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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67539</law_id><section_number>15.2-909</section_number><catch_line>Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of wharves, piers, pilings, bulkheads, vessels or abandoned, obstructing or hazardous property</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>28.2-1204.2</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="9">General Powers of Local Governments</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Public Health and Safety; Nuisances</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> provide:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The owners of property therein shall at such time or times as the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> may prescribe, remove, repair or secure any vessel which has been abandoned or any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or any other structure or vessel which might endanger the public health or safety of other persons, or which might constitute an obstruction or hazard to the lawful use of the waters within or adjoining such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. If such property is deemed to be abandoned, the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> may designate and empower an official to ascertain the lawful owner of such property and to have the owner repair, remove or secure such property; <a id="paragraph-244694" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-909/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, through its own agents or employees, may remove, repair or secure any vessel which has been abandoned or any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead, or other structure or vessel which might endanger the public health or safety of other persons or which might constitute a hazard or obstruction to the lawful use of the waters within such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, if the owner of such property, after reasonable notice and reasonable time to do so, has failed to remove, repair or secure such wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or other structure or vessel; <a id="paragraph-244695" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-909/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> In the event the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, through its own agents or employees removes, repairs or secures any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or other structure or vessel after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and to the extent applicable may be collected by the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> as taxes are collected; <a id="paragraph-244696" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-909/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> If the identity or whereabouts of the lawful owner is unknown or not able to be ascertained after a reasonable search and after lawful notice has been made to the last known address of any known owner, the <span class="dictionary">locality</span>, through its own agents or employees, may repair such wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or other structure or vessel or remove such property after giving notice by publication twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where such property is located, with the first notice appearing no more than 28 days before and the second notice appearing no less than seven days before proceeding with repair or removal; <a id="paragraph-244697" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-909/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Every charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property has been assessed and which remains unpaid, to the extent applicable, shall constitute a lien against the owner&#x2019;s real property, and such lien shall be recorded in the <span class="dictionary">judgment lien docket</span> book in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. Such lien may also be reduced to a personal judgment against the owner. <a id="paragraph-244698" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-909/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1976, c. 449, &#xA7; 15.1-11.3; 1997, cc. 548, 587; 2024, cc. 225, 242.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
