{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-21.10.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-21.10.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-21.10.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-21.10.html"}],"law_id":67296,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67296,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.10","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1973, c. 423; 1979, c. 306; 1990, c. 907; 2003, c. 410; 2005, c. 839; 2012, c. 351.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Dealer” means any person who purchases motor fuel for sale to the general public for ultimate consumption. “Dealer” shall not mean any person, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel for sale, consignment, or distribution to another; (ii) receives motor fuel on consignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel accounts or to accounts of his supplier; or (iii) who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common carrier providing transportation service, for such person.\n\t\t“Designated family member” means the adult spouse, adult child or stepchild, or adult brother or sister of the dealer who is designated in the franchise agreement as the successor to the dealer’s interest under the agreement and who shall become the dealer upon the completion of the succession.\n\t\t“Franchise” or “franchise agreement” means any agreement, express or implied, between a refiner and a dealer under which a refiner authorizes or permits a dealer to use, in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel, a trademark which is owned or controlled by such refiner. “Franchise” or “franchise agreement” shall also mean any agreement, express or implied, under which a dealer is granted the right to occupy leased marketing premises, which premises are to be employed in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel under a trademark which is owned or controlled by such refiner.\n\t\t“Franchise fee” means any fee or charge that a dealer is required to pay or agrees to pay for the right to enter into a franchise agreement or to become a dealer at the premises to which the franchise agreement relates. The term “franchise fee” shall not include reasonable actual costs and expenses incurred by the refiner in effecting the assignment, transfer, or sale.\n\t\t“Franchisor” means a refiner who authorizes or permits, under a franchise, a dealer to use a trademark in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel.\n\t\t“Jobber\/distributor” means any person, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel for sale, consignment, or distribution to another; or (ii) receives motor fuel on consignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel accounts or to accounts of his supplier, but shall not include a person who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common carrier providing transportation service for, such supplier.\n\t\t“Newly remodeled facility” means a retail outlet, marketing premises, or leased marketing premises which, within an 18-month period, has been rebuilt, renovated, or reconstructed at a cost of (i) for facilities remodeled before January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000; or (ii) for facilities remodeled on or after January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000 plus an amount reflecting the annual rate of inflation, such amount to be calculated on January 1 of each year by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by referring to the Consumer Price Index published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.\n\t\t“Operation of a retail outlet” means the ownership or option to buy a properly zoned parcel of property for which a permit to build a retail outlet has been granted.\n\t\t“Petroleum products” or “motor fuel” means gasoline and diesel fuel of a type distributed for use as a fuel in self-propelled vehicles designed primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways.\n\t\t“Profit” means the net gain, for income tax purposes, realized by the dealer upon the assignment, transfer, or sale of the franchise agreement.\n\t\t“Refiner” means any person engaged in the refining of crude oil to produce motor fuel and includes any affiliate of such person.\n\t\t“Retail” means the sale of petroleum products for purposes other than resale.\n\t\t“Retail outlet,” “marketing premises,” or “leased marketing premises” means the premises at which petroleum products are sold to the general public.\n\t\t“Trial franchise” means the same as provided in the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (15 U.S.C. \u00a7 2803 et seq.).","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":243862,"text":"As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Dealer” means any person who purchases motor fuel for sale to the general public for ultimate consumption. “Dealer” shall not mean any person, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel for sale, consignment, or distribution to another; (ii) receives motor fuel on consignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel accounts or to accounts of his supplier; or (iii) who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common carrier providing transportation service, for such person.\n\t\t“Designated family member” means the adult spouse, adult child or stepchild, or adult brother or sister of the dealer who is designated in the franchise agreement as the successor to the dealer’s interest under the agreement and who shall become the dealer upon the completion of the succession.\n\t\t“Franchise” or “franchise agreement” means any agreement, express or implied, between a refiner and a dealer under which a refiner authorizes or permits a dealer to use, in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel, a trademark which is owned or controlled by such refiner. “Franchise” or “franchise agreement” shall also mean any agreement, express or implied, under which a dealer is granted the right to occupy leased marketing premises, which premises are to be employed in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel under a trademark which is owned or controlled by such refiner.\n\t\t“Franchise fee” means any fee or charge that a dealer is required to pay or agrees to pay for the right to enter into a franchise agreement or to become a dealer at the premises to which the franchise agreement relates. The term “franchise fee” shall not include reasonable actual costs and expenses incurred by the refiner in effecting the assignment, transfer, or sale.\n\t\t“Franchisor” means a refiner who authorizes or permits, under a franchise, a dealer to use a trademark in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel.\n\t\t“Jobber\/distributor” means any person, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel for sale, consignment, or distribution to another; or (ii) receives motor fuel on consignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel accounts or to accounts of his supplier, but shall not include a person who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common carrier providing transportation service for, such supplier.\n\t\t“Newly remodeled facility” means a retail outlet, marketing premises, or leased marketing premises which, within an 18-month period, has been rebuilt, renovated, or reconstructed at a cost of (i) for facilities remodeled before January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000; or (ii) for facilities remodeled on or after January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000 plus an amount reflecting the annual rate of inflation, such amount to be calculated on January 1 of each year by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by referring to the Consumer Price Index published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.\n\t\t“Operation of a retail outlet” means the ownership or option to buy a properly zoned parcel of property for which a permit to build a retail outlet has been granted.\n\t\t“Petroleum products” or “motor fuel” means gasoline and diesel fuel of a type distributed for use as a fuel in self-propelled vehicles designed primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways.\n\t\t“Profit” means the net gain, for income tax purposes, realized by the dealer upon the assignment, transfer, or sale of the franchise agreement.\n\t\t“Refiner” means any person engaged in the refining of crude oil to produce motor fuel and includes any affiliate of such person.\n\t\t“Retail” means the sale of petroleum products for purposes other than resale.\n\t\t“Retail outlet,” “marketing premises,” or “leased marketing premises” means the premises at which petroleum products are sold to the general public.\n\t\t“Trial franchise” means the same as provided in the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (15 U.S.C. \u00a7 2803 et seq.).","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14858,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Petroleum Products Franchise Act","identifier":"2.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:26","permalink":{"id":260155,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14858,"identifier":"2.2","token":"59.1\/2.2","url":"\/59.1\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67296,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.10","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-21.10\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.10","metadata":false},{"id":68043,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.11","catch_line":"Required provisions pertaining to agreements between refiners and dealers","url":"\/59.1-21.11\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.11","metadata":false},{"id":61957,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.11:1","catch_line":"Waiver of constitutional rights prohibited","url":"\/59.1-21.11_1\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.11_1","metadata":false},{"id":63504,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.11:2","catch_line":"Required provisions pertaining to agreements between jobber\/distributors and dealers","url":"\/59.1-21.11_2\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.11_2","metadata":false},{"id":81543,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.12","catch_line":"Civil action for violation of chapter","url":"\/59.1-21.12\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.12","metadata":false},{"id":82373,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.13","catch_line":"Obligation of refiner to repurchase upon termination, etc., of agreement","url":"\/59.1-21.13\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.13","metadata":false},{"id":58062,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.14","catch_line":"Producer or refiner not to terminate, etc., agreement without notice and reasonable cause; nonrenewal by franchisor","url":"\/59.1-21.14\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.14","metadata":false},{"id":57069,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.15","catch_line":"Disclosures to be made by refiner before conclusion of agreement","url":"\/59.1-21.15\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.15","metadata":false},{"id":56778,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.15:1","catch_line":"Continued rights of dealers upon sale or assignment of franchise agreement","url":"\/59.1-21.15_1\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.15_1","metadata":false},{"id":75790,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.15:2","catch_line":"Franchisor's obligation to offer leased marketing premises to occupying dealer","url":"\/59.1-21.15_2\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.15_2","metadata":false},{"id":85434,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.16","catch_line":"Authority of Attorney General under \u00a7 59.1-68.2 not limited","url":"\/59.1-21.16\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.16","metadata":false},{"id":80011,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.16:1","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/59.1-21.16_1\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.16_1","metadata":false},{"id":70716,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.16:2","catch_line":"Operation of retail outlet by refiner; apportionment of fuels during periods of shortage; rules and regulations","url":"\/59.1-21.16_2\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.16_2","metadata":false},{"id":80526,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.17","catch_line":"Effective date of chapter","url":"\/59.1-21.17\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.17","metadata":false},{"id":78630,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.18","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/59.1-21.18\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.18","metadata":false},{"id":79930,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.18:1","catch_line":"Exclusions","url":"\/59.1-21.18_1\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.18_1","metadata":false},{"id":83674,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.8","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/59.1-21.8\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.8","metadata":false},{"id":77398,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.9","catch_line":"Findings of General Assembly","url":"\/59.1-21.9\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.9","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":68043,"structure_id":14858,"section_number":"59.1-21.11","catch_line":"Required provisions pertaining to agreements between refiners and dealers","url":"\/59.1-21.11\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.11","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-21.10\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 423 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 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 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 1979, chapter 306; in 1990, chapter 907; in 2003, chapter 410<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 839<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 351<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":59290,"section_number":"59.1-263","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-263\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":260157,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67296,"identifier":"59.1-21.10","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.10","url":"\/59.1-21.10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-21.10\/","token":"59.1\/2.2\/59.1-21.10","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-21.10","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Dealer<\/span>” means any person who purchases motor fuel<\/span> for sale to the general public for ultimate consumption. “Dealer<\/span>” shall not mean any person, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel<\/span> for sale, consignment, or distribution to another; (ii) receives motor fuel<\/span> on consignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel<\/span> accounts or to accounts of his supplier; or (iii) who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common carrier providing transportation service, for such person.\n\t\t“Designated family member<\/span>” means the adult spouse, adult child or stepchild, or adult brother or sister of the dealer<\/span> who is designated in the franchise agreement<\/span> as the successor to the dealer<\/span>’s interest under the agreement and who shall become the dealer<\/span> upon the completion of the succession.\n\t\t“Franchise” or “franchise agreement<\/span>” means any agreement, express or implied, between a refiner<\/span> and a dealer<\/span> under which a refiner<\/span> authorizes or permits a dealer<\/span> to use, in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel<\/span>, a trademark which is owned or controlled by such refiner<\/span>. “Franchise” or “franchise agreement<\/span>” shall also mean any agreement, express or implied, under which a dealer<\/span> is granted the right to occupy leased marketing premises<\/span>, which premises are to be employed in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel<\/span> under a trademark which is owned or controlled by such refiner<\/span>.\n\t\t“Franchise fee<\/span>” means any fee or charge that a dealer<\/span> is required to pay or agrees to pay for the right to enter into a franchise agreement<\/span> or to become a dealer<\/span> at the premises to which the franchise agreement<\/span> relates. The term “franchise fee<\/span>” shall not include reasonable actual costs and expenses incurred by the refiner<\/span> in effecting the assignment, transfer, or sale.\n\t\t“Franchisor<\/span>” means a refiner<\/span> who authorizes or permits, under a franchise, a dealer<\/span> to use a trademark in connection with the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel<\/span>.\n\t\t“Jobber\/distributor” means any person, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel<\/span> for sale, consignment, or distribution to another; or (ii) receives motor fuel<\/span> on consignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel<\/span> accounts or to accounts of his supplier, but shall not include a person who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common carrier providing transportation service for, such supplier.\n\t\t“Newly remodeled facility<\/span>” means a retail outlet, marketing premises, or leased marketing premises<\/span> which, within an 18-month period, has been rebuilt, renovated, or reconstructed at a cost of (i) for facilities remodeled before January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000; or (ii) for facilities remodeled on or after January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000 plus an amount reflecting the annual rate of inflation, such amount to be calculated on January 1 of each year by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by referring to the Consumer Price Index published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.\n\t\t“Operation of a retail outlet<\/span>” means the ownership or option to buy a properly zoned parcel of property for which a permit to build a retail outlet has been granted.\n\t\t“Petroleum products<\/span>” or “motor fuel<\/span>” means gasoline and diesel fuel of a type distributed for use as a fuel in self-propelled vehicles designed primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways.\n\t\t“Profit<\/span>” means the net gain, for income tax purposes, realized by the dealer<\/span> upon the assignment, transfer, or sale of the franchise agreement<\/span>.\n\t\t“Refiner<\/span>” means any person engaged in the refining of crude oil to produce motor fuel<\/span> and includes any affiliate of such person.\n\t\t“Retail” means the sale of petroleum products<\/span> for purposes other than resale.\n\t\t“Retail outlet,” “marketing premises,” or “leased marketing premises<\/span>” means the premises at which petroleum products<\/span> are sold to the general public.\n\t\t“Trial franchise<\/span>” means the same as provided in the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (15 U.S.C. \u00a7 2803 et seq.).<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 59.1-21.10)\n\nAs used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings\nunless the context requires otherwise:\n\t\t“Dealer” means any person who purchases motor fuel for sale to the\ngeneral public for ultimate consumption. “Dealer” shall not mean any\nperson, including any affiliate of such person, who (i) purchases motor fuel for\nsale, consignment, or distribution to another; (ii) receives motor fuel on\nconsignment for consignment or distribution to his own motor fuel accounts or to\naccounts of his supplier; or (iii) who is an employee of, or merely serves as a\ncommon carrier providing transportation service, for such person.\n\t\t“Designated family member” means the adult spouse, adult child or\nstepchild, or adult brother or sister of the dealer who is designated in the\nfranchise agreement as the successor to the dealer’s interest under the\nagreement and who shall become the dealer upon the completion of the succession.\n\t\t“Franchise” or “franchise agreement” means any\nagreement, express or implied, between a refiner and a dealer under which a\nrefiner authorizes or permits a dealer to use, in connection with the sale,\nconsignment, or distribution of motor fuel, a trademark which is owned or\ncontrolled by such refiner. “Franchise” or “franchise\nagreement” shall also mean any agreement, express or implied, under which\na dealer is granted the right to occupy leased marketing premises, which\npremises are to be employed in connection with the sale, consignment, or\ndistribution of motor fuel under a trademark which is owned or controlled by\nsuch refiner.\n\t\t“Franchise fee” means any fee or charge that a dealer is required\nto pay or agrees to pay for the right to enter into a franchise agreement or to\nbecome a dealer at the premises to which the franchise agreement relates. The\nterm “franchise fee” shall not include reasonable actual costs and\nexpenses incurred by the refiner in effecting the assignment, transfer, or sale.\n\t\t“Franchisor” means a refiner who authorizes or permits, under a\nfranchise, a dealer to use a trademark in connection with the sale, consignment,\nor distribution of motor fuel.\n\t\t“Jobber\/distributor” means any person, including any affiliate of\nsuch person, who (i) purchases motor fuel for sale, consignment, or distribution\nto another; or (ii) receives motor fuel on consignment for consignment or\ndistribution to his own motor fuel accounts or to accounts of his supplier, but\nshall not include a person who is an employee of, or merely serves as a common\ncarrier providing transportation service for, such supplier.\n\t\t“Newly remodeled facility” means a retail outlet, marketing\npremises, or leased marketing premises which, within an 18-month period, has\nbeen rebuilt, renovated, or reconstructed at a cost of (i) for facilities\nremodeled before January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000; or (ii) for facilities\nremodeled on or after January 1, 2004, a minimum of $560,000 plus an amount\nreflecting the annual rate of inflation, such amount to be calculated on January\n1 of each year by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer\nServices by referring to the Consumer Price Index published by the United States\nDepartment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.\n\t\t“Operation of a retail outlet” means the ownership or option to\nbuy a properly zoned parcel of property for which a permit to build a retail\noutlet has been granted.\n\t\t“Petroleum products” or “motor fuel” means gasoline\nand diesel fuel of a type distributed for use as a fuel in self-propelled\nvehicles designed primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways.\n\t\t“Profit” means the net gain, for income tax purposes, realized by\nthe dealer upon the assignment, transfer, or sale of the franchise agreement.\n\t\t“Refiner” means any person engaged in the refining of crude oil to\nproduce motor fuel and includes any affiliate of such person.\n\t\t“Retail” means the sale of petroleum products for purposes other\nthan resale.\n\t\t“Retail outlet,” “marketing premises,” or\n“leased marketing premises” means the premises at which petroleum\nproducts are sold to the general public.\n\t\t“Trial franchise” means the same as provided in the Petroleum\nMarketing Practices Act (15 U.S.C. \u00a7 2803 et seq.).\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 423; 1979, c. 306; 1990, c. 907; 2003, c. 410; 2005, c. 839;\n2012, c. 351.","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}}