{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/33.2-706.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/33.2-706.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/33.2-706.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/33.2-706.html"}],"law_id":79364,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79364,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-706","catch_line":"How highways and bridges in counties established or altered; examination and report; width and grade of highways; employing engineer","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 33-142; 1964, c. 565; 1970, c. 322, \u00a7 33.1-230; 2014, c. 805.","full_text":"Whenever the governing body of any county is of the opinion that it is necessary to establish or alter the location of a public highway or bridge, or any other person applies to the local governing body therefor, it may appoint five viewers, who shall be resident freeholders of the county, any three of whom may act, to examine such highways or routes and report upon the expediency of establishing or altering the location of such public highway or bridge. In lieu of such viewers, the local governing body may direct the county road engineer or county road manager to examine such highway or route and make such report, and such board may establish or alter such highway or bridge upon such location and of such width and grade as it may prescribe. The right-of-way for any public highway shall not be less than 30 feet wide, except that in any case in which the cost of constructing and maintaining any such highway is to be borne by any individual the right-of-way for such highway may be less than 30 but not less than 15 feet in width. If none of the viewers is an engineer, appointed for the purpose of making survey and map, the local governing body may employ an engineer, if necessary, to assist the viewers.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":284120,"text":"Whenever the governing body of any county is of the opinion that it is necessary to establish or alter the location of a public highway or bridge, or any other person applies to the local governing body therefor, it may appoint five viewers, who shall be resident freeholders of the county, any three of whom may act, to examine such highways or routes and report upon the expediency of establishing or altering the location of such public highway or bridge. In lieu of such viewers, the local governing body may direct the county road engineer or county road manager to examine such highway or route and make such report, and such board may establish or alter such highway or bridge upon such location and of such width and grade as it may prescribe. The right-of-way for any public highway shall not be less than 30 feet wide, except that in any case in which the cost of constructing and maintaining any such highway is to be borne by any individual the right-of-way for such highway may be less than 30 but not less than 15 feet in width. If none of the viewers is an engineer, appointed for the purpose of making survey and map, the local governing body may employ an engineer, if necessary, to assist the viewers.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14311,"edition_id":1,"name":"Establishment, Alteration, and Discontinuance of Highways","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14310,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:42","permalink":{"id":206231,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14311,"identifier":"2","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2","url":"\/33.2\/II\/7\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14310,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Authority Over Highways","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12830,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:42","permalink":{"id":206207,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14310,"identifier":"7","token":"33.2\/II\/7","url":"\/33.2\/II\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12830,"edition_id":1,"name":"Modes of Transportation: Highways, Bridges, Ferries, Rail, and Public Transportation","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12806,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":205369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12830,"identifier":"II","token":"33.2\/II","url":"\/33.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12806,"edition_id":1,"name":"Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems","identifier":"33.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":204785,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12806,"identifier":"33.2","token":"33.2","url":"\/33.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":64641,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-705","catch_line":"Continuance of powers of county authorities; alternative procedure","url":"\/33.2-705\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-705","metadata":false},{"id":79364,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-706","catch_line":"How highways and bridges in counties established or altered; examination and report; width and grade of highways; employing engineer","url":"\/33.2-706\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-706","metadata":false},{"id":57419,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-707","catch_line":"Duty of viewers","url":"\/33.2-707\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-707","metadata":false},{"id":83987,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-708","catch_line":"Pay to viewers, commissioners, and engineers","url":"\/33.2-708\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-708","metadata":false},{"id":57940,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-709","catch_line":"Consent of landowners","url":"\/33.2-709\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-709","metadata":false},{"id":55597,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-710","catch_line":"Proceedings on report; notice to owners","url":"\/33.2-710\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-710","metadata":false},{"id":67130,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-711","catch_line":"Guardian ad litem for persons under disability","url":"\/33.2-711\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-711","metadata":false},{"id":67557,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-712","catch_line":"Defense allowed; what board may do","url":"\/33.2-712\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-712","metadata":false},{"id":80385,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-713","catch_line":"Appointment of commissioners to assess damages","url":"\/33.2-713\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-713","metadata":false},{"id":67141,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-714","catch_line":"Enhancement in value of residue","url":"\/33.2-714\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-714","metadata":false},{"id":80841,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-715","catch_line":"Action of commissioners; report","url":"\/33.2-715\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-715","metadata":false},{"id":56434,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-716","catch_line":"Appeal to circuit court","url":"\/33.2-716\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-716","metadata":false},{"id":64852,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-717","catch_line":"Who shall pay costs, compensation, and damages","url":"\/33.2-717\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-717","metadata":false},{"id":69631,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-718","catch_line":"Highways not to be established through cemetery or seminary of learning without owners' consent","url":"\/33.2-718\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-718","metadata":false},{"id":82641,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-719","catch_line":" Abandonment of certain highways and railway crossings","url":"\/33.2-719\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-719","metadata":false},{"id":74789,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-720","catch_line":"Supervisors may issue process","url":"\/33.2-720\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-720","metadata":false},{"id":80781,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-721","catch_line":"Compensation of clerk of board","url":"\/33.2-721\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-721","metadata":false},{"id":63462,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-722","catch_line":"Discontinuance of gates on public highways","url":"\/33.2-722\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-722","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64641,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-705","catch_line":"Continuance of powers of county authorities; alternative procedure","url":"\/33.2-705\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-705","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57419,"structure_id":14311,"section_number":"33.2-707","catch_line":"Duty of viewers","url":"\/33.2-707\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-707","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-706\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1964, chapter 565; in 1970, chapter 322; in 2014, chapter 805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64430,"section_number":"33.2-703","catch_line":"Funds for highways not in secondary state highway system","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-703\/"},{"id":63462,"section_number":"33.2-722","catch_line":"Discontinuance of gates on public highways","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-722\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":206237,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79364,"identifier":"33.2-706","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-706","url":"\/33.2-706\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-706\/","token":"33.2\/II\/7\/2\/33.2-706","dublin_core":{"Title":"How highways and bridges in counties established or altered; examination and report; width and grade of highways; employing engineer","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-706","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Whenever the governing body of any county is of the opinion<\/span> that it is necessary to establish or alter the location of a public highway<\/span> or bridge, or any other person applies to the local governing body therefor, it may appoint five viewers, who shall be resident freeholders<\/span> of the county, any three of whom may act, to examine such highways<\/span> or routes and report upon the expediency of establishing or altering the location of such public highway<\/span> or bridge. In lieu of such viewers, the local governing body may direct the county road engineer or county road manager to examine such highway<\/span> or route and make such report, and such board<\/span> may establish or alter such highway<\/span> or bridge upon such location and of such width and grade as it may prescribe. The right-of-way for any public highway<\/span> shall not be less than 30 feet wide, except that in any case in which the cost of constructing and maintaining any such highway<\/span> is to be borne by any individual the right-of-way for such highway<\/span> may be less than 30 but not less than 15 feet in width. If none of the viewers is an engineer, appointed for the purpose of making survey and map, the local governing body may employ an engineer, if necessary, to assist the viewers.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHOW HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES IN COUNTIES ESTABLISHED OR ALTERED; EXAMINATION AND\nREPORT; WIDTH AND GRADE OF HIGHWAYS; EMPLOYING ENGINEER (\u00a7 33.2-706)\n\nWhenever the governing body of any county is of the opinion that it is necessary\nto establish or alter the location of a public highway or bridge, or any other\nperson applies to the local governing body therefor, it may appoint five\nviewers, who shall be resident freeholders of the county, any three of whom may\nact, to examine such highways or routes and report upon the expediency of\nestablishing or altering the location of such public highway or bridge. In lieu\nof such viewers, the local governing body may direct the county road engineer or\ncounty road manager to examine such highway or route and make such report, and\nsuch board may establish or alter such highway or bridge upon such location and\nof such width and grade as it may prescribe. The right-of-way for any public\nhighway shall not be less than 30 feet wide, except that in any case in which\nthe cost of constructing and maintaining any such highway is to be borne by any\nindividual the right-of-way for such highway may be less than 30 but not less\nthan 15 feet in width. If none of the viewers is an engineer, appointed for the\npurpose of making survey and map, the local governing body may employ an\nengineer, if necessary, to assist the viewers.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 33-142; 1964, c. 565; 1970, c. 322, \u00a7 33.1-230; 2014, c.\n805.","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}}