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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81760</law_id><section_number>15.2-2118.1</section_number><catch_line>Lien for gas utilities charges and taxes imposed by localities</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="21">Franchises; Sale and Lease of Certain Municipal Public Property; Public Utilities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">General Provisions for Public Utilities</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> with a municipally-owned gas utility may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> provide that taxes or charges hereafter made, imposed or incurred for gas service within or outside such <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall be a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on the real estate served by such gas utility. Where residential rental real estate is involved, no <span class="dictionary">lien</span> shall attach (i) unless the user of the gas utility services is also the owner of the real estate or (ii) unless the owner of the real estate negotiated or executed the agreement by which such gas utility services were provided to the property. Nothing herein shall authorize a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> to require that municipal gas service be contracted for in the name of the owner of residential rental real estate if the lease between the owner and any tenant for such residential rental real estate provides that the tenant shall <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for such gas service.</p></section></text><history>2001, c. 761.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
