<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60235</law_id><section_number>15.2-1400</section_number><catch_line>Governing bodies</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="14">Governing Bodies of Localities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The qualified <span class="dictionary">voters</span> of every <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall elect a <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> for such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. The date, place, number, term, and other details of the election shall be as specified by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, general or special. Qualification for office is provided in Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="When and how officers qualify" href="/15.2-1522/">15.2-1522</a> et seq.) of Chapter 15. <a id="paragraph-220307" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1400/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of every <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall be composed of not fewer than three nor more than 11 members. <a id="paragraph-220308" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1400/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Chairmen, mayors, <span class="dictionary">supervisors</span>, and councilmen are subject to the prohibitions set forth in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Certain officers not to hold more than one office" href="/15.2-1534/">15.2-1534</a> and <a class="law" title="Members of governing body not to be elected or appointed by governing body to certain offices" href="/15.2-1535/">15.2-1535</a>. <a id="paragraph-220309" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1400/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> may punish or fine a member of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> for disorderly behavior. <a id="paragraph-220310" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1400/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Election and terms of mayor and council for cities and towns" href="/24.2-222/">24.2-222</a> and <a class="law" title="Alternative election of mayor and council at November general election in cities and towns" href="/24.2-222.1/">24.2-222.1</a>, any <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span> charter, or any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, general or special, beginning with any election held after January 1, 2022, elections for mayor, members of a local <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>, or members of an elected school board shall be held at the time of the November general election for terms to commence January 1. <a id="paragraph-220311" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1400/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, general or special, in a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> that imposes district-based or ward-based residency requirements for members of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>, the member elected from each district or ward shall be elected by the qualified <span class="dictionary">voters</span> of that district or ward and not by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> at large. <a id="paragraph-220312" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1400/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1971, Ex. Sess., c. 199, &#xA7; 15.1-37.4; 1982, c. 297; 1983, c. 595; 1995, c. 249; 1997, c. 587; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 103, 225.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
