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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72118</law_id><section_number>15.2-2413.1</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</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="24">Service Districts; Taxes and Assessments for Local Improvements</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Tourism Improvement Districts</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Activities</span>&#x201D; means any programs or services provided for the purpose of conferring specific benefits upon the businesses that are located in the <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> and to which a fee is charged.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Administering nonprofit</span>&#x201D; means a private nonprofit entity that is under <span class="dictionary">contract</span> with a locality to administer or implement <span class="dictionary">activities</span> specified in the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> plan</span>. An &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">administering nonprofit</span>&#x201D; may be an existing nonprofit entity or a newly formed nonprofit entity. An &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">administering nonprofit</span>&#x201D; shall be a private entity and shall not be considered a public entity for any purpose, nor may its board members or staff be considered public officials for any purpose.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Benefited business</span>&#x201D; means a business located within a <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> that is determined to be benefited, directly or indirectly, by <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> <span class="dictionary">activities</span> provided by such <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Benefited business</span>&#x201D; includes one or more types of businesses, one or more segments of businesses, or businesses within one or more industries, as set forth in a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> plan</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Benefit zone</span>&#x201D; means an apportioned area designated within a <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> in which businesses pay a fee based upon the degree of benefit derived from <span class="dictionary">activities</span> to be provided.
		&#x201C;Business&#x201D; means a business of any kind located in a <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Business fee</span>&#x201D; means any fee charged to a <span class="dictionary">benefited business</span> pursuant to this article.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Business owner</span>&#x201D; means any person recognized by a locality as the owner of a business subject to a <span class="dictionary">business fee</span>. A business may appoint an authorized agent to act as its representative for the purposes of this article. Such agent shall be considered the <span class="dictionary">business owner</span> for the purposes of any signature required under this article or for any other purpose authorized by the <span class="dictionary">business owner</span>. A locality shall have no obligation to obtain other information as to the ownership of businesses, and its determination of ownership shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of this article.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Capital improvement</span>&#x201D; means an improvement to tangible personal property with an estimated useful life of five years or more.
		&#x201C;Fee&#x201D; means a fee charged by a locality in accordance with a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> plan</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Lead locality</span>&#x201D; means the locality in which the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> plan</span> is filed for the establishment of a <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> where such district includes more than one locality.
		&#x201C;Locality&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">county</span>, <span class="dictionary">city</span>, or <span class="dictionary">town</span> in the Commonwealth.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Majority share of benefited businesses</span>&#x201D; means one or more benefited businesses within a <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> or proposed <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> that cumulatively comprise a majority, based on the weighting methodology set forth in the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> plan</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Tourism business</span>&#x201D; means any type of business in the tourism sector. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Tourism business</span>&#x201D; includes a tourist home, hotel, motel, trailer <span class="dictionary">court</span>, recreational vehicle park, privately owned or privately managed campground, lodging intended for short-term occupancy, restaurant, tourism attraction, and tourism activity provider.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Tourism improvement district</span>&#x201D; means a district established by a locality under the provisions of this article.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Tourism improvement district</span> plan</span>&#x201D; means a proposal for a <span class="dictionary">tourism improvement district</span> under the provisions of this article.</p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 500.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
