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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80108</law_id><section_number>15.2-1901</section_number><catch_line>Condemnation authority</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1800</reference><reference>15.2-1904</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="19">Condemnation</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In addition to the authority granted to localities pursuant to any applicable charter provision or other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, whenever a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> is authorized to acquire real or personal property or property interests for a public use, it may do so by exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as provided in subsection B. <a id="paragraph-286856" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1901/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may acquire property or property interests outside its boundaries by exercise of the power of eminent domain only if such authority is expressly conferred by general <span class="dictionary">law</span> or special act. However, cities and <span class="dictionary">towns</span> shall have the right to acquire property outside their boundaries for the purposes set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers of localities as to public utilities and computer services; prevention of pollution of certain water" href="/15.2-2109/">15.2-2109</a> by exercise of the power of eminent domain. The exercise of such condemnation authority by a <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span> shall not be construed to exempt the municipality from the provisions of subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Transmission and distribution of electric energy" href="/56-580/">56-580</a>. <a id="paragraph-286857" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1901/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, general or special, no <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall condition or delay the timely consideration, advancement, or approval of any application for or grant of any permit or other approval for any real property over which it enjoys <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> for the purpose, expressed or implied, of allowing the condemnation or acquisition of the property or to commence any process to consider whether to undertake condemnation or acquisition of the property. <a id="paragraph-286858" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1901/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 587; 2001, c. 538; 2013, c. 581; 2022, c. 735.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
