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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59804</law_id><section_number>15.2-1902</section_number><catch_line>Condemnation proceedings generally</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="19">Condemnation</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Except where otherwise authorized by any applicable charter provision, a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner, and in accordance with the procedures, set out in Chapter 2 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Chapter controls condemnation proceedings" href="/25.1-200/">25.1-200</a> et seq.) or Chapter 3 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/25.1-300/">25.1-300</a> et seq.) of Title 25.1, except that:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Only lands or easements for (i) streets and roads, (ii) drainage facilities, (iii) water supply and sewage disposal systems, including pipes and lines, and (iv) water, sewer and governmentally owned gas, electricity, telephone, telegraph and other utility lines and pipes and related facilities, except to the extent otherwise prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, may be condemned using the procedures in Chapter 3 of Title 25.1, as provided by the applicable provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession of property prior to condemnation; authority to utilize expedited acquisition procedure conferred" href="/15.2-1904/">15.2-1904</a> and <a class="law" title="Special provisions for counties" href="/15.2-1905/">15.2-1905</a>, because the foregoing enumerated uses are inherently public uses when undertaken by a <span class="dictionary">locality</span>; <a id="paragraph-219014" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1902/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Existing water and sewage disposal systems in their entirety shall be condemned in accordance with the procedures in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Condemnation of existing water or sewage disposal systems" href="/15.2-1906/">15.2-1906</a>; <a id="paragraph-219015" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1902/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Oyster bottoms and grounds may be condemned utilizing the procedures in Chapter 3 of Title 25.1, as required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Condemnation of oyster bottoms and grounds" href="/28.2-628/">28.2-628</a>; and <a id="paragraph-219016" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1902/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority to acquire entire tract of land, or parcel thereof, when only part to be utilized for highway purposes" href="/33.2-1007/">33.2-1007</a> through <a class="law" title="Right to enter on land to ascertain its suitability for highway and other transportation purposes; damage resulting from such entry" href="/33.2-1011/">33.2-1011</a>, <a class="law" title="Acquisition of interests for exchange with railroad, public utility company, public service corporation or company, political subdivision, or cable television company; relocation of poles, lines, etc" href="/33.2-1014/">33.2-1014</a>, and <a class="law" title="Taking highway materials from streams, rivers, and watercourses" href="/33.2-1017/">33.2-1017</a> shall be applicable, <span class="dictionary">mutatis mutandis</span>, with respect to any condemnation by a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> of property for highway purposes. <a id="paragraph-219017" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-1902/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 587; 2003, c. 940; 2012, c. 832.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
