{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-257.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-257.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-257.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-257.html"}],"law_id":86555,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86555,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257","catch_line":"Manner of installing underground utility lines","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 4059; 1996, c. 278; 2000, c. 779.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery operator, as defined in § 56-265.15, having the right to install underground utility lines, as defined in § 56-265.15, except interstate gas pipelines subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shall install such underground utility lines in accordance with accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electric Safety Code, the Commission’s pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health’s waterworks regulations (12VAC5-590-10 et seq.), and standards established by the Utility Industry Coalition of Virginia.B\n\nThe Commission shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of this section as to those operators that do not comply with such accepted industry standards.C\n\nThis section shall not authorize the Commission to order action by, or impose penalties on, any county, city or town. However, the Commission shall inform counties, cities and towns of alleged violations by the locality of the accepted industry standards or regulations adopted under this section and, at the request of the locality, suggest corrective action.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":310025,"text":"Every operator, as defined in § 56-265.15, having the right to install underground utility lines, as defined in § 56-265.15, except interstate gas pipelines subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shall install such underground utility lines in accordance with accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electric Safety Code, the Commission’s pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health’s waterworks regulations (12VAC5-590-10 et seq.), and standards established by the Utility Industry Coalition of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":310026,"text":"The Commission shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of this section as to those operators that do not comply with such accepted industry standards.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":310027,"text":"This section shall not authorize the Commission to order action by, or impose penalties on, any county, city or town. However, the Commission shall inform counties, cities and towns of alleged violations by the locality of the accepted industry standards or regulations adopted under this section and, at the request of the locality, suggest corrective action.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15336,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pipelines and Other Works","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13238,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:03","permalink":{"id":249035,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15336,"identifier":"5","token":"56\/10\/5","url":"\/56\/10\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13238,"edition_id":1,"name":"Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":248721,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13238,"identifier":"10","token":"56\/10","url":"\/56\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86555,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257","catch_line":"Manner of installing underground utility lines","url":"\/56-257\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257","metadata":false},{"id":61480,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.1","catch_line":"Means of locating nonmetallic underground conduits","url":"\/56-257.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.1","metadata":false},{"id":72279,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.2","catch_line":"Gas pipeline safety","url":"\/56-257.2\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2","metadata":false},{"id":60030,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.2:1","catch_line":"Projects presenting material risk to public safety; licensed professional engineers; regulations","url":"\/56-257.2_1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":87245,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-257.3\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.3","metadata":false},{"id":58377,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.4","catch_line":"Report by the State Corporation Commission on investigation of natural gas utilities incident","url":"\/56-257.4\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.4","metadata":false},{"id":59346,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.5","catch_line":"Manner of installing underground utility lines through agricultural operation","url":"\/56-257.5\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.5","metadata":false},{"id":67342,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-258","catch_line":"Who to permit laying of pipelines in roads","url":"\/56-258\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-258","metadata":false},{"id":79586,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-259","catch_line":" Rights-of-way, etc., may be contracted for; location of easements of public service corporations","url":"\/56-259\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-259","metadata":false},{"id":68525,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-259.1","catch_line":"Instruments conveying easements to public service corporations","url":"\/56-259.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-259.1","metadata":false},{"id":84814,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-260","catch_line":"Compensation for damages","url":"\/56-260\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-260","metadata":false},{"id":58402,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-260.1","catch_line":"Contract provisions exempting company from liability unlawful","url":"\/56-260.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-260.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":61480,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.1","catch_line":"Means of locating nonmetallic underground conduits","url":"\/56-257.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-257\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1996, chapter 278<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 779<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76158,"section_number":"56-579","catch_line":"Regional transmission entities","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-579\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":58284,"section_number":"56-265.15","catch_line":"Definitions; calculation of time periods","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.15\/"}],"permalink":{"id":249037,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86555,"identifier":"56-257","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257","url":"\/56-257\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-257\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257","dublin_core":{"Title":"Manner of installing underground utility lines","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-257","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every operator, as defined in § 56-265.15<\/a>, having the right to install underground utility lines, as defined in § 56-265.15<\/a>, except interstate gas pipelines subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shall install such underground utility lines in accordance with accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electric Safety Code, the Commission<\/span>’s pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health’s waterworks regulations (12VAC5-590-10 et seq.), and standards established by the Utility Industry Coalition of Virginia. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Commission<\/span> shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of this section as to those operators that do not comply with such accepted industry standards. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> This section shall not authorize the Commission<\/span> to order<\/span> action by, or impose penalties on, any county, city or town. However, the Commission<\/span> shall inform counties, cities and towns of alleged violations by the locality of the accepted industry standards or regulations adopted under this section and, at the request of the locality, suggest corrective action. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMANNER OF INSTALLING UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINES (\u00a7 56-257)\n\nA. Every operator, as defined in § 56-265.15, having the right to install\nunderground utility lines, as defined in § 56-265.15, except interstate gas\npipelines subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, shall\ninstall such underground utility lines in accordance with accepted industry\nstandards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by\nthe National Electric Safety Code, the Commission’s pipeline safety\nregulations, the Department of Health’s waterworks regulations\n(12VAC5-590-10 et seq.), and standards established by the Utility Industry\nCoalition of Virginia.\n\nB. The Commission shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to enforce\nthe provisions of this section as to those operators that do not comply with\nsuch accepted industry standards.\n\nC. This section shall not authorize the Commission to order action by, or impose\npenalties on, any county, city or town. However, the Commission shall inform\ncounties, cities and towns of alleged violations by the locality of the accepted\nindustry standards or regulations adopted under this section and, at the request\nof the locality, suggest corrective action.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 4059; 1996, c. 278; 2000, c. 779.","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}}