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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59427</law_id><section_number>10.1-1700</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1009</reference><reference>10.1-1011</reference><reference>10.1-1020</reference><reference>10.1-1119.5</reference><reference>10.1-1801.1</reference><reference>10.1-2202.2</reference><reference>10.1-2202.4</reference><reference>10.1-2202.5</reference><reference>15.2-2286.1</reference><reference>15.2-2403</reference><reference>15.2-5158</reference><reference>2.2-1149</reference><reference>58.1-3205</reference><reference>58.1-512</reference><reference>64.2-108</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="17">Open-Space Land Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Open-space easement</span>&#x201D; means a nonpossessory interest of a <span class="dictionary">public body</span> in real property, whether easement appurtenant or in gross, acquired through gift, purchase, devise, or bequest imposing limitations or affirmative obligations, the purposes of which include retaining or protecting natural or open-space values of real property, assuring its availability for agricultural, forestal, recreational, or open-space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality, or preserving the historical, architectural or archaeological aspects of real property.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Open-space land</span>&#x201D; means any land which is provided or preserved for (i) park or recreational purposes, (ii) conservation of land or other natural resources, (iii) historic or scenic purposes, (iv) assisting in the shaping of the character, direction, and timing of community development, (v) wetlands as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/28.2-1300/">28.2-1300</a>, or (vi) agricultural and forestal production.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Public body</span>&#x201D; means any state agency having authority to acquire land for a public use, or any county or municipality, any park authority, any public recreational facilities authority, any soil and water conservation district, any community development authority formed pursuant to Article 6 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Localities may consider petitions for creation of authority" href="/15.2-5152/">15.2-5152</a> et seq.) of Chapter 51 of Title 15.2, or the Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority.</p></section></text><history>1966, c. 461, &#xA7; 10-156; 1974, c. 348; 1986, c. 360; 1988, c. 891; 1997, c. 130; 2000, cc. 181, 724, 747; 2011, cc. 85, 159.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
