                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATING CONDEMNATION; FILING OF ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION WITH
PETITION; VOLUNTARY CONVEYANCE (§ 15.2-1903)

A. Condemnation proceedings may be instituted when:

   1. the locality and owner cannot agree on the compensation to be paid or other
   terms of purchase or settlement;

   2. the owner is legally incapacitated;

   3. either the owner or his whereabouts is unknown; or

   4. the owner is unable to convey valid title to the property.

B. Prior to initiating condemnation proceedings, the governing body shall, after
a public hearing, adopt a resolution or ordinance approving the proposed public
use and directing the acquisition of property for the public use by condemnation
or other means. The resolution or ordinance shall state the use to which the
property shall be put and the necessity therefor. Furthermore, other political
subdivisions of the Commonwealth shall also be required to hold a public hearing
prior to initiating condemnation proceedings.

C. When a petition for condemnation is filed by or on behalf of the locality, a
true copy of the resolution or ordinance duly adopted by the governing body
declaring the intended public use of the property, and the necessity therefor,
may be filed with the petition, and when so filed constitutes sufficient
evidence of such public use and necessity.

D. The fact that no petition has been filed by a locality to condemn any
interest conveyed by deed shall not by itself render such conveyance free from
the threat of condemnation, nor shall such fact constitute sufficient proof of
voluntary conveyance for the purposes of any taxing authority.

HISTORY: 1997, c. 587; 2006, c. 927.