{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-299.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-299.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-299.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-299.html"}],"law_id":75243,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75243,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-299","catch_line":"Duration of contract","history":"1984, c. 738; 1990, cc. 392, 433; 1992, c. 117; 2014, c. 459.","full_text":"No health club contract shall have a duration for a period longer than thirty-six months, including any renewal period; however, a health club contract may exceed 36 months provided that:\n\n1\n\nAny initiation fee does not exceed 10 times the initial monthly fee;2\n\nAll payments for health club services, other than the initiation fee, are collected as monthly fees on a monthly basis;3\n\nAfter an initial term of not more than 12 months, either party may cancel the health club contract upon not more than 30 days’ notice; and4\n\nThe monthly fee is never reduced below 80 percent of the monthly fee at the time the contract is initially executed.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":270206,"text":"No health club contract shall have a duration for a period longer than thirty-six months, including any renewal period; however, a health club contract may exceed 36 months provided that:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":270207,"text":"Any initiation fee does not exceed 10 times the initial monthly fee;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":270208,"text":"All payments for health club services, other than the initiation fee, are collected as monthly fees on a monthly basis;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":270209,"text":"After an initial term of not more than 12 months, either party may cancel the health club contract upon not more than 30 days’ notice; and","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":270210,"text":"The monthly fee is never reduced below 80 percent of the monthly fee at the time the contract is initially executed.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13741,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Health Club Act","identifier":"24","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:45","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:45","permalink":{"id":260589,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13741,"identifier":"24","token":"59.1\/24","url":"\/59.1\/24\/","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":65021,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-294","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/59.1-294\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-294","metadata":false},{"id":79666,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-295","catch_line":"Statement of purpose","url":"\/59.1-295\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-295","metadata":false},{"id":77481,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-296","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-296\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-296","metadata":false},{"id":62798,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-296.1","catch_line":"Registration; fees","url":"\/59.1-296.1\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-296.1","metadata":false},{"id":73004,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-296.2","catch_line":"Contracts sold on prepayment basis","url":"\/59.1-296.2\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-296.2","metadata":false},{"id":84951,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-296.2:1","catch_line":"Prepayment contracts; prohibited practices; relocation; refund","url":"\/59.1-296.2_1\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-296.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":81442,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-296.2:2","catch_line":"Automated external defibrillator required","url":"\/59.1-296.2_2\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-296.2_2","metadata":false},{"id":84485,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-296.3","catch_line":"Initiation fees","url":"\/59.1-296.3\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-296.3","metadata":false},{"id":54962,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-297","catch_line":"Right of cancellation","url":"\/59.1-297\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-297","metadata":false},{"id":63583,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-297.1","catch_line":"Payment and calculation of refunds","url":"\/59.1-297.1\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-297.1","metadata":false},{"id":59624,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-297.2","catch_line":"Automatic termination of a health club contract","url":"\/59.1-297.2\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-297.2","metadata":false},{"id":85709,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-298","catch_line":"Notice to buyer","url":"\/59.1-298\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-298","metadata":false},{"id":75243,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-299","catch_line":"Duration of contract","url":"\/59.1-299\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-299","metadata":false},{"id":67031,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-300","catch_line":"Provisions of this chapter not exclusive","url":"\/59.1-300\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-300","metadata":false},{"id":69302,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-301","catch_line":"Noncomplying contract voidable","url":"\/59.1-301\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-301","metadata":false},{"id":54742,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-302","catch_line":"Fraud rendering contract void","url":"\/59.1-302\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-302","metadata":false},{"id":67696,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-303","catch_line":"Waiver of provisions void and unenforceable","url":"\/59.1-303\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-303","metadata":false},{"id":66423,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-304","catch_line":"Notice of preservation of buyers' rights","url":"\/59.1-304\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-304","metadata":false},{"id":72661,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-305","catch_line":"Prohibition against assignment of health club contract cutting off buyer's right of action or defense against seller; conditions","url":"\/59.1-305\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-305","metadata":false},{"id":63585,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-306","catch_line":"Bond or letter of credit required; exception","url":"\/59.1-306\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-306","metadata":false},{"id":84158,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-307","catch_line":"Bond or letter of credit; persons protected","url":"\/59.1-307\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-307","metadata":false},{"id":68743,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-308","catch_line":"Change in ownership of health club","url":"\/59.1-308\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-308","metadata":false},{"id":80382,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-308.1","catch_line":"Production of records","url":"\/59.1-308.1\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-308.1","metadata":false},{"id":65301,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-308.2","catch_line":"Investigations","url":"\/59.1-308.2\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-308.2","metadata":false},{"id":66761,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-309","catch_line":"Enforcement; penalties","url":"\/59.1-309\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-309","metadata":false},{"id":73149,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-310","catch_line":"Applicability","url":"\/59.1-310\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-310","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85709,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-298","catch_line":"Notice to buyer","url":"\/59.1-298\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-298","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67031,"structure_id":13741,"section_number":"59.1-300","catch_line":"Provisions of this chapter not exclusive","url":"\/59.1-300\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-300","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-299\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1984. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 738 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 1984 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1990, chapters 392 and 433; in 1992, chapter 117; in 2014, chapter 459<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73149,"section_number":"59.1-310","catch_line":"Applicability","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-310\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":260639,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75243,"identifier":"59.1-299","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-299","url":"\/59.1-299\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-299\/","token":"59.1\/24\/59.1-299","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duration of contract","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-299","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No health club contract<\/span> shall have a duration for a period longer than thirty-six months, including any renewal period; however, a health club contract<\/span> may exceed 36 months provided that:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Any initiation fee<\/span> does not exceed 10 times the initial monthly fee<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> All payments for health club services<\/span>, other than the initiation fee<\/span>, are collected as monthly fees<\/span> on a monthly basis; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> After an initial term of not more than 12 months, either party<\/span> may cancel the health club contract<\/span> upon not more than 30 days’ notice; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The monthly fee<\/span> is never reduced below 80 percent of the monthly fee<\/span> at the time the contract is initially executed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDURATION OF CONTRACT (\u00a7 59.1-299)\n\nNo health club contract shall have a duration for a period longer than\nthirty-six months, including any renewal period; however, a health club contract\nmay exceed 36 months provided that:\n\n1. Any initiation fee does not exceed 10 times the initial monthly fee;\n\n2. All payments for health club services, other than the initiation fee, are\ncollected as monthly fees on a monthly basis;\n\n3. After an initial term of not more than 12 months, either party may cancel the\nhealth club contract upon not more than 30 days’ notice; and\n\n4. The monthly fee is never reduced below 80 percent of the monthly fee at the\ntime the contract is initially executed.\n\nHISTORY: 1984, c. 738; 1990, cc. 392, 433; 1992, c. 117; 2014, c. 459.","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}}