<\/span> of the local fire marshal. If an order<\/span> of the local fire marshal issued pursuant to this section conflicts to any degree with an order<\/span> previously issued by an authority identified in and pursuant to \u00a7 27-97<\/a>, the latter order<\/span> shall prevail. The local fire marshal shall immediately report to the authorities identified in \u00a7 27-97<\/a> on the issuance and content of any order<\/span> issued pursuant to this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWER TO ORDER IMMEDIATE COMPLIANCE WITH LAW, ETC., OR PROHIBIT USE OF BUILDING\nOR EQUIPMENT (\u00a7 27-34.3)\n\nThe local fire marshal shall, if authorized by the governing body of the county,\ncity or town appointing him, have the authority to exercise the powers\nauthorized by the Fire Prevention Code. However, an order prohibiting the use of\na building or equipment issued pursuant to this section shall not be effective\nbeyond the date of a determination made by the authorities identified in and\npursuant to \u00a7 27-97, regardless of whether or not said determination overrules,\nmodifies or affirms the order of the local fire marshal. If an order of the\nlocal fire marshal issued pursuant to this section conflicts to any degree with\nan order previously issued by an authority identified in and pursuant to \u00a7\n27-97, the latter order shall prevail. The local fire marshal shall immediately\nreport to the authorities identified in \u00a7 27-97 on the issuance and content of\nany order issued pursuant to this section.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, c. 216; 1988, c. 199.","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}}