{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-466.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-466.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-466.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-466.html"}],"law_id":87026,"edition_id":1,"section_id":87026,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466","catch_line":"Location of posts, poles, cables and conduits; height of wires, etc","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 4035, 4038; 1926, pp. 908, 909; 1976, c. 268.","full_text":"All posts, poles, wires, cables and conduits which shall be erected by any authority in the preceding sections of this chapter conferred shall be so located as in no way to obstruct or interfere with public travel or the ordinary use of, or the safety and convenience of persons traveling through, on, or over, the public parks, roads, turnpikes, streets, avenues, alleys, railroads, or waters in or upon which the same may be erected, and all wires fastened upon posts or poles erected as aforesaid shall be placed at a height of not less than eighteen feet above all road crossings, and twenty-three feet above railroad crossings, and no conduits shall be laid nor posts or poles erected upon the soil or property of any person without first obtaining the consent of the owner thereof, nor shall any such wires or cables be strung across the soil, property, or premises of any person, or attached to or connected with any shade or ornamental tree, or any private building, without the consent of the owner thereof.\n\t\tSuch poles, wires, cables and conduits shall not in anywise damage private property without compensation therefor, nor in any way obstruct the navigation of any stream, or impair or endanger the use thereof by the public, or by any person or corporation entitled to the use of the same. Such conduits shall be laid at such distance below the surface of any public park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, and at such distance from the outside of any gas or water main or other conduit already laid under such public park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, as may be prescribed by the proper municipal, county, or state authorities.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311594,"text":"All posts, poles, wires, cables and conduits which shall be erected by any authority in the preceding sections of this chapter conferred shall be so located as in no way to obstruct or interfere with public travel or the ordinary use of, or the safety and convenience of persons traveling through, on, or over, the public parks, roads, turnpikes, streets, avenues, alleys, railroads, or waters in or upon which the same may be erected, and all wires fastened upon posts or poles erected as aforesaid shall be placed at a height of not less than eighteen feet above all road crossings, and twenty-three feet above railroad crossings, and no conduits shall be laid nor posts or poles erected upon the soil or property of any person without first obtaining the consent of the owner thereof, nor shall any such wires or cables be strung across the soil, property, or premises of any person, or attached to or connected with any shade or ornamental tree, or any private building, without the consent of the owner thereof.\n\t\tSuch poles, wires, cables and conduits shall not in anywise damage private property without compensation therefor, nor in any way obstruct the navigation of any stream, or impair or endanger the use thereof by the public, or by any person or corporation entitled to the use of the same. Such conduits shall be laid at such distance below the surface of any public park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, and at such distance from the outside of any gas or water main or other conduit already laid under such public park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, as may be prescribed by the proper municipal, county, or state authorities.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15083,"edition_id":1,"name":"Erection of Lines; Rights-Of-Way; Eminent Domain, Etc","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13123,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:04","permalink":{"id":249829,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15083,"identifier":"1","token":"56\/15\/1","url":"\/56\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13123,"edition_id":1,"name":"Telegraph and Telephone Companies","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","permalink":{"id":249827,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13123,"identifier":"15","token":"56\/15","url":"\/56\/15\/","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":84023,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-458","catch_line":"Right to erect lines parallel to railroads; occupation of roads, streets, etc.; location of same","url":"\/56-458\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-458","metadata":false},{"id":84616,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-458.1","catch_line":"Relocation of lines or works of certain public utilities acquired by Commonwealth Transportation Board","url":"\/56-458.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-458.1","metadata":false},{"id":76256,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-459","catch_line":"Removal of old line not required by this chapter","url":"\/56-459\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-459","metadata":false},{"id":57498,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-460","catch_line":"How consent of appropriate authorities obtained; terms of use","url":"\/56-460\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-460","metadata":false},{"id":80107,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-461","catch_line":"Cost to Commonwealth in connection with construction of line to be paid by company","url":"\/56-461\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-461","metadata":false},{"id":59741,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-462","catch_line":"Franchise to occupy parks, streets, etc.; imposition of terms, conditions, etc., as to use of streets, etc., and construction thereon","url":"\/56-462\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-462","metadata":false},{"id":65189,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-463","catch_line":"Company may contract for right-of-way, etc","url":"\/56-463\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-463","metadata":false},{"id":74298,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-464","catch_line":"Right of eminent domain","url":"\/56-464\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-464","metadata":false},{"id":58616,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-465","catch_line":"Preceding sections subject to repeal or change at pleasure","url":"\/56-465\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-465","metadata":false},{"id":87026,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466","catch_line":"Location of posts, poles, cables and conduits; height of wires, etc","url":"\/56-466\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466","metadata":false},{"id":67753,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.1","catch_line":"Pole attachments; cable television systems and telecommunications service providers","url":"\/56-466.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.1","metadata":false},{"id":84760,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.2","catch_line":"Undergrounding existing overhead distribution lines; relocation of facilities of cable operator","url":"\/56-466.2\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.2","metadata":false},{"id":73627,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-467","catch_line":"Restoring condition of ground","url":"\/56-467\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-467","metadata":false},{"id":81178,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-468","catch_line":"Endangering life or limb by stringing wires across other works","url":"\/56-468\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-468","metadata":false},{"id":75664,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-468.1","catch_line":"(Contingent expiration -- see Editor's note) Public Rights-of-Way Use Fee","url":"\/56-468.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-468.1","metadata":false},{"id":72971,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-468.2","catch_line":"Reimbursement for relocation costs","url":"\/56-468.2\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-468.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58616,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-465","catch_line":"Preceding sections subject to repeal or change at pleasure","url":"\/56-465\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-465","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67753,"structure_id":15083,"section_number":"56-466.1","catch_line":"Pole attachments; cable television systems and telecommunications service providers","url":"\/56-466.1\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-466\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1976, chapter 268.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64888,"section_number":"56-256","catch_line":"Powers of corporations generally; rights, powers, privileges and immunities, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-256\/"},{"id":71514,"section_number":"56-256.1","catch_line":"Height of electric power distribution lines over agricultural land","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-256.1\/"},{"id":58616,"section_number":"56-465","catch_line":"Preceding sections subject to repeal or change at pleasure","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-465\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":249867,"object_type":"law","relational_id":87026,"identifier":"56-466","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466","url":"\/56-466\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-466\/","token":"56\/15\/1\/56-466","dublin_core":{"Title":"Location of posts, poles, cables and conduits; height of wires, etc","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-466","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

All posts, poles, wires, cables and conduits which shall be erected by any authority in the preceding sections of this chapter conferred shall be so located as in no way to obstruct or interfere with public travel or the ordinary use of, or the safety and convenience of persons<\/span> traveling through, on, or over, the public parks, roads, turnpikes, streets, avenues, alleys, railroads<\/span>, or waters in or upon which the same may be erected, and all wires fastened upon posts or poles erected as aforesaid shall be placed at a height of not less than eighteen feet above all road crossings, and twenty-three feet above railroad<\/span> crossings, and no conduits shall be laid nor posts or poles erected upon the soil or property of any person<\/span> without first obtaining the consent of the owner thereof, nor shall any such wires or cables be strung across the soil, property, or premises of any person<\/span>, or attached to or connected with any shade or ornamental tree, or any private building, without the consent of the owner thereof.\n\t\tSuch poles, wires, cables and conduits shall not in anywise damage private property without compensation therefor, nor in any way obstruct the navigation of any stream, or impair or endanger the use thereof by the public, or by any person<\/span> or corporation<\/span> entitled to the use of the same. Such conduits shall be laid at such distance below the surface of any public park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, and at such distance from the outside of any gas or water main or other conduit already laid under such public park, road, turnpike, street, avenue, or alley, as may be prescribed by the proper municipal, county, or state authorities.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCATION OF POSTS, POLES, CABLES AND CONDUITS; HEIGHT OF WIRES, ETC (\u00a7 56-466)\n\nAll posts, poles, wires, cables and conduits which shall be erected by any\nauthority in the preceding sections of this chapter conferred shall be so\nlocated as in no way to obstruct or interfere with public travel or the ordinary\nuse of, or the safety and convenience of persons traveling through, on, or over,\nthe public parks, roads, turnpikes, streets, avenues, alleys, railroads, or\nwaters in or upon which the same may be erected, and all wires fastened upon\nposts or poles erected as aforesaid shall be placed at a height of not less than\neighteen feet above all road crossings, and twenty-three feet above railroad\ncrossings, and no conduits shall be laid nor posts or poles erected upon the\nsoil or property of any person without first obtaining the consent of the owner\nthereof, nor shall any such wires or cables be strung across the soil, property,\nor premises of any person, or attached to or connected with any shade or\nornamental tree, or any private building, without the consent of the owner\nthereof.\n\t\tSuch poles, wires, cables and conduits shall not in anywise damage private\nproperty without compensation therefor, nor in any way obstruct the navigation\nof any stream, or impair or endanger the use thereof by the public, or by any\nperson or corporation entitled to the use of the same. Such conduits shall be\nlaid at such distance below the surface of any public park, road, turnpike,\nstreet, avenue, or alley, and at such distance from the outside of any gas or\nwater main or other conduit already laid under such public park, road, turnpike,\nstreet, avenue, or alley, as may be prescribed by the proper municipal, county,\nor state authorities.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 4035, 4038; 1926, pp. 908, 909; 1976, c. 268.","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}}