                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PLACE FOR BRINGING ACTION UNDER A CONTRACT RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION (§
8.01-262.1)

A. Where a party whose principal place of business is in the Commonwealth enters
into a contract on or after July 1, 1997, to design, manage construction of,
construct, alter, repair, maintain, move, demolish, or excavate, or supply
goods, equipment, or materials for the construction, alteration, repair,
maintenance, movement, demolition, or excavation of a building, structure,
appurtenance, road, bridge, or tunnel which is physically located in the
Commonwealth, any cause of action arising under such contract may be brought in
the jurisdiction where the construction project is located, or such other
jurisdiction where the venue is proper under the provisions of this chapter. Any
provision in the contract mandating that such action be brought in a location
outside the Commonwealth shall be unenforceable.

B. The forum for any arbitration proceedings required in such a contract entered
into on or after July 1, 1991, shall be in this Commonwealth. If the contract
provides for arbitration proceedings outside the Commonwealth, such provision is
unenforceable and arbitration proceedings shall be in the county or city where
the work is to be performed, unless the parties agree to conduct the proceedings
elsewhere within the Commonwealth. The enforceability of the remaining
provisions of the arbitration agreement and the method of selecting a forum for
the conduct of the arbitration proceedings are as provided in this Code, the
Federal Arbitration Act, and any applicable rules of arbitration.

HISTORY: 1991, c. 489; 1997, c. 424; 1999, c. 130.