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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62030</law_id><section_number>15.2-2265</section_number><catch_line>Recordation of approved plat as transfer of streets, termination of easements and rights-of-way, etc</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-2267</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="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>The recordation of an approved <span class="dictionary">plat</span> shall operate to transfer, in fee simple, to the respective localities in which the land lies the portion of the premises platted as is on the <span class="dictionary">plat</span> set apart for <span class="dictionary">streets</span>, alleys or other public use and to transfer to the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> any easement indicated on the <span class="dictionary">plat</span> to create a public right of passage over the land. The recordation of such <span class="dictionary">plat</span> shall operate to transfer to the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, or to such association or public authority as the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may provide, such easements shown on the <span class="dictionary">plat</span> for the conveyance of stormwater, domestic water and sewage, including the installation and maintenance of any facilities utilized for such purposes, as the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may require. Nothing contained in this article shall affect any right of a subdivider of land heretofore validly reserved. The clerk shall index in the name of all the owners of property affected by the recordation in the grantor&#x2019;s index any <span class="dictionary">plat</span> recorded under this section. Nothing in this section shall obligate the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, association or authority to install or maintain such facilities unless otherwise agreed to by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, association or authority.
		When the authorized officials of a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> within which land is located, approve in accordance with the subdivision <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span> of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> a <span class="dictionary">plat</span> or replat of land therein, then upon the recording of the <span class="dictionary">plat</span> or replat in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> clerk&#x2019;s office, all rights-of-way, easements or other interest of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> in the land included on the <span class="dictionary">plat</span> or replat, except as shown thereon, shall be terminated and extinguished, except that an interest acquired by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> by condemnation, by purchase for valuable consideration and evidenced by a separate instrument of record, or <span class="dictionary">streets</span>, alleys or easements for public passage subject to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Vacation of plat before sale of lot therein; ordinance of vacation" href="/15.2-2271/">15.2-2271</a> or <a class="law" title="Vacation of plat after sale of lot" href="/15.2-2272/">15.2-2272</a> shall not be affected thereby. All public easements, except those for public passage, easements containing improvements, those that contain private utility facilities, common or shared easements for the use of franchised cable operators and public service corporations, may be relocated by recordation of <span class="dictionary">plat</span> or replat signed by the owner of the real property, approved by an authorized official of a <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, regardless of the manner of acquisition or the type of instrument used to dedicate the original easement. In the event the purpose of the easement is to convey stormwater drainage from a public roadway, the entity responsible for the operation of the roadway shall first determine that the relocation does not threaten either the integrity of the roadway or public passage. The clerk shall index the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> as grantor of any easement or portion thereof terminated and extinguished under this section.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 15-792, 15-967.13; 1958, c. 460; 1962, c. 407, &#xA7; 15.1-478; 1964, c. 564; 1974, c. 530; 1978, c. 590; 1995, cc. 431, 662; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 165; 2005, c. 937.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
