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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69359</law_id><section_number>10.1-1704</section_number><catch_line>Diversion of property from open-space land use; conveyance or lease of open-space land</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1021</reference><reference>10.1-1801.1</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 id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span>, the title to or interest or right in which has been acquired under this chapter and which has been designated as <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span> under the authority of this chapter, shall be converted or diverted from <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span> use unless (i) the conversion or <span class="dictionary">diversion</span> is determined by the <span class="dictionary">public body</span> to be (a) essential to the orderly development and growth of the locality and (b) in accordance with the official comprehensive plan for the locality in effect at the time of conversion or <span class="dictionary">diversion</span> and (ii) there is substituted other real property which is (a) of at least equal fair market value, (b) of greater value as permanent <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span> than the land converted or diverted and (c) of as nearly as feasible equivalent usefulness and location for use as permanent <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span> as is the land converted or diverted. The <span class="dictionary">public body</span> shall assure that the property substituted will be subject to the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-250852" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1704/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">public body</span> may convey or lease any real property it has acquired and which has been designated for the purposes of this chapter. The conveyance or lease shall be subject to contractual arrangements that will preserve the property as <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span>, unless the property is to be converted or diverted from <span class="dictionary">open-space land</span> use in accordance with the provisions of subsection A of this section. <a id="paragraph-250853" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-1704/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1966, c. 461, &#xA7; 10-153; 1988, c. 891; 1997, c. 338.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
