                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY; EXERCISE OF RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN (§ 5.1-34)

Private property needed by any city, incorporated town or county for an airport
or landing field shall be acquired by purchase, if the city, town or county is
able to agree with the owners on the terms thereof. The cities, incorporated
towns or counties are hereby granted full power to exercise the right of eminent
domain in the acquisition of any lands, easements and privileges that are
necessary for airport and landing field purposes. Proceedings for the
acquisition of such lands, easements and privileges by condemnation may be
instituted and conducted in the name of such county, city or town, and the
procedure shall be mutatis mutandis the same as in the acquisition of land by
condemnation proceedings instituted by railroads and may acquire in like manner,
for a term of years or perpetually, the right of easement to remove and control
the growth of any tree or vegetation standing or growing in said land outside
the boundaries of any airport or landing field and the right of easement to
place and maintain suitable signs or markers or lights to adequately locate and
mark objects or structures that are hazardous to aircraft using such airports or
landing fields, of ingress and egress to and from such airport hazards for the
purpose of maintaining and repairing such signs, markers and lights and cutting
of trees or other growing vegetation penetrating the approach and departure
slope easement. The right of condemnation granted herein shall be subject to the
same provisions as are provided in § 25.1-102 concerning the condemnation of
property belonging to a corporation possessing the power of eminent domain by
another public service corporation.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 5-23, 5-31; 1966, c. 576; 2003, c. 940.