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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72666</law_id><section_number>33.2-1022</section_number><catch_line>Certificates to describe land and list owner</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>33.2-1021</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="33.2">Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Modes of Transportation: Highways, Bridges, Ferries, Rail, and Public Transportation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="10">Eminent Domain</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Eminent Domain and Damages</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall set forth the description of the land or interest therein being taken or damaged and, if known, the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of such property. A <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> through which easement rights are acquired shall describe the rights and purposes for which the easement is being acquired. <a id="paragraph-261574" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1022/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall include a plat, drawing, or plan, in sufficient detail to disclose fairly the nature of such work or improvements, including specifications, elevations, and grade changes, if any, so as to enable the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of such property to be reasonably informed of the nature, extent, and effect of such taking. The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall specify the size of the fee or easement area being taken and, if multiple overlapping easements are taken, the sizes of the overlapping and non-overlapping areas. The <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall also state the public use project for which the property is being taken. <a id="paragraph-261575" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1022/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If a temporary construction easement is being acquired, the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> shall set forth the calendar date on which it shall expire, if such date is known to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> certifies that such date is not known, at such time the date is ascertained, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> shall file certification of the information as provided by subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Content of certificates; recordation of certificates" href="/25.1-307/">25.1-307</a> and shall simultaneously provide the landowner or the landowner&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">counsel</span>, if any, a copy of such certification. <a id="paragraph-261576" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1022/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span> shall record a <span class="dictionary">certificate of take</span> or a <span class="dictionary">certificate of deposit</span> in the clerk&#x2019;s office of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> where deeds are recorded. The clerk shall record such certificate in the deed book and index it in the names of both (i) the person who owned the land before the recordation of the certificate and (ii) the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner of Highways</span>. <a id="paragraph-261577" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/33.2-1022/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 33-70.5; 1958, c. 581; 1970, c. 322, &#xA7; 33.1-123; 2014, c. 805; 2022, c. 735; 2025, c. 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
