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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65433</law_id><section_number>15.2-1427</section_number><catch_line>Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-107</reference><reference>15.2-1201</reference><reference>15.2-1414.3</reference><reference>15.2-1414.6</reference><reference>15.2-201</reference><reference>15.2-202</reference><reference>15.2-2101</reference><reference>15.2-2108.21</reference><reference>15.2-2114</reference><reference>15.2-2303.2</reference><reference>15.2-2305</reference><reference>15.2-2305.1</reference><reference>15.2-2506</reference><reference>15.2-2507</reference><reference>15.2-5136</reference><reference>15.2-5704</reference><reference>15.2-858</reference><reference>15.2-903</reference><reference>21-118.4</reference><reference>55.1-2814</reference></referred_to_by><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="4">Ordinances and Other Actions by the Local Governing Body</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Unless otherwise specifically provided for by the Constitution or by other general or special <span class="dictionary">law</span>, an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may be adopted by majority vote of those present and voting at any lawful meeting. <a id="paragraph-237904" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> On final vote on any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> or resolution, the name of each member of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> voting and how he voted shall be recorded; however, votes on all <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> and resolutions adopted prior to February 27, 1998, in which an unanimous vote of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> was recorded, shall be deemed to have been validly recorded. The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> may adopt an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> or resolution by a recorded voice vote unless otherwise provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or any member calls for a roll call vote. An <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>. <a id="paragraph-237905" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> All <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> or resolutions heretofore adopted by a <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> shall be deemed to have been validly adopted, unless some provision of the Constitution of Virginia or the Constitution of the United States has been violated in such adoption. <a id="paragraph-237906" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> An <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may be amended or repealed in the same manner, or by the same procedure, in which, or by which, <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> are adopted. <a id="paragraph-237907" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> An amendment or repeal of an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be in the form of an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> which shall become effective upon adoption or upon a date fixed by the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>, but, if no effective date is specified, then such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall become effective upon adoption. <a id="paragraph-237908" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In counties, except as otherwise authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, no <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be passed until after notice of an intention to propose the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> for passage has been advertised by reference twice, with the first notice being published no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before the date of the meeting referenced in the notice, in a newspaper having a general circulation in the <span class="dictionary">county</span>. The publication shall include a statement that a copy of the full text of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> is on file in the clerk&#x2019;s office of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> or in the office of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> administrator; or in the case of any <span class="dictionary">county</span> organized under the form of government set out in Chapter 5, 7 or 8 of this title, a statement that a copy of the full text of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> is on file in the office of the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> board.
			In counties, emergency <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> may be adopted without prior notice; however, no such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be enforced for more than sixty days unless readopted in conformity with the provisions of this Code. <a id="paragraph-237909" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> In <span class="dictionary">towns</span>, no tax shall be imposed except by a two-thirds vote of the <span class="dictionary">council</span> members. <a id="paragraph-237910" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1427/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 15-8, 15-10; 1950, p. 113; 1954, c. 529; 1956, cc. 218, 664; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 40; 1958, cc. 190, 279; 1960, c. 606; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-504; 1966, cc. 405, 612; 1968, c. 625; 1970, c. 581; 1972, cc. 41, 837; 1973, c. 380; 1978, c. 235; 1983, c. 11; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 823; 2000, c. 895; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
