                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COURT-ORDERED ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDARY LINES (§ 15.2-3109)

A. Whenever any two localities have agreed that a change should be made to their
common boundary line so that public services in an area may be provided more
effectively and more efficiently, but are unable to agree as to the proper
location for the new boundary line, their governing bodies may petition jointly
either of the circuit courts for their respective localities for an order
establishing the new boundary line within the terms of the petition. The court
shall refer the petition to the Commission on Local Government, and shall also
certify the filing of the petition to the Supreme Court with a request that a
three-judge court be convened pursuant to &#xA7; 15.2-3000 to decide the matter.
The Commission shall conduct a hearing to receive evidence concerning the
location of the new boundary line. Any interested persons may present evidence.
The Commission shall publish notice of its hearing at least once a week for two
successive weeks in newspapers of general circulation in each locality. Based
upon the evidence and the report of its staff, the Commission shall determine a
new boundary line that best promotes the more effective and efficient provision
of public services. The Commission shall transmit its findings to the court in
writing, where they shall be received in evidence. The court shall hear evidence
with respect to relocating the boundary line and shall enter an order
establishing the new boundary line so as to promote, to the extent possible, the
more effective and more efficient provision of public services. Such order shall
set forth the terms for the transfer of territory and shall be recorded in the
common-law order book and in the current deed book for both localities&#8217;
courts and indexed in the name of the localities as the case may be. A certified
copy of the order shall be sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the
clerk of the circuit court.

B. Notice of any application as provided in subsection A hereof shall be served
upon the property owners, if any, of the area affected by the agreement, and if
such property owners object to the change, they shall be permitted to intervene
in the proceedings and show cause why the boundary line should not be changed.

HISTORY: 1979, c. 85, § 15.1-1031.4; 1997, c. 587.