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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63483</law_id><section_number>15.2-2257</section_number><catch_line>Procedure to modify certain covenants in Shenandoah County</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="22">Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6">Land Subdivision and Development</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon a verified <span class="dictionary">petition</span> signed by the owners, other than the original subdivider, of 10 percent of the lots in any subdivision previously recorded, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for Shenandoah <span class="dictionary">County</span>, in which such subdivision lies, shall have authority to conduct a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and modify any and all covenant provisions of any previously recorded deed of dedication or other document relating to road maintenance fees as to any roads located within the subdivision. Upon receipt of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall, if all owners of lots within such subdivision are not before the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, enter an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of publication under the provisions of subdivision A 3 of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Service by publication; when available" href="/8.01-316/">8.01-316</a>, making the owners of all lots not owned by petitioners parties to the cause, which shall then be docketed and set for <span class="dictionary">trial</span> on the <span class="dictionary">chancery</span> side of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Should the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, after <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> and argument of <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, find that the <span class="dictionary">streets</span> and roads in the subdivision require maintenance in excess of that provided for with the road maintenance funds specified in the covenants to permit emergency vehicles ready access to the residents of the subdivision to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may increase the fees required for road maintenance to the extent reasonably necessary to permit emergency vehicles ready access to the residents of the subdivision. The funds collected shall be accounted for as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Procedure to account for fees for common improvements" href="/15.2-2256/">15.2-2256</a>. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the members of a subdivision association from proceeding under the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Authority to levy additional assessments; authority to borrow" href="/55.1-1825/">55.1-1825</a> or subsection C of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Management, regulation, and control of subdivisions with common facilities or property owners' associations; assessments; liens" href="/55.1-2305/">55.1-2305</a>, as applicable.</p></section></text><history>1987, c. 501, &#xA7; 15.1-474.2; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 623; 2019, c. 632.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
