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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72524</law_id><section_number>10.1-1245</section_number><catch_line>Duration; amendment by court action</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1240</reference><reference>10.1-1244</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="10.1">Conservation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Activities Administered by Other Entities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12.2">Uniform Environmental Covenants Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> An <span class="dictionary">environmental covenant</span> is perpetual unless it is: <a id="paragraph-261152" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> By its terms limited to a specific duration or terminated by the occurrence of a specific event; <a id="paragraph-261153" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Terminated by consent pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Amendment or termination by consent" href="/10.1-1246/">10.1-1246</a>; <a id="paragraph-261154" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Terminated pursuant to subsection B; <a id="paragraph-261155" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Terminated by foreclosure of an interest that has priority over the <span class="dictionary">environmental covenant</span>; or <a id="paragraph-261156" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Terminated or modified in an eminent domain proceeding, but only if:
				a. The <span class="dictionary">agency</span> that signed the covenant is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the proceeding;
				b. All <span class="dictionary">persons</span> identified in subsections A and B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Amendment or termination by consent" href="/10.1-1246/">10.1-1246</a> are given notice of the pendency of the proceeding; and
				c. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines, after <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, that the termination or modification will not adversely affect human health or the environment. <a id="paragraph-261157" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">agency</span> that signed an <span class="dictionary">environmental covenant</span> has determined that the intended benefits of the covenant can no longer be realized, a <span class="dictionary">court</span>, under the doctrine of changed circumstances, in an action in which all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> identified in subsections A and B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Amendment or termination by consent" href="/10.1-1246/">10.1-1246</a> have been given notice, may terminate the covenant or reduce its burden on the real property subject to the covenant. The <span class="dictionary">agency</span>&#x2019;s determination or its failure to make a determination upon request is subject to review pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-261158" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsections A and B, an <span class="dictionary">environmental covenant</span> may not be extinguished, limited, or impaired through issuance of a tax deed, foreclosure of a tax <span class="dictionary">lien</span>, or application of the doctrine of adverse <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, prescription, abandonment, <span class="dictionary">waiver</span>, lack of enforcement, or acquiescence, or a similar doctrine. <a id="paragraph-261159" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1245/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, c. 691.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
