<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78982</law_id><section_number>15.2-3211</section_number><catch_line>Powers of court and rules of decision; terms and conditions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-3212</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="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>The special <span class="dictionary">court</span>, in making its decision, shall balance the equities in the case, shall enter an <span class="dictionary">order</span> setting forth what it deems fair and reasonable terms and conditions, and shall direct the annexation in conformity therewith. It shall have power to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Determine the metes and bounds of the territory to be annexed, and may include a greater or smaller area than that described in the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> or <span class="dictionary">petition</span>; the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall so draw the lines of annexation as to have a reasonably compact body of land and so that no land shall be taken into the <span class="dictionary">city</span> which is not adapted to <span class="dictionary">city</span> improvements or which the <span class="dictionary">city</span> will not need in the reasonably near future for development, unless necessarily embraced in such compact body of land; <a id="paragraph-282881" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Require the assumption by the <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span> of a just proportion of any existing debt of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> or any district therein; <a id="paragraph-282882" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Require the payment by the <span class="dictionary">city</span> of a sum to be determined by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, payable on the effective date of annexation, to compensate the <span class="dictionary">county</span> for the value of public improvements, including but not limited to the paving of public roads and streets, the construction of sidewalks thereon, the installation of water mains, or sewers, garbage disposal systems, fire protection facilities, bridges, public schools and equipment thereof, or any other permanent public improvements owned and maintained by the <span class="dictionary">county</span> at the time of annexation; and further to compensate the <span class="dictionary">county</span>, in not more than five annual installments, for the prospective loss of net tax revenues during the next five years, to such extent as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in its discretion may determine, because of the annexation of taxable values to the <span class="dictionary">city</span>; <a id="paragraph-282883" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Require the payment by a <span class="dictionary">town</span> of a sum to be determined by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, payable on the effective date of annexation to compensate the <span class="dictionary">county</span> for any such public improvement which becomes the property of the <span class="dictionary">town</span> by annexation; the <span class="dictionary">order</span> may provide that if, within five years after the <span class="dictionary">order</span>, such <span class="dictionary">town</span> becomes a <span class="dictionary">city</span>, it shall, from and after it becomes a <span class="dictionary">city</span>, make such payments as are provided for in subdivision 3 for a period not to exceed five years from the date of such <span class="dictionary">order</span>; <a id="paragraph-282884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> In lieu of providing for compensation of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> for any public improvement, provide that any such improvement shall remain the property of the <span class="dictionary">county</span>, or provide for joint use thereof by the <span class="dictionary">county</span> and the <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span> under such conditions as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may prescribe with the consent of the affected localities; <a id="paragraph-282885" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Prescribe what capital outlays shall be made by the <span class="dictionary">city</span> in the area after annexation; the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall require of the <span class="dictionary">city</span> the provision of any capital improvements which in its <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> are essential to meet the needs of the annexed area and to bring the same up to a standard equal to that of the remainder of the <span class="dictionary">city</span>; and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion, require as a condition of annexation the provision of capital improvements in addition to those specified in the annexation <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> when the same are required to meet the needs of the area annexed; <a id="paragraph-282886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Require the payment by the <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span> to any common carrier of passengers by motor bus, who may become a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the annexation proceeding, of a sum to be determined by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to compensate such carrier for any loss or damage such carrier may suffer from the effects of the annexation <span class="dictionary">order</span> upon its operations. However, the <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span> may elect to permit the carrier to continue to operate within the annexed area for such period of time, to be determined by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, as will permit the carrier to liquidate and recover its investment through depreciation. <a id="paragraph-282887" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3211/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 15-152.12; 1952, c. 328; 1960, c. 550; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-1042; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
