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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69505</law_id><section_number>15.2-2270</section_number><catch_line>Vacation of interests granted to a locality as a condition of site plan approval</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-2261</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>Any interest in <span class="dictionary">streets</span>, alleys, easements for public rights of passage, easements for drainage, and easements for a public utility granted to a <span class="dictionary">locality</span> as a condition of the approval of a <span class="dictionary">site plan</span> may be vacated according to either of the following methods:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> By a duly executed and acknowledged written instrument of the owner of the land which has been or is to be developed in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">site plan</span>, declaring the interest or interests to be vacated, provided the <span class="dictionary">designated agent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> where the land lies consents to the vacation. The instrument shall be recorded in the same clerk&#x2019;s office wherein is recorded the written instrument describing the interest in real property to be vacated. The execution and recordation of the instrument shall operate to divest all public rights in, and to reinvest the owner with the title to the interests which formerly were held by the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>; or <a id="paragraph-251316" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2270/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> By <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> in the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> in which the property which is the subject of an approved <span class="dictionary">site plan</span> lies, provided that no interest shall be vacated in an area in which facilities, for which bonding is required pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Mandatory provisions of a subdivision ordinance" href="/15.2-2241/">15.2-2241</a> through <a class="law" title="Provisions for periodic partial and final release of certain performance guarantees" href="/15.2-2245/">15.2-2245</a>, have been constructed.
			The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall not be adopted until after notice has been given as required by &#xA7; <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>. Any person may appear at the meeting for the purpose of objecting to the adoption of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>. An <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> from the adoption of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may be filed within thirty days of the adoption of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> with the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the land over which the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>&#x2019;s interest is located. Upon <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may nullify the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> if it finds that the owner of the property, which has been developed or is to be developed in accordance with the approved <span class="dictionary">site plan</span>, will be irreparably damaged. If no <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> from the adoption of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> is filed within the time above provided or if the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> is upheld on <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, a certified copy of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of vacation may be recorded in the clerk&#x2019;s office of any <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the instrument creating the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>&#x2019;s interest is recorded.
			The execution and recordation of an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of vacation shall operate to destroy the effect of the instrument which created the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>&#x2019;s interest so vacated and to divest all public rights in and to the property and vest title in the <span class="dictionary">streets</span>, alleys, easements for public rights of passage, easements for drainage, and easements for a public utility as may be described in, and in accordance with, the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of vacation. <a id="paragraph-251317" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-2270/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 813, &#xA7; 15.1-480.1; 1997, c.; 2024, cc. 225, 242; 2025, c. 594.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
