                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 36-3)

The following terms, when used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the
following respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
		&#8220;Area of operation&#8221; means an area that (i) in the case of a
housing authority of a city, shall be coextensive with the territorial
boundaries of the city; (ii) in the case of a housing authority of a county,
shall include all of the county, except that portion which lies within the
territorial boundaries of (a) any city, and (b) any town that has created a
housing authority pursuant to this chapter; (iii) in the case of a housing
authority of a town, shall be coextensive with the territorial boundaries of the
town as herein defined.
		&#8220;Authority&#8221; or &#8220;housing authority&#8221; means any of the
political subdivisions created by § 36-4.
		&#8220;Blighted area&#8221; means any area that endangers the public health,
safety or welfare; or any area that is detrimental to the public health, safety,
or welfare because commercial, industrial, or residential structures or
improvements are dilapidated, or deteriorated or because such structures or
improvements violate minimum health and safety standards. This definition
includes, without limitation, areas previously designated as blighted areas
pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 36-1 et seq.) of this title.
		&#8220;Blighted property&#8221; means any individual commercial, industrial,
or residential structure or improvement that endangers the public&#8217;s
health, safety, or welfare because the structure or improvement upon the
property is dilapidated, deteriorated, or violates minimum health and safety
standards, or any structure or improvement previously designated as blighted
pursuant to § 36-49.1:1, under the process for determination of &#8220;spot
blight.&#8221;
		&#8220;Bonds&#8221; means any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures,
or other obligations issued by an authority pursuant to this chapter.
		&#8220;City&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in § 15.2-102.
		&#8220;Clerk&#8221; means the clerk or secretary of the city or the clerk of
the county, as the case may be, or the officer charged with the duties
customarily imposed on such clerk.
		&#8220;Conservation area&#8221; means an area, designated by an authority that
is in a state of deterioration and in the early stages of becoming a blighted
area, as defined in this section, or any area previously designated as a
conservation area pursuant to this chapter.
		&#8220;County&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in § 15.2-102.
		&#8220;Derelict building&#8221; means the same as that term as defined in §
15.2-907.1 or in § 36-152.
		&#8220;Farm structure&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in §
36-97.
		&#8220;Farmers of low income&#8221; means persons of low income who derive
their principal income from operating or working on a farm.
		&#8220;Federal government&#8221; means the United States of America, the
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or any other agency
or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.
		&#8220;Governing body&#8221; means, in the case of a city or town, the council
(including both branches where there are two), and in the case of a county, the
board of supervisors or other governing body.
		&#8220;Housing project,&#8221; means any work or undertaking: (i) to demolish,
clear or remove buildings from any slum area; such work or undertaking may
embrace the adoption of such area to public purposes, including parks or other
recreational or community purposes; or (ii) to provide decent, safe and sanitary
urban or rural dwellings, apartments or other living accommodations for persons
of low and moderate income; such work or undertaking may include buildings,
land, equipment, facilities and other real or personal property for necessary,
convenient or desirable appurtenances, streets, sewers, water service, parks,
site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, recreational,
welfare or other purposes; or (iii) to accomplish a combination of the
foregoing. The term &#8220;housing project&#8221; also may be applied to the
planning of the buildings and improvements, the acquisition of property, the
demolition of existing structures or improvements, the construction,
reconstruction, alteration and repair of the improvements and all other work in
connection therewith.
		&#8220;Locality&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in § 15.2-102.
		&#8220;Obligee of the authority&#8221; or &#8220;obligee&#8221; means any
bondholder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders, or lessor demising to the
authority property used in connection with a project, or any assignee or
assignees of such lessor&#8217;s interest or any part thereof, and the federal
government when it is a party to any contract with the authority.
		&#8220;Persons of low income&#8221; means persons or families determined by
the authority to lack the amount of income which is necessary to enable them to
live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings.
		&#8220;Persons of moderate income&#8221; means persons or families determined
by the authority to lack the amount of income necessary to obtain affordable
housing.
		&#8220;Real property&#8221; means all lands, including improvements and
fixtures thereon, and property of any nature appurtenant thereto, or used in
connection therewith, and every estate, interest and right, legal or equitable,
therein, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or
otherwise and the indebtedness secured by such liens.
		&#8220;Redevelopment area&#8221; means an area (including slum areas),
designated by an authority, that is in a state of blight that meets the criteria
of a blighted area as defined in this section; or any area previously designated
as a redevelopment area pursuant to this chapter.
		&#8220;Slum&#8221; means any area where dwellings predominate that, by reason
of dilapidation, overcrowding, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary
facilities, or any combination of these factors, is detrimental to safety,
health, or morals.
		&#8220;Spot blight&#8221; means a structure or improvement that is a blighted
property as defined in this section.
		&#8220;Spot blight abatement plan&#8221; means the written plan prepared by
the owner or owners of record of the real property to address spot blight. If
the owner or owners of record of the real property fail to respond as provided
in § 36-49.1:1, the locality or the authority can prepare a spot blight
abatement plan to address the spot blight with respect to an individual
commercial, industrial, or residential structure or improvement, but may only
implement such plan in accordance with the provisions of § 36-49.1:1.
		&#8220;Town&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in § 15.2-102.

HISTORY: 1938, p. 447; Michie Code 1942, § 3145(3); 1966, c. 129; 2006, c. 784;
2009, cc. 181, 551.