                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES; CIVIL PENALTY (§ 15.2-819)

A county may adopt an ordinance which establishes a civil penalty for the
demolition, razing or moving of a building or structure which is located in an
historic district or which has been designated by the governing body as an
historic structure or landmark without the prior approval from either the
architectural review board or the governing body as provided by subdivision A 2
of § 15.2-2306.
		The civil penalty imposed for a violation of such an ordinance shall not
exceed the market value of the property as determined by the assessed value of
the property at the time of the destruction or removal of the building or
structure. Such value shall include the value of any structures and the value of
the real property upon which any such structure or structures were located. Such
ordinances may be enforced by the county attorney by bringing an action in the
name of the county in the circuit court. Such actions shall be brought against
the party or parties deemed responsible for the violation. It shall be the
burden of the county to show the liability of the violator by a preponderance of
the evidence.
		Nothing in this section shall preclude action by the zoning administrator
under subdivision A 4 of § 15.2-2286 or action by the board under § 15.2-2208.

HISTORY: 1991, c. 201, § 15.1-499.2; 1997, c. 587.