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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79365</law_id><section_number>25.1-400</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-729</reference><reference>25.1-230.1</reference><reference>36-106</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="25.1">Eminent Domain</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Business</span>&#x201D; means any lawful activity, except a <span class="dictionary">farm operation</span>, conducted primarily:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> For the purchase, sale, lease and rental of personal and of real <span class="dictionary">property</span>, and for the manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, or any other personal <span class="dictionary">property</span>; <a id="paragraph-284122" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> For the sale of services to the public; <a id="paragraph-284123" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> By a <span class="dictionary">nonprofit organization</span>; or <a id="paragraph-284124" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Solely for the purposes of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Moving and related expenses" href="/25.1-406/">25.1-406</a>, for assisting in the purchase, sale, resale, manufacture, processing, or marketing of products, commodities, personal <span class="dictionary">property</span>, or services by the erection and maintenance of an outdoor advertising display or displays, whether or not such display or displays are located on the premises on which any of the above activities are conducted.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Comparable replacement dwelling</span>&#x201D; means any dwelling that is (i) decent, safe and sanitary; (ii) adequate in size to accommodate the occupants; (iii) within the financial means of the displaced <span class="dictionary">person</span>; (iv) functionally equivalent; (v) in an area not subject to unreasonable adverse environmental conditions; and (vi) in a location generally not less desirable than the location of the displaced <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s dwelling with respect to public utilities, facilities, services and the displaced <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s place of employment.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling</span>&#x201D; means a dwelling that: <a id="paragraph-284125" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Is structurally sound, weather tight and in good repair; <a id="paragraph-284126" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Has a safe electrical wiring system adequate for lighting and appliances; <a id="paragraph-284127" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Contains a heating system capable of maintaining a healthful temperature; <a id="paragraph-284128" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Is adequate in size with respect to the number of rooms and area of living space needed to accommodate the displaced household; <a id="paragraph-284129" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Has a separate, well-lighted and ventilated bathroom that provides privacy to the user and contains sink, toilet, and bathing facilities (shower or bath, or both), all operational and connected to a functional water and sewer disposal system; <a id="paragraph-284130" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Provides unobstructed egress to safe open space at ground level. If the unit is above the first floor and served by a common corridor, there must be two means of egress; and <a id="paragraph-284131" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Is free of barriers to egress, ingress, and use by a displaced <span class="dictionary">person</span> with a disability.
			&#x201C;Displaced <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x201D; means: <a id="paragraph-284132" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who moves from real <span class="dictionary">property</span>, or moves his personal <span class="dictionary">property</span> from real <span class="dictionary">property</span> (i) as a direct result of a written notice of <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to acquire or the acquisition of such real <span class="dictionary">property</span>, in whole or in part, for any program or project undertaken by a <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> or (ii) on which such <span class="dictionary">person</span> is a residential tenant or conducts a small <span class="dictionary">business</span>, a <span class="dictionary">farm operation</span> or a <span class="dictionary">business</span> described in clause 4 of the definition of &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">business</span>&#x201D; in this section as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition, or other displacing activity as the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> may prescribe, under a program or project undertaken by the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> in any case in which the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> determines that such displacement is permanent; <a id="paragraph-284133" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Solely for the purposes of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Moving and related expenses" href="/25.1-406/">25.1-406</a>, <a class="law" title="Optional moving expense allowance for persons displaced from dwelling" href="/25.1-407/">25.1-407</a>, and <a class="law" title="Relocation planning, assistance coordination, and advisory services" href="/25.1-411/">25.1-411</a>, any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who moves from real <span class="dictionary">property</span>, or moves his personal <span class="dictionary">property</span> from real <span class="dictionary">property</span>: (i) as a direct result of a written notice of <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to acquire or the acquisition of other real <span class="dictionary">property</span>, in whole or in part, on which such <span class="dictionary">person</span> conducts a <span class="dictionary">business</span> or <span class="dictionary">farm operation</span>, for a program or project undertaken by a <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> or (ii) as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition, or other displacing activity as the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> may prescribe, of other real <span class="dictionary">property</span> on which such <span class="dictionary">person</span> conducts a <span class="dictionary">business</span> or <span class="dictionary">farm operation</span>, under a program or project undertaken by the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> in any case in which the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> determines that such displacement is permanent; and <a id="paragraph-284134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who moves or discontinues his <span class="dictionary">business</span> or moves other personal <span class="dictionary">property</span>, or moves from his dwelling, as the direct result of (i) federally assisted activities for the enforcement of a building code or other similar code or (ii) a program of rehabilitation or demolition of buildings conducted pursuant to a federally assisted governmental program.
			The term &#x201C;displaced <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x201D; does not include (i) a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who has been determined, according to criteria established by the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span>, to be either in unlawful occupancy of the displacement dwelling or to have occupied such dwelling for the purpose of obtaining assistance under this chapter or (ii) in any case where the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> acquires <span class="dictionary">property</span> for a program or project, any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, other than a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who was an occupant of the <span class="dictionary">property</span> at the time it was acquired, who occupies such <span class="dictionary">property</span> on a rental basis for a short term or a period subject to termination when the <span class="dictionary">property</span> is needed for the program or project.
			&#x201C;Dwelling&#x201D; means the place of permanent or customary and usual residence of a <span class="dictionary">person</span>, according to local custom or <span class="dictionary">law</span>, including a single-family house, a single family unit in a two-family, multi-family, or multi-purpose <span class="dictionary">property</span>; a unit of a condominium or cooperative housing project; a nonhousekeeping unit; a mobile home; or any other residential unit.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Farm operation</span>&#x201D; means any activity conducted solely or primarily for the production of one or more agricultural products or commodities, including timber, for sale or home use, and customarily producing such products or commodities in sufficient quantity to be capable of contributing materially to the operator&#x2019;s support.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Mortgage</span>&#x201D; means such classes of <span class="dictionary">liens</span> as are commonly given to secure advances on, or the unpaid purchase price of, real <span class="dictionary">property</span>, together with the credit instruments, if any, secured thereby.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nonprofit organization</span>&#x201D; means an organization that is exempt from paying federal income taxes under &#xA7; 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. &#xA7; 501).
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D; means any (i) individual or (ii) partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, or other <span class="dictionary">business</span> entity.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Uneconomic remnant</span>&#x201D; means a parcel of real <span class="dictionary">property</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> is left with an interest after the partial acquisition of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">property</span> and which the <span class="dictionary">state agency</span> has determined has little or no value or utility to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>. <a id="paragraph-284135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/25.1-400/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 33-75.02, 33.1-132.2; 1970, c. 40, &#xA7; 25-238; 1972, c. 738; 1989, c. 714; 2000, c. 851; 2002, c. 878; 2003, c. 940; 2011, cc. 117, 190; 2023, cc. 148, 149.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
