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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81915</law_id><section_number>15.2-2030</section_number><catch_line>Localities may sell or lease airspace over public streets, public rights-of-way, etc., under certain conditions</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>15.2-734</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="20">Streets and Alleys</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="5">Miscellaneous</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="State highway systems excepted; town streets" href="/15.2-2000/">15.2-2000</a>, subject to the provisions of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution of Virginia when applicable, any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> authorize the sale or lease of the airspace over or under any public street, lane, alley or other public right-of-way in such <span class="dictionary">locality</span> owned by it in fee simple; provided, that any building, structure or appurtenance thereto, constructed over any such street, lane, alley or other public right-of-way shall have a minimum clearance of sixteen feet six inches and providing further that nothing herein shall be construed to relieve any such grantee or lessee of such airspace of the liability for <span class="dictionary">negligence</span> on their part. No such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be adopted until the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> has held a public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> thereon after public notice as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Advertisement of plans, ordinances, etc.; joint public hearings; written notice of certain amendments" href="/15.2-2204/">15.2-2204</a>. In addition, in those public rights-of-way in which the Commonwealth has a prescriptive easement for maintenance and public travel, the airspace shall be conveyed or leased only with the consent, in writing, of the Commissioner of Highways.
		Should the construction of any building or structure in any such airspace require the relocation of any utility, the cost of such relocation shall be borne by the grantee or lessee.</p></section></text><history>1964, c. 373, &#xA7; 15.1-376.1; 1966, c. 44; 1970, c. 570; 1979, c. 431; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
