<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59036</law_id><section_number>15.2-3201</section_number><catch_line>Temporary restrictions on granting of city charters, filing annexation notices, institutions of annexation proceedings, and county immunity proceedings</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="III">Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="32">Boundary Changes of Towns and Cities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Annexation</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Beginning January 1, 1987, and terminating on the first to occur of (i) July 1, 2032, or (ii) the July 1 next following the expiration of any biennium, other than the 1998-2000, 2000-2002, 2002-2004, 2006-2008, 2008-2010, 2010-2012, 2012-2014, 2014-2016, 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 2020-2022, 2022-2024, 2024-2026, 2026-2028, 2028-2030, and 2030-2032 bienniums, during which the General Assembly appropriated for distribution to localities for aid in their <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement expenditures pursuant to Article 8 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/9.1-165/">9.1-165</a> et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 an amount that is less than the total amount required to be appropriated for such purpose pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Total amount and method of distribution of funds to counties and cities" href="/9.1-169/">9.1-169</a>, no <span class="dictionary">city</span> shall file against any <span class="dictionary">county</span> an annexation notice with the Commission on <span class="dictionary">Local Government</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Actions for annexation, immunity, establishment of city, etc.; investigations and reports by Commission; negotiation" href="/15.2-2907/">15.2-2907</a>, and no <span class="dictionary">city</span> shall institute an annexation <span class="dictionary">court</span> action against any <span class="dictionary">county</span> under any provision of this chapter except a <span class="dictionary">city</span> that filed an annexation notice before the Commission on <span class="dictionary">Local Government</span> prior to January 1, 1987. During the same period, with the exception of a charter for a proposed consolidated <span class="dictionary">city</span>, no <span class="dictionary">city</span> charter shall be granted or come into force and no suit or notice shall be filed to secure a <span class="dictionary">city</span> charter. However, the foregoing shall not prohibit the institution of nor require the <span class="dictionary">stay</span> of an annexation proceeding or the filing of an annexation notice for the purpose of implementing an annexation agreement, the extent, terms and conditions of which have been agreed upon by a <span class="dictionary">county</span> and <span class="dictionary">city</span>; nor shall the foregoing prohibit the institution of or require the <span class="dictionary">stay</span> of an annexation proceeding by a <span class="dictionary">city</span> which, prior to January 1, 1987, commenced a proceeding before the Commission on <span class="dictionary">Local Government</span> to review a proposed voluntary <span class="dictionary">settlement</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Voluntary settlements among local governments" href="/15.2-3400/">15.2-3400</a>; nor shall the foregoing prohibit the institution of or require the <span class="dictionary">stay</span> of any annexation proceeding commenced pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Actions for annexation, immunity, establishment of city, etc.; investigations and reports by Commission; negotiation" href="/15.2-2907/">15.2-2907</a> or <a class="law" title="Petition by voters of adjacent territory, or governing body of adjacent county or town, for annexation; voluntary agreement by governing body to reject annexation" href="/15.2-3203/">15.2-3203</a>, except that no such proceeding may be commenced by a <span class="dictionary">city</span> against any <span class="dictionary">county</span>, nor shall any <span class="dictionary">city</span> be a petitioner in any annexation proceeding instituted pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Petition by voters of adjacent territory, or governing body of adjacent county or town, for annexation; voluntary agreement by governing body to reject annexation" href="/15.2-3203/">15.2-3203</a>.
		Beginning January 1, 1988, and terminating on the first to occur of (i) July 1, 2032, or (ii) the July 1 next following the expiration of any biennium, other than the 1998-2000, 2000-2002, 2002-2004, 2006-2008, 2008-2010, 2010-2012, 2012-2014, 2014-2016, 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 2020-2022, 2022-2024, 2024-2026, 2026-2028, 2028-2030, and 2030-2032 bienniums, during which the General Assembly appropriated for distribution to localities for aid in their <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement expenditures pursuant to Article 8 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/9.1-165/">9.1-165</a> et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1 an amount that is less than the total amount required to be appropriated for such purpose pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Total amount and method of distribution of funds to counties and cities" href="/9.1-169/">9.1-169</a>, no <span class="dictionary">county</span> shall file a notice or <span class="dictionary">petition</span> pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 29 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purpose and intent" href="/15.2-2900/">15.2-2900</a> et seq.) or Chapter 33 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Purposes of chapter" href="/15.2-3300/">15.2-3300</a> et seq.) requesting total or partial immunity from <span class="dictionary">city</span>-initiated annexation and from the incorporation of new cities within its boundaries. However, the foregoing shall not prohibit the institution of nor require the <span class="dictionary">stay</span> of an immunity proceeding or the filing of an immunity notice for the purpose of implementing an immunity agreement, the extent, terms and conditions of which have been agreed upon by a <span class="dictionary">county</span> and <span class="dictionary">city</span>.</p></section></text><history>1987, c. 216, &#xA7; 15.1-1032.2; 1988, c. 270; 1989, c. 134; 1990, c. 759; 1991, c. 359; 1993, c. 611; 1994, c. 557; 1996, cc. 225, 572; 1997, c. 587; 1999, cc. 692, 705, 744; 2001, c. 733; 2002, c. 786; 2004, c. 879; 2008, c. 347; 2009, cc. 129, 435, 631; 2012, c. 537; 2014, c. 697; 2016, cc. 158, 364; 2023, cc. 422, 423.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
