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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>74270</law_id><section_number>55.1-1920</section_number><catch_line>Contents of plats and plans</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-1907</reference><reference>55.1-1917</reference><reference>55.1-1918</reference><reference>55.1-1921</reference><reference>55.1-1922</reference><reference>55.1-1924</reference><reference>55.1-1925</reference><reference>55.1-1926</reference><reference>55.1-1940</reference><reference>55.1-1953</reference><reference>55.1-1975</reference><reference>55.1-2217</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Common Interest Communities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="19">Virginia Condominium Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Creation, Alteration, and Termination of Condominiums</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> There shall be recorded simultaneously with the declaration one or more plats of survey showing the location and dimensions of the submitted land, the location and dimensions of any <span class="dictionary">convertible lands</span> within the submitted land, the location and dimensions of any existing improvements, the intended location and dimensions of any contemplated improvements that are to be located on any portion of the submitted land other than within the boundaries of any <span class="dictionary">convertible lands</span>, and, to the extent feasible, the location and dimensions of all easements appurtenant to the submitted land or otherwise subject to this chapter as a part of the <span class="dictionary">common elements</span>. If the submitted land is not contiguous, then the plats shall indicate the distances between the parcels constituting the submitted land. The plats shall label every <span class="dictionary">convertible land</span> as a <span class="dictionary">convertible land</span>, and if there is more than one such land, the plats shall label each such land with one or more letters or numbers different from those designating any other <span class="dictionary">convertible land</span> and different also from the <span class="dictionary">identifying number</span> of any unit. The plats shall show the location and dimensions of any withdrawable lands and shall label each such land as a withdrawable land. The plats shall show the location and dimensions of any additional lands and shall label each such land as an additional land. If, with respect to any portion, but less than all, of the submitted land, the <span class="dictionary">unit owners</span> are to own only an estate for years, the plats shall show the location and dimensions of any such portion, and shall label each such portion as a leased land. If there is more than one withdrawable land, or more than one leased land, the plats shall label each such land with one or more letters or numbers different from those designating any <span class="dictionary">convertible land</span> or other withdrawable or leased land, and different also from the <span class="dictionary">identifying number</span> of any unit. The plats shall show all easements to which the submitted land or any portion of such submitted land is subject and shall show the location and dimensions of all such easements to the extent feasible. The plats shall also show all encroachments by or on any portion of the <span class="dictionary">condominium</span>. In the case of any improvements located or to be located on any portion of the submitted land other than within the boundaries of any <span class="dictionary">convertible lands</span>, the plats shall indicate which, if any, have not been begun by the use of the phrase &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">NOT YET BEGUN</span>&#x201D; and which, if any, have been begun but have not been substantially completed by the use of the phrase &#x201C;NOT YET COMPLETED.&#x201D; In the case of any <span class="dictionary">units</span> the vertical boundaries of which lie wholly or partially outside of structures for which plans pursuant to subsection B are simultaneously recorded, the plats shall show the location and dimensions of such vertical boundaries to the extent that they are not shown on such plans, and the <span class="dictionary">units</span> or portions thereof thus depicted shall bear their <span class="dictionary">identifying numbers</span>. Each plat shall be certified in a recorded document as to its accuracy and compliance with the provisions of this subsection by a licensed land surveyor, and the surveyor shall certify in such document or on the face of the plat that all <span class="dictionary">units</span> or portions of such <span class="dictionary">units</span> depicted on such plat pursuant to the preceding sentence of this subsection have been substantially completed. The specification within this subsection of items that shall be shown on the plats shall not be construed to mean that the plats shall not also show all other items customarily shown or hereafter required for land title surveys. <a id="paragraph-267009" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1920/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Plans shall also be recorded with the declaration. Such plans shall show every structure that contains or constitutes all or part of any unit and that is located on any portion of the submitted land other than within the boundaries of any <span class="dictionary">convertible lands</span>. The plans shall show the location and dimensions of the vertical boundaries of each unit to the extent that such boundaries lie within or coincide with the boundaries of such structures, and the <span class="dictionary">units</span> or portions of the submitted <span class="dictionary">units</span> so depicted shall bear their <span class="dictionary">identifying numbers</span>. In addition, each <span class="dictionary">convertible space</span> so depicted shall be labeled as <span class="dictionary">convertible space</span>. The horizontal boundaries of each unit having horizontal boundaries shall be identified on the plans with reference to established datum. Unless the <span class="dictionary">condominium</span> instruments expressly provide otherwise, it shall be presumed that in the case of any unit not wholly contained within or constituting one or more such structures, the horizontal boundaries thus identified extend, in the case of each such unit, at the same elevation with regard to any part of such unit, lying outside of such structures, subject to the following exception: In the case of any such unit that does not lie over any other unit other than basement <span class="dictionary">units</span>, it shall be presumed that the lower horizontal boundary, if any, of that unit lies at the level of the ground with regard to any part of that unit lying outside of such structures. The plans shall be certified on their face or in another recorded document as to their accuracy and compliance with the provisions of this subsection by a licensed architect, licensed engineer, or licensed land surveyor, and such architect, engineer, or land surveyor shall certify on the plans or in the recorded document that all <span class="dictionary">units</span> or portions of the submitted <span class="dictionary">units</span> depicted on such plans have been substantially completed. <a id="paragraph-267010" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1920/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> When converting all or any portion of any <span class="dictionary">convertible land</span>, or adding additional land to an <span class="dictionary">expandable condominium</span>, the <span class="dictionary">declarant</span> shall record, with regard to any structures on the land being converted or added, either plats of survey conforming to the requirements of subsection A and plans conforming to the requirements of subsection B, or certifications conforming to the certification requirements of such subsections of plats and plans previously recorded pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Preliminary recordation of plats and plans" href="/55.1-1922/">55.1-1922</a>. <a id="paragraph-267011" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1920/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections A and B, a time-share interest in a unit that has been subjected to a time-share instrument pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Instruments" href="/55.1-2208/">55.1-2208</a> may be conveyed prior to substantial completion of that unit if (i) a completion <span class="dictionary">bond</span> has been filed in compliance with subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Bond to insure completion of improvements" href="/55.1-1921/">55.1-1921</a> and remains in full force and effect until the unit is certified as substantially complete in accordance with subsections A and B and (ii) the <span class="dictionary">settlement agent</span> or title insurance company insuring the time-share estate in the unit certifies to the <span class="dictionary">purchaser</span> in writing, based on information provided by the Common Interest Community Board, that the <span class="dictionary">bond</span> has been filed with the Common Interest Community Board. <a id="paragraph-267012" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1920/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> When converting all or any portion of any <span class="dictionary">convertible space</span> into one or more <span class="dictionary">units</span> or <span class="dictionary">limited common elements</span>, the <span class="dictionary">declarant</span> shall record, with regard to the structure or portion of such structure constituting that <span class="dictionary">convertible space</span>, plans showing the location and dimensions of the vertical boundaries of each unit or <span class="dictionary">limited common elements</span> formed out of such space. Such plans shall be certified as to their accuracy and compliance with the provisions of this subsection by a licensed architect, licensed engineer, or licensed land surveyor. <a id="paragraph-267013" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1920/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> For the purposes of subsections A, B, and C, all provisions and requirements relating to <span class="dictionary">units</span> shall be deemed equally applicable to <span class="dictionary">limited common elements</span>. The <span class="dictionary">limited common elements</span> shall be labeled as such, and each <span class="dictionary">limited common element</span> depicted on the plats and plans shall show the <span class="dictionary">identifying number</span> of the unit to which it is assigned, if it has been assigned, unless the provisions of subdivision 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Construction of condominium instruments" href="/55.1-1912/">55.1-1912</a> make such designations unnecessary. <a id="paragraph-267014" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1920/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 416, &#xA7; 55-79.58; 1975, c. 415; 1984, c. 601; 1991, c. 497; 1999, c. 560; 2008, cc. 851, 871; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
