{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-1951.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-1951.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-1951.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-1951.html"}],"law_id":63730,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63730,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1951","catch_line":"Display of the flag of the United States; necessary supporting structures; affirmative defense","history":"2007, cc. 854, 910, \u00a7 55-79.75:2; 2010, cc. 166, 453; 2019, c. 712; 2023, cc. 387, 388.","full_text":"A\n\nIn accordance with the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-243), no unit owners’ association shall prohibit or otherwise adopt or enforce any policy restricting a unit owner from displaying upon property to which the unit owner has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use the flag of the United States whenever such display is in compliance with Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display of the flag. A unit owners’ association may, however, establish reasonable restrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of the flag on such property, provided that such restrictions are necessary to protect a substantial interest of the unit owners’ association.B\n\nThe unit owners’ association may restrict the display of such flags in the common elements.C\n\nIn any action brought by the unit owners’ association under § 55.1-1959 for a violation of a flag restriction, the unit owners’ association shall bear the burden of proof that the restrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of such flag are necessary to protect a substantial interest of the unit owners’ association.D\n\nIn any action brought by the unit owners’ association under § 55.1-1959, the unit owner shall be entitled to assert as an affirmative defense that the required disclosure of any limitation pertaining to the flag of the United States or any flagpole or similar structure necessary to display the flag of the United States was not contained in the public offering statement or resale certificate, as appropriate, required pursuant to § 55.1-1976 or 55.1-2309.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":232132,"text":"In accordance with the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-243), no unit owners’ association shall prohibit or otherwise adopt or enforce any policy restricting a unit owner from displaying upon property to which the unit owner has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use the flag of the United States whenever such display is in compliance with Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display of the flag. A unit owners’ association may, however, establish reasonable restrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of the flag on such property, provided that such restrictions are necessary to protect a substantial interest of the unit owners’ association.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":232133,"text":"The unit owners’ association may restrict the display of such flags in the common elements.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":232134,"text":"In any action brought by the unit owners’ association under § 55.1-1959 for a violation of a flag restriction, the unit owners’ association shall bear the burden of proof that the restrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of such flag are necessary to protect a substantial interest of the unit owners’ association.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":232135,"text":"In any action brought by the unit owners’ association under § 55.1-1959, the unit owner shall be entitled to assert as an affirmative defense that the required disclosure of any limitation pertaining to the flag of the United States or any flagpole or similar structure necessary to display the flag of the United States was not contained in the public offering statement or resale certificate, as appropriate, required pursuant to § 55.1-1976 or 55.1-2309.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13236,"edition_id":1,"name":"Management of Condominium","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13018,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":246789,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13236,"identifier":"3","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3","url":"\/55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13018,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Condominium Act","identifier":"19","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12914,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","permalink":{"id":246623,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13018,"identifier":"19","token":"55.1\/IV\/19","url":"\/55.1\/IV\/19\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12914,"edition_id":1,"name":"Common Interest Communities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12707,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","permalink":{"id":246473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12914,"identifier":"IV","token":"55.1\/IV","url":"\/55.1\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12707,"edition_id":1,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":244769,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12707,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":75299,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1940","catch_line":"Bylaws to be recorded with declaration; 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necessary supporting structures; affirmative defense","url":"\/55.1-1951\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1951","metadata":false},{"id":80764,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1951.1","catch_line":"Installation of solar energy collection devices","url":"\/55.1-1951.1\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1951.1","metadata":false},{"id":70408,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1952","catch_line":"Meetings of unit owners' association and executive board; quorums","url":"\/55.1-1952\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1952","metadata":false},{"id":64764,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1953","catch_line":"Meetings of unit owners' association and executive board; voting by unit owners; proxies","url":"\/55.1-1953\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1953","metadata":false},{"id":69473,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1954","catch_line":"Officers","url":"\/55.1-1954\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1954","metadata":false},{"id":85997,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1955","catch_line":"Upkeep of condominiums; 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late fees; additional assessment; authority to borrow","url":"\/55.1-1964\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1964","metadata":false},{"id":55038,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1965","catch_line":"Annual budget; reserve study; reserves for capital components","url":"\/55.1-1965\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1965","metadata":false},{"id":86561,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1966","catch_line":"Lien for assessments; foreclosure","url":"\/55.1-1966\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1966","metadata":false},{"id":82616,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1967","catch_line":"Notice of sale under deed of trust","url":"\/55.1-1967\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1967","metadata":false},{"id":56723,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1968","catch_line":"Bond to be posted by declarant","url":"\/55.1-1968\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1968","metadata":false},{"id":60552,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1969","catch_line":"Restraints on alienation","url":"\/55.1-1969\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1969","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64649,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1950","catch_line":"Distribution of information by members","url":"\/55.1-1950\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1950","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80764,"structure_id":13236,"section_number":"55.1-1951.1","catch_line":"Installation of solar energy collection devices","url":"\/55.1-1951.1\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1951.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-1951\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2007. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 854<\/a> and 910<\/a> 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. 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 2010, chapters 166<\/a> and 453<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 387<\/a> and 388<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":65547,"section_number":"55.1-1959","catch_line":"Suspension of services for failure to pay assessments; corrective action; assessment of charges for violations; notice; hearing; adoption and enforcement of rules and regulations","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1959\/"},{"id":85082,"section_number":"55.1-1976","catch_line":"Public offering statement; condominium securities","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1976\/"},{"id":70933,"section_number":"55.1-2309","catch_line":"Resale certificate; delivery","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2309\/"}],"permalink":{"id":246839,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63730,"identifier":"55.1-1951","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1951","url":"\/55.1-1951\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-1951\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/19\/3\/55.1-1951","dublin_core":{"Title":"Display of the flag of the United States; necessary supporting structures; affirmative defense","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-1951","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In accordance with the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-243), no unit owners<\/span>’ association shall prohibit or otherwise adopt or enforce any policy restricting a unit owner<\/span> from displaying upon property to which the unit owner<\/span> has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession<\/span> or use the flag of the United States whenever such display is in compliance with Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display of the flag. A unit owners<\/span>’ association may, however, establish reasonable restrictions as to the size<\/span>, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of the flag on such property, provided that such restrictions are necessary to protect a substantial interest of the unit owners<\/span>’ association. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The unit owners<\/span>’ association may restrict the display of such flags in the common elements<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In any action brought by the unit owners<\/span>’ association under § 55.1-1959<\/a> for a violation of a flag restriction, the unit owners<\/span>’ association shall bear the burden of proof<\/span> that the restrictions as to the size<\/span>, place, duration, and manner of placement or display of such flag are necessary to protect a substantial interest of the unit owners<\/span>’ association. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In any action brought by the unit owners<\/span>’ association under § 55.1-1959<\/a>, the unit owner<\/span> shall be entitled to assert as an affirmative defense<\/span> that the required disclosure of any limitation pertaining to the flag of the United States or any flagpole or similar structure necessary to display the flag of the United States was not contained in the public offering statement or resale certificate, as appropriate, required pursuant to § 55.1-1976<\/a> or 55.1-2309<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISPLAY OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES; NECESSARY SUPPORTING STRUCTURES;\nAFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (\u00a7 55.1-1951)\n\nA. In accordance with the federal Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of\n2005 (P.L. 109-243), no unit owners’ association shall prohibit or\notherwise adopt or enforce any policy restricting a unit owner from displaying\nupon property to which the unit owner has a separate ownership interest or a\nright to exclusive possession or use the flag of the United States whenever such\ndisplay is in compliance with Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4\nU.S.C. § 1 et seq.) or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display\nof the flag. A unit owners’ association may, however, establish reasonable\nrestrictions as to the size, place, duration, and manner of placement or display\nof the flag on such property, provided that such restrictions are necessary to\nprotect a substantial interest of the unit owners’ association.\n\nB. The unit owners’ association may restrict the display of such flags in\nthe common elements.\n\nC. In any action brought by the unit owners’ association under §\n55.1-1959 for a violation of a flag restriction, the unit owners’\nassociation shall bear the burden of proof that the restrictions as to the size,\nplace, duration, and manner of placement or display of such flag are necessary\nto protect a substantial interest of the unit owners’ association.\n\nD. In any action brought by the unit owners’ association under §\n55.1-1959, the unit owner shall be entitled to assert as an affirmative defense\nthat the required disclosure of any limitation pertaining to the flag of the\nUnited States or any flagpole or similar structure necessary to display the flag\nof the United States was not contained in the public offering statement or\nresale certificate, as appropriate, required pursuant to § 55.1-1976 or\n55.1-2309.\n\nHISTORY: 2007, cc. 854, 910, \u00a7 55-79.75:2; 2010, cc. 166, 453; 2019, c. 712;\n2023, cc. 387, 388.","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}}