{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-546.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-546.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-546.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-546.html"}],"law_id":56152,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56152,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-546","catch_line":"Local approvals","history":"1988, c. 649; 1990, c. 180.","full_text":"A\n\nPrior to the issuance of a certificate of authority by the Commission and contemporaneously with the filing of any application materials with the Commission, the applicant shall provide the local governing body of each jurisdiction through which any part of the roadway passes with the application information and materials required by § 56-540 and an overall description of the project and its benefits. The governing body may participate in procedures conducted by the Board or the Commission concerning the application.B\n\nWhen the operator wishes to occupy lands owned by any county, city, town, or any agency or instrumentality of the federal government, including the streets or alleys of a city or town, or the roads of any county, it shall first obtain a franchise allowing such occupancy or it may obtain the necessary interests through grant or other appropriate conveyance to the operator for a period of time, in the case of a franchise, not to exceed the term of the certificate.C\n\nWhere the applicant wishes to interconnect with the streets of any city or town, or the road system of any county, and the locality is willing to allow the interconnection, it shall submit appropriate plans for the connection to the governing body, which shall approve the connection if it determines that the connection meets all appropriate engineering requirements.D\n\nThe operator and the county, city, or town may also agree on any supplemental or related matters in addition to the matters specified in § 15.2-2026, according to such terms and conditions as are reasonable, appropriate, and in the public interest, and any such county, city, or town is hereby enabled to enter into such an agreement.E\n\nPrior to commencement of construction, the operator shall survey and plat the right-of-way in accordance with local requirements.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205785,"text":"Prior to the issuance of a certificate of authority by the Commission and contemporaneously with the filing of any application materials with the Commission, the applicant shall provide the local governing body of each jurisdiction through which any part of the roadway passes with the application information and materials required by § 56-540 and an overall description of the project and its benefits. The governing body may participate in procedures conducted by the Board or the Commission concerning the application.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":205786,"text":"When the operator wishes to occupy lands owned by any county, city, town, or any agency or instrumentality of the federal government, including the streets or alleys of a city or town, or the roads of any county, it shall first obtain a franchise allowing such occupancy or it may obtain the necessary interests through grant or other appropriate conveyance to the operator for a period of time, in the case of a franchise, not to exceed the term of the certificate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":205787,"text":"Where the applicant wishes to interconnect with the streets of any city or town, or the road system of any county, and the locality is willing to allow the interconnection, it shall submit appropriate plans for the connection to the governing body, which shall approve the connection if it determines that the connection meets all appropriate engineering requirements.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":205788,"text":"The operator and the county, city, or town may also agree on any supplemental or related matters in addition to the matters specified in § 15.2-2026, according to such terms and conditions as are reasonable, appropriate, and in the public interest, and any such county, city, or town is hereby enabled to enter into such an agreement.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":205789,"text":"Prior to commencement of construction, the operator shall survey and plat the right-of-way in accordance with local requirements.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14616,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988","identifier":"20","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:55","permalink":{"id":250407,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14616,"identifier":"20","token":"56\/20","url":"\/56\/20\/","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":70009,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-535","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/56-535\/","token":"56\/20\/56-535","metadata":false},{"id":75006,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-536","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-536\/","token":"56\/20\/56-536","metadata":false},{"id":82021,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-537","catch_line":"Construction of highways and use of public funds in the public interest","url":"\/56-537\/","token":"56\/20\/56-537","metadata":false},{"id":63437,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-538","catch_line":"Prerequisite for construction and operation","url":"\/56-538\/","token":"56\/20\/56-538","metadata":false},{"id":64175,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-539","catch_line":"Certificate of authority","url":"\/56-539\/","token":"56\/20\/56-539","metadata":false},{"id":65271,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-540","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/56-540\/","token":"56\/20\/56-540","metadata":false},{"id":64565,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-541","catch_line":"Eminent domain","url":"\/56-541\/","token":"56\/20\/56-541","metadata":false},{"id":64762,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-542","catch_line":"Powers of the Commission","url":"\/56-542\/","token":"56\/20\/56-542","metadata":false},{"id":85165,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-543","catch_line":"Powers and duties of roadway operator","url":"\/56-543\/","token":"56\/20\/56-543","metadata":false},{"id":58147,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-544","catch_line":"Board approval; inspection agreement with Department","url":"\/56-544\/","token":"56\/20\/56-544","metadata":false},{"id":72530,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-545","catch_line":"Insurance; sovereign immunity","url":"\/56-545\/","token":"56\/20\/56-545","metadata":false},{"id":56152,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-546","catch_line":"Local approvals","url":"\/56-546\/","token":"56\/20\/56-546","metadata":false},{"id":78880,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-547","catch_line":"Utility crossings","url":"\/56-547\/","token":"56\/20\/56-547","metadata":false},{"id":59529,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-548","catch_line":"Highway and roadway crossings","url":"\/56-548\/","token":"56\/20\/56-548","metadata":false},{"id":68873,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-549","catch_line":"Default","url":"\/56-549\/","token":"56\/20\/56-549","metadata":false},{"id":59033,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-550","catch_line":"Police powers; violations of law","url":"\/56-550\/","token":"56\/20\/56-550","metadata":false},{"id":71856,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-551","catch_line":"Termination of certificate; dedication of assets","url":"\/56-551\/","token":"56\/20\/56-551","metadata":false},{"id":62323,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-552","catch_line":"Improvement Fund","url":"\/56-552\/","token":"56\/20\/56-552","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72530,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-545","catch_line":"Insurance; sovereign immunity","url":"\/56-545\/","token":"56\/20\/56-545","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":78880,"structure_id":14616,"section_number":"56-547","catch_line":"Utility crossings","url":"\/56-547\/","token":"56\/20\/56-547","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-546\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 649 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 1988 \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 1990, chapter 180.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":77124,"section_number":"15.2-2026","catch_line":"Limited access streets","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-2026\/"},{"id":65271,"section_number":"56-540","catch_line":"Application","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-540\/"}],"permalink":{"id":250453,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56152,"identifier":"56-546","token":"56\/20\/56-546","url":"\/56-546\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-546\/","token":"56\/20\/56-546","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local approvals","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-546","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Prior to the issuance of a certificate<\/span> of authority by the Commission<\/span> and contemporaneously with the filing of any application materials<\/span> with the Commission<\/span>, the applicant shall provide the local governing body of each jurisdiction<\/span> through which any part of the roadway<\/span> passes with the application information and materials<\/span> required by § 56-540<\/a> and an overall description of the project and its benefits. The governing body may participate in procedures conducted by the Board<\/span> or the Commission<\/span> concerning the application. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> When the operator<\/span> wishes to occupy lands owned by any county, city, town, or any agency or instrumentality of the federal government, including the streets or alleys of a city or town, or the roads of any county, it shall first obtain a franchise allowing such occupancy or it may obtain the necessary interests through grant or other appropriate conveyance to the operator<\/span> for a period of time, in the case of a franchise, not to exceed the term of the certificate<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Where the applicant wishes to interconnect with the streets of any city or town, or the road system of any county, and the locality is willing to allow the interconnection, it shall submit appropriate plans for the connection to the governing body, which shall approve the connection if it determines that the connection meets all appropriate engineering requirements. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The operator<\/span> and the county, city, or town may also agree on any supplemental or related matters in addition to the matters specified in § 15.2-2026<\/a>, according to such terms and conditions as are reasonable, appropriate, and in the public interest, and any such county, city, or town is hereby enabled to enter into such an agreement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Prior to commencement of construction, the operator<\/span> shall survey and plat the right-of-way in accordance with local requirements. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL APPROVALS (\u00a7 56-546)\n\nA. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of authority by the Commission and\ncontemporaneously with the filing of any application materials with the\nCommission, the applicant shall provide the local governing body of each\njurisdiction through which any part of the roadway passes with the application\ninformation and materials required by § 56-540 and an overall description\nof the project and its benefits. The governing body may participate in\nprocedures conducted by the Board or the Commission concerning the application.\n\nB. When the operator wishes to occupy lands owned by any county, city, town, or\nany agency or instrumentality of the federal government, including the streets\nor alleys of a city or town, or the roads of any county, it shall first obtain a\nfranchise allowing such occupancy or it may obtain the necessary interests\nthrough grant or other appropriate conveyance to the operator for a period of\ntime, in the case of a franchise, not to exceed the term of the certificate.\n\nC. Where the applicant wishes to interconnect with the streets of any city or\ntown, or the road system of any county, and the locality is willing to allow the\ninterconnection, it shall submit appropriate plans for the connection to the\ngoverning body, which shall approve the connection if it determines that the\nconnection meets all appropriate engineering requirements.\n\nD. The operator and the county, city, or town may also agree on any supplemental\nor related matters in addition to the matters specified in § 15.2-2026,\naccording to such terms and conditions as are reasonable, appropriate, and in\nthe public interest, and any such county, city, or town is hereby enabled to\nenter into such an agreement.\n\nE. Prior to commencement of construction, the operator shall survey and plat the\nright-of-way in accordance with local requirements.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, c. 649; 1990, c. 180.","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}}