{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/57-63.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/57-63.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/57-63.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/57-63.html"}],"law_id":58452,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58452,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-63","catch_line":"Local ordinances","history":"1974, c. 574; 1977, c. 401; 1979, cc. 55, 595; 1983, cc. 282, 374; 1985, c. 82; 1998, cc. 104, 232; 2002, c. 85.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of any city, town or county may by ordinance not inconsistent with this chapter provide for the regulation and licensing of charitable or civic organizations soliciting within the city, town or county, and for penalties for violation thereof, subject to the following limitations:1\n\nNo local license tax or fee in excess of ten dollars shall be required of any charitable organization.2\n\nNo charitable organization exempt from registration under subdivision A 1, A 4, A 6 or A 7 of § 57-60 shall be required to be licensed. Any such organization may obtain a local license, without payment of any license tax or fee, upon compliance with all such requirements of the local ordinance as would have been applicable had it been registered with the Commissioner during each year in which it obtained an exemption letter under subsection C of § 57-60.3\n\nNo charitable organization that has registered with the Commissioner for the current and next preceding three years, or exempt for such years under § 57-50, shall be required to provide any financial information.4\n\nNo charitable or civic organization that solicits within the Commonwealth from a place outside the Commonwealth solely by telephone, telegraph, direct mail or advertising in national media, and having no chapter, branch, area or office within the Commonwealth, shall be required to be licensed.5\n\nNo museum that has registered with the Commissioner as required by § 57-49 and that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be required to comply with the regulation or licensing provisions of any local charitable solicitations ordinance.6\n\nIf a charitable or civic organization shall designate by power of attorney filed with the Commissioner one or more persons authorized to sign on its behalf, the signature, verification or affirmation of any such persons shall be sufficient for all purposes of any local charitable solicitations ordinance.B\n\nAny ordinance adopted pursuant to this section may provide, inter alia, for procedures whereby charitable organizations may, for valid reasons, after an administrative hearing, be denied a local license or whereby a license may be revoked. Valid reasons for denial or revocation of a local license may be defined to include, without limitation, the expenditure of charitable assets for noncharitable purposes, any misrepresentation to the public or to any prospective donor, and any violation of state or local law. Any charitable organization which is denied a license may, within fifteen days from the date of such denial, apply for relief to the circuit court of such city or county or of the county in which such town is located. If the court is satisfied that the denial was for any reason erroneous, it shall provide such relief as may be appropriate.C\n\nNo ordinance, or amendment thereto, adopted pursuant to this section shall be valid for any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1978, unless, before September 1 of that year, there shall have been filed with the Commissioner, on forms to be prescribed by him, information deemed by him to be sufficient for the purpose of advising charitable or civic organizations of the necessity for them to be licensed by such city, town or county.D\n\nNo charitable organization shall be required to comply with the provisions of local ordinances if such organization has registered with the Commissioner or if such organization is a chapter, branch or affiliate included in the consolidated report of an organization or federated organization registered with the Commissioner, except that such charitable organization shall not be exempted from that portion of any local ordinance that requires such organization to register its name, the names of its solicitors and the dates and times that they will be soliciting in the locality.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":214223,"text":"The governing body of any city, town or county may by ordinance not inconsistent with this chapter provide for the regulation and licensing of charitable or civic organizations soliciting within the city, town or county, and for penalties for violation thereof, subject to the following limitations:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":214224,"text":"No local license tax or fee in excess of ten dollars shall be required of any charitable organization.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":214225,"text":"No charitable organization exempt from registration under subdivision A 1, A 4, A 6 or A 7 of § 57-60 shall be required to be licensed. Any such organization may obtain a local license, without payment of any license tax or fee, upon compliance with all such requirements of the local ordinance as would have been applicable had it been registered with the Commissioner during each year in which it obtained an exemption letter under subsection C of § 57-60.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":214226,"text":"No charitable organization that has registered with the Commissioner for the current and next preceding three years, or exempt for such years under § 57-50, shall be required to provide any financial information.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":214227,"text":"No charitable or civic organization that solicits within the Commonwealth from a place outside the Commonwealth solely by telephone, telegraph, direct mail or advertising in national media, and having no chapter, branch, area or office within the Commonwealth, shall be required to be licensed.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":214228,"text":"No museum that has registered with the Commissioner as required by § 57-49 and that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be required to comply with the regulation or licensing provisions of any local charitable solicitations ordinance.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":214229,"text":"If a charitable or civic organization shall designate by power of attorney filed with the Commissioner one or more persons authorized to sign on its behalf, the signature, verification or affirmation of any such persons shall be sufficient for all purposes of any local charitable solicitations ordinance.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"B"},"7":{"id":214230,"text":"Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section may provide, inter alia, for procedures whereby charitable organizations may, for valid reasons, after an administrative hearing, be denied a local license or whereby a license may be revoked. Valid reasons for denial or revocation of a local license may be defined to include, without limitation, the expenditure of charitable assets for noncharitable purposes, any misrepresentation to the public or to any prospective donor, and any violation of state or local law. Any charitable organization which is denied a license may, within fifteen days from the date of such denial, apply for relief to the circuit court of such city or county or of the county in which such town is located. If the court is satisfied that the denial was for any reason erroneous, it shall provide such relief as may be appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"C"},"8":{"id":214231,"text":"No ordinance, or amendment thereto, adopted pursuant to this section shall be valid for any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1978, unless, before September 1 of that year, there shall have been filed with the Commissioner, on forms to be prescribed by him, information deemed by him to be sufficient for the purpose of advising charitable or civic organizations of the necessity for them to be licensed by such city, town or county.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"9":{"id":214232,"text":"No charitable organization shall be required to comply with the provisions of local ordinances if such organization has registered with the Commissioner or if such organization is a chapter, branch or affiliate included in the consolidated report of an organization or federated organization registered with the Commissioner, except that such charitable organization shall not be exempted from that portion of any local ordinance that requires such organization to register its name, the names of its solicitors and the dates and times that they will be soliciting in the locality.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13962,"edition_id":1,"name":"Solicitation of Contributions","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13324,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:26","permalink":{"id":251837,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13962,"identifier":"5","token":"57\/5","url":"\/57\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13324,"edition_id":1,"name":"Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries","identifier":"57","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:39","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:39","permalink":{"id":251501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13324,"identifier":"57","token":"57","url":"\/57\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78101,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-48","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/57-48\/","token":"57\/5\/57-48","metadata":false},{"id":86486,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-49","catch_line":"Registration of charitable organizations; prohibition against support of terrorists","url":"\/57-49\/","token":"57\/5\/57-49","metadata":false},{"id":65471,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-50","catch_line":"Reciprocal agreements with other states; online filing","url":"\/57-50\/","token":"57\/5\/57-50","metadata":false},{"id":83732,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-51","catch_line":"Nonresident registration","url":"\/57-51\/","token":"57\/5\/57-51","metadata":false},{"id":65077,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-52","catch_line":"Publication of warnings concerning certain charitable and civic organizations","url":"\/57-52\/","token":"57\/5\/57-52","metadata":false},{"id":64262,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-52.1","catch_line":"Publication of warnings concerning solicitation by professional solicitors","url":"\/57-52.1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-52.1","metadata":false},{"id":58234,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-53","catch_line":"Records to be kept by charitable organizations","url":"\/57-53\/","token":"57\/5\/57-53","metadata":false},{"id":71322,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-54","catch_line":"Contracts between charitable or civic organizations and professional fund-raising counsel or professional solicitors","url":"\/57-54\/","token":"57\/5\/57-54","metadata":false},{"id":81155,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/57-55\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55","metadata":false},{"id":73486,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/57-55.1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.1","metadata":false},{"id":62382,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.2","catch_line":"Charitable solicitation disclosure","url":"\/57-55.2\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.2","metadata":false},{"id":57634,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.2:1","catch_line":"Solicitations by for-profit organizations","url":"\/57-55.2_1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":87184,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.3","catch_line":"Disclosure regarding financial statement required","url":"\/57-55.3\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.3","metadata":false},{"id":70988,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-55.4","catch_line":"Collection receptacles; required disclosures","url":"\/57-55.4\/","token":"57\/5\/57-55.4","metadata":false},{"id":71585,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-56","catch_line":"Information filed to become public records","url":"\/57-56\/","token":"57\/5\/57-56","metadata":false},{"id":61492,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-57","catch_line":"Prohibited acts","url":"\/57-57\/","token":"57\/5\/57-57","metadata":false},{"id":83525,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-58","catch_line":"Ratio of fund-raising expenses to contributions to be included in registration statement","url":"\/57-58\/","token":"57\/5\/57-58","metadata":false},{"id":87099,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-59","catch_line":"Enforcement of chapter; seizure of property connected with terrorism; penalties","url":"\/57-59\/","token":"57\/5\/57-59","metadata":false},{"id":57956,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-60","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/57-60\/","token":"57\/5\/57-60","metadata":false},{"id":87040,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-61","catch_line":"Registration of professional fund-raising counsels and solicitors","url":"\/57-61\/","token":"57\/5\/57-61","metadata":false},{"id":82886,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-61.1","catch_line":"Time and effect of registration","url":"\/57-61.1\/","token":"57\/5\/57-61.1","metadata":false},{"id":77549,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-61.2","catch_line":"Commercial co-ventures","url":"\/57-61.2\/","token":"57\/5\/57-61.2","metadata":false},{"id":84845,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-62","catch_line":"Liability imposed by other laws not decreased","url":"\/57-62\/","token":"57\/5\/57-62","metadata":false},{"id":58452,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-63","catch_line":"Local ordinances","url":"\/57-63\/","token":"57\/5\/57-63","metadata":false},{"id":87043,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-64","catch_line":"Out-of-state enforcement proceedings","url":"\/57-64\/","token":"57\/5\/57-64","metadata":false},{"id":57627,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-65","catch_line":"Fees and charges","url":"\/57-65\/","token":"57\/5\/57-65","metadata":false},{"id":68709,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-66","catch_line":"Rules and regulations; model ordinance","url":"\/57-66\/","token":"57\/5\/57-66","metadata":false},{"id":55022,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-67","catch_line":"Application to court for relief","url":"\/57-67\/","token":"57\/5\/57-67","metadata":false},{"id":59430,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-68","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/57-68\/","token":"57\/5\/57-68","metadata":false},{"id":85676,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-69","catch_line":"Effective date","url":"\/57-69\/","token":"57\/5\/57-69","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84845,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-62","catch_line":"Liability imposed by other laws not decreased","url":"\/57-62\/","token":"57\/5\/57-62","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":87043,"structure_id":13962,"section_number":"57-64","catch_line":"Out-of-state enforcement proceedings","url":"\/57-64\/","token":"57\/5\/57-64","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/57-63\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 574 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 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 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 1977, chapter 401; in 1979, chapters 55 and 595; in 1983, chapters 282 and 374; in 1985, chapter 82; in 1998, chapters 104<\/a> and 232<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 85<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86486,"section_number":"57-49","catch_line":"Registration of charitable organizations; prohibition against support of terrorists","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-49\/"},{"id":65471,"section_number":"57-50","catch_line":"Reciprocal agreements with other states; online filing","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-50\/"},{"id":57956,"section_number":"57-60","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-60\/"}],"permalink":{"id":251931,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58452,"identifier":"57-63","token":"57\/5\/57-63","url":"\/57-63\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/57-63\/","token":"57\/5\/57-63","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local ordinances","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 57-63","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body of any city, town or county may by ordinance<\/span> not inconsistent with this chapter provide for the regulation and licensing of charitable or civic organizations<\/span> soliciting within the city, town or county, and for penalties for violation thereof, subject to the following limitations: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> No local license tax or fee in excess of ten dollars shall be required of any charitable organization<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> No charitable organization<\/span> exempt from registration under subdivision A 1, A 4, A 6 or A 7 of § 57-60<\/a> shall be required to be licensed. Any such organization may obtain a local license, without payment of any license tax or fee, upon compliance with all such requirements of the local ordinance<\/span> as would have been applicable had it been registered with the Commissioner<\/span> during each year in which it obtained an exemption letter under subsection C of § 57-60<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> No charitable organization<\/span> that has registered with the Commissioner<\/span> for the current and next preceding three years, or exempt for such years under § 57-50<\/a>, shall be required to provide any financial information. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> No charitable or civic organization<\/span> that solicits<\/span> within the Commonwealth from a place outside the Commonwealth solely by telephone, telegraph, direct mail or advertising in national media, and having no chapter, branch, area or office within the Commonwealth, shall be required to be licensed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> No museum that has registered with the Commissioner<\/span> as required by § 57-49<\/a> and that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be required to comply with the regulation or licensing provisions of any local charitable solicitations<\/span> ordinance<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> If a charitable or civic organization<\/span> shall designate by power of attorney<\/span> filed with the Commissioner<\/span> one or more persons<\/span> authorized to sign on its behalf, the signature, verification or affirmation of any such persons<\/span> shall be sufficient for all purposes of any local charitable solicitations<\/span> ordinance<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any ordinance<\/span> adopted pursuant to this section may provide, inter alia, for procedures whereby charitable organizations<\/span> may, for valid reasons, after an administrative hearing<\/span>, be denied a local license or whereby a license may be revoked. Valid reasons for denial or revocation<\/span> of a local license may be defined to include, without limitation, the expenditure of charitable assets<\/span> for noncharitable purposes, any misrepresentation to the public or to any prospective donor, and any violation of state or local law<\/span>. Any charitable organization<\/span> which is denied a license may, within fifteen days from the date of such denial, apply for relief to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of such city or county or of the county in which such town is located. If the court<\/span> is satisfied that the denial was for any reason erroneous, it shall provide such relief as may be appropriate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> No ordinance<\/span>, or amendment thereto, adopted pursuant to this section shall be valid for any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1978, unless, before September 1 of that year, there shall have been filed with the Commissioner<\/span>, on forms to be prescribed by him, information deemed by him to be sufficient for the purpose of advising charitable or civic organizations<\/span> of the necessity for them to be licensed by such city, town or county. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> No charitable organization<\/span> shall be required to comply with the provisions of local ordinances<\/span> if such organization has registered with the Commissioner<\/span> or if such organization is a chapter, branch or affiliate included in the consolidated report of an organization or federated organization registered with the Commissioner<\/span>, except that such charitable organization<\/span> shall not be exempted from that portion of any local ordinance<\/span> that requires such organization to register its name, the names of its solicitors and the dates and times that they will be soliciting in the locality. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL ORDINANCES (\u00a7 57-63)\n\nA. The governing body of any city, town or county may by ordinance not\ninconsistent with this chapter provide for the regulation and licensing of\ncharitable or civic organizations soliciting within the city, town or county,\nand for penalties for violation thereof, subject to the following limitations:\n\n 1. No local license tax or fee in excess of ten dollars shall be required of\n any charitable organization.\n\n 2. No charitable organization exempt from registration under subdivision A 1,\n A 4, A 6 or A 7 of § 57-60 shall be required to be licensed. Any such\n organization may obtain a local license, without payment of any license tax or\n fee, upon compliance with all such requirements of the local ordinance as\n would have been applicable had it been registered with the Commissioner during\n each year in which it obtained an exemption letter under subsection C of\n § 57-60.\n\n 3. No charitable organization that has registered with the Commissioner for\n the current and next preceding three years, or exempt for such years under\n § 57-50, shall be required to provide any financial information.\n\n 4. No charitable or civic organization that solicits within the Commonwealth\n from a place outside the Commonwealth solely by telephone, telegraph, direct\n mail or advertising in national media, and having no chapter, branch, area or\n office within the Commonwealth, shall be required to be licensed.\n\n 5. No museum that has registered with the Commissioner as required by §\n 57-49 and that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3) of\n the Internal Revenue Code shall be required to comply with the regulation or\n licensing provisions of any local charitable solicitations ordinance.\n\n 6. If a charitable or civic organization shall designate by power of attorney\n filed with the Commissioner one or more persons authorized to sign on its\n behalf, the signature, verification or affirmation of any such persons shall\n be sufficient for all purposes of any local charitable solicitations\n ordinance.\n\nB. Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section may provide, inter alia, for\nprocedures whereby charitable organizations may, for valid reasons, after an\nadministrative hearing, be denied a local license or whereby a license may be\nrevoked. Valid reasons for denial or revocation of a local license may be\ndefined to include, without limitation, the expenditure of charitable assets for\nnoncharitable purposes, any misrepresentation to the public or to any\nprospective donor, and any violation of state or local law. Any charitable\norganization which is denied a license may, within fifteen days from the date of\nsuch denial, apply for relief to the circuit court of such city or county or of\nthe county in which such town is located. If the court is satisfied that the\ndenial was for any reason erroneous, it shall provide such relief as may be\nappropriate.\n\nC. No ordinance, or amendment thereto, adopted pursuant to this section shall be\nvalid for any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1978, unless, before\nSeptember 1 of that year, there shall have been filed with the Commissioner, on\nforms to be prescribed by him, information deemed by him to be sufficient for\nthe purpose of advising charitable or civic organizations of the necessity for\nthem to be licensed by such city, town or county.\n\nD. No charitable organization shall be required to comply with the provisions of\nlocal ordinances if such organization has registered with the Commissioner or if\nsuch organization is a chapter, branch or affiliate included in the consolidated\nreport of an organization or federated organization registered with the\nCommissioner, except that such charitable organization shall not be exempted\nfrom that portion of any local ordinance that requires such organization to\nregister its name, the names of its solicitors and the dates and times that they\nwill be soliciting in the locality.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 574; 1977, c. 401; 1979, cc. 55, 595; 1983, cc. 282, 374;\n1985, c. 82; 1998, cc. 104, 232; 2002, c. 85.","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}}