Title 15.2, Title 15.2. Counties, Cities and Towns

The governing body of each of the consolidating localities shall cause a copy of the consolidation agreement, or a descriptive summary of the agreement and a reference to the place within the locality where a copy of the agreement may be examined, to be published in each locality…

When the publication of the consolidation agreement in each of the localities is completed, the judge or judges of the circuit courts for the counties and, if appropriate, for the cities or towns shall by order entered of record, in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) …

The election authorized by § 15.2-3505 shall be conducted in accordance with general law. The ballots used shall be printed and shall contain the following: "Shall ____________________ (here insert names of counties, cities or towns proposing to consolidate) consolidate pursuant …

The ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections and the results certified by the electoral boards to the judge or judges of the circuit courts for the localities. If it appears by the report of the electoral boards that a majority of the voters of e…

At the next regular November election held at least sixty days after the election at which the consolidation is approved by the voters, all county officers provided for by general law shall be elected for the consolidated county. Their terms shall begin on January 1 next succeedi…

At the next regular May election held at least sixty days after the adoption of the consolidation ordinance by the governing bodies or, if applicable, the election at which the consolidation is approved by the voters, such officers as are provided for by general or special law sh…

Upon the first day of office following the first election of county, city or town officers for the consolidated localities, the several localities shall be thereafter for all purposes treated and considered as one county, city or town, as the case may be, under the name and upon …

All valid and lawful charges and liabilities existing against a consolidated locality, or which may thereafter arise or accrue against such locality, which, but for such consolidation would be valid, and lawful charges or liabilities against them, or either of them, shall be deem…

From and after the date when consolidation becomes effective, all indictments and prosecutions for crimes committed or ordinances violated and all suits or causes of action arising within the territory of the consolidated locality may be instituted in the county, city or town wit…

The magisterial districts in a county, and the school districts, election districts and voting places in the consolidated county, city or town shall continue as in the several counties, cities or towns prior to consolidation, unless and until changed in accordance with law.

Until changed by law, the same judicial circuits shall continue, though this may result in the consolidated county or city being a part of two or more circuits. All such courts shall, however, be held at the place designated as the seat of the consolidated county or administrativ…

For the purpose of representation in Congress and in the General Assembly, the existing congressional, senatorial and house districts shall continue until changed in accordance with law.

No new registration shall be necessary in case of consolidation, but all voter registrations of the localities shall be transferred to the proper registration books of the consolidated locality, and new registrations shall be made as provided by law just as if no consolidation ha…

The ordinances in force in the localities at the time of consolidation, insofar as they are not in conflict with the consolidation agreement, shall be continued in force and effect within the limits of the consolidated localities, subject to repeal or amendment by the governing b…

If any right, title, interest, claim or case arises out of any consolidation or by reason thereof which is not determinable by reference to the provisions of this article or by the Constitution and other laws of the Commonwealth, the governing body of the consolidated locality ma…

At the session of the General Assembly that follows the elections provided for in either § 15.2-3508 or § 15.2-3509, the governing body of the resulting consolidated county, city or town shall request its delegate or senator in the General Assembly to introduce a bill to repeal a…

By complying with the requirements specified in this article, any one or more counties or cities having a common boundary, or any county and all incorporated towns located entirely therein, may consolidate into a single county or city; however, no consolidation instituted under t…

At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding under the provisions of this article for the creation of a consolidated city, the counties and cities proposing to consolidate shall serve notice on the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for the city or county, and …

When a consolidation agreement proposing the creation of a consolidated city in accordance with § 15.2-3529 has been adopted, the original of the consolidation agreement, a petition on behalf of the several governing bodies, signed by the chairman, the mayor and the clerk of each…

In any proceedings instituted under the provisions of this article for the creation of a consolidated city, any voter, person having an interest or property owner of any locality which is a party to the consolidation agreement may by petition become party to the proceedings. Any …

The court shall by order fix a time within which a voter, property owner, other person or political subdivision not served may become a party to proceedings instituted under this article for the creation of a consolidated city and thereafter no such petition shall be received, ex…

The special court shall, prior to hearing any case under this article for the establishment of a consolidated city, direct the attorneys for the parties to appear before it, or, in its discretion, before a single judge for a conference to consider: 1. Simplification of the issues…

A. The court shall order an election to be held as provided in § 15.2-3538 if, after hearing the evidence, it finds that: 1. The proposed consolidation has a minimum population of 20,000 persons and a density of at least 300 persons per square mile, or a minimum population of 50,…

The court may, in its discretion, direct any appropriate state agency, in addition to the Commission on Local Government, to gather and present evidence, including statistical data and exhibits, for the court, to be subject to the usual rules of evidence. The court shall determin…

Appeals may be made to the Court of Appeals as provided in §§ 15.2-3221 and 15.2-3222, which shall apply mutatis mutandis. Any judgment of the Court of Appeals rendered pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Supreme Court, which, if it grants the petition for appeal, sha…

The board of supervisors or council of the locality desiring to consolidate into a county or city, or any county and all incorporated towns located entirely therein desiring to consolidate into a county or city may enter into a joint agreement for such consolidation, setting fort…

When a county and city consolidate into a city, or a combination of counties and a city or cities consolidate into a city, or when any county and all of the incorporated towns located entirely therein are consolidated into a city or cities, the Commissioner of Highways shall cont…

The voters of any locality whose governing body has not taken the initiative under § 15.2-3529, may require it to do so by filing a petition with the governing body. The petition shall be signed by not less than fifteen percent of the voters of the locality registered to vote as …

In addition to the provisions required by § 15.2-3529, any consolidation agreement adopted pursuant to this article shall contain the following provisions: 1. The disposition of all property, real or personal, of any locality affected by the proposed consolidation, including any …

If the proposed consolidation is approved by a majority vote of the voters of each locality proposed to be consolidated, voting in the election hereinafter provided for, then the title to all property shall be vested in, and the indebtedness become a debt of, the respective local…

Any such consolidation agreement may contain any of the following provisions: 1. In any territory that will be a part of the consolidated city there shall be no increase in assessments, except for permanent improvements made after the consolidation, for a period not exceeding fiv…

The governing bodies, or a committee acting for and in lieu of the governing body under § 15.2-3531, may draft a charter for a consolidated city or a tier-city to be adopted as a part of the consolidation agreement. The advertising of the consolidation agreement as provided in § …

If a proposed charter for a consolidated city has been approved by the General Assembly for adoption in any area in which a consolidation of localities is proposed to be effected in accordance with the provisions of this article, then in any subsequent proceedings under the provi…

Each locality which is a party to a consolidation agreement shall cause a copy of the consolidation agreement, or a descriptive summary of the agreement and a reference to the place in the locality where a copy of the agreement may be examined, to be published in its locality at …

When publication of the consolidation agreement or descriptive summary in each of the localities is completed or, in the case of a proposed consolidated new city, when the court has entered an appropriate order under the provisions of subsection A of § 15.2-3526, the respective c…

The regular election officers, at the time designated in the order authorizing the vote, shall open the polls at the various voting places in their respective localities and conduct the election in such manner as is provided by general law for other elections insofar as the same …

The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to each of the judges of the circuit courts having jurisdiction in the localities proposing to be consolidated. If it appears by the report that a m…

Upon the effective date of consolidation, the localities so consolidated, other than the consolidated county or city or town, and other than townships as provided by § 15.2-3548, shall terminate, as shall the terms of office and the rights, powers, duties and compensation of the …

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15.2-3541 or any other statutory provision, in any consolidation which results in the formation of a consolidated county with a tier-city therein, the consolidation agreement may provide as follows: 1. The special election provided in § 15.2…

A. If any county and all incorporated towns located therein consolidate into a county or city, the members of the electoral board, general registrar and officers of election of the consolidating county or city shall continue to serve as like officers of the consolidated county or…

Any action or proceeding pending by or against any of the consolidated localities may be perfected to judgment as if such consolidation had not taken place, or the consolidated locality, if any, may be substituted.

For the purpose of representation of the consolidated localities in the General Assembly, the existing senatorial and house districts shall continue until changed in accordance with law.

Unless and until changed by general law, the jurisdiction and authority of the circuit courts having jurisdiction within any area covered by the consolidation agreement shall remain as provided for in general law as if no consolidation had occurred.

An entire county may be consolidated with any county or city having a common boundary in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this article without the necessity of any action concerning the consolidation being taken by the council of any town situated in such county and wi…

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any town located within or partially within a county proposing to consolidate with another county or city, or combination thereof, into a consolidated county and which is not a party to the consolidation agreement, shall con…

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, any city located entirely within the boundary of any county proposing to consolidate with such county, and which becomes a tier-city shall have, mutatis mutandis, all the powers, duties and responsibilities of a town together …