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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81086</law_id><section_number>15.2-3602</section_number><catch_line>Proof required and order for incorporation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-3601</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="36">Incorporation of Towns by Judicial Proceeding</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The special <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the proposed <span class="dictionary">town</span> be incorporated upon proof that: <a id="paragraph-290618" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> It will be in the interest of the inhabitants within the proposed <span class="dictionary">town</span>; <a id="paragraph-290619" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The prayer of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> is reasonable; <a id="paragraph-290620" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The general good of the community will be promoted; <a id="paragraph-290621" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The number of inhabitants of the proposed <span class="dictionary">town</span> exceeds 1,000; <a id="paragraph-290622" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The area of land designated to be embraced within the <span class="dictionary">town</span> is not excessive; <a id="paragraph-290623" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The population density of the <span class="dictionary">county</span> in which such community is located does not exceed 200 persons per square mile according to the last preceding United States census, or other census directed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>; and <a id="paragraph-290624" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The services required by the community cannot be provided by the establishment of a sanitary district, or under other arrangements provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or through extension of existing services provided by the <span class="dictionary">county</span> in which the community is located. <a id="paragraph-290625" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall recite the substance of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> and the due publication thereof, and that the requirements of subsection A have been met. The <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall (i) be entered upon the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s common-<span class="dictionary">law</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> book, (ii) <span class="dictionary">decree</span> that the community is incorporated as a <span class="dictionary">town</span> by the name of &#x201C;The <span class="dictionary">Town</span> of ____________________ (naming it),&#x201D; and (iii) designate the metes and bounds of the <span class="dictionary">town</span> or incorporate by reference the recorded plat. Thereafter the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and corporate, with all the powers, <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> and duties conferred upon and appertaining to <span class="dictionary">towns</span> under the general <span class="dictionary">law</span>. However, such <span class="dictionary">town</span> shall perform no municipal services or <span class="dictionary">contract</span> any debt until its <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> is elected, qualifies and takes office. A copy of the <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall be certified by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall certify it to all proper officers of the Commonwealth. No <span class="dictionary">town</span> created under this section subsequent to January 1, 1972, and no <span class="dictionary">city</span> formed from such <span class="dictionary">town</span> shall consolidate with any <span class="dictionary">county</span> or portion thereof under the provisions of Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative consolidations" href="/15.2-3520/">15.2-3520</a> et seq.) of Chapter 35 of this title. <a id="paragraph-290626" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-3602/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 15-67; 1950, p. 443; 1956, c. 217; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-967; 1964, c. 467; 1972, c. 863; 1979, c. 85; 1980, c. 45; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
