Title 15.2, Title 15.2. Counties, Cities and Towns

The special court shall by order fix a time within which a qualified voter, property owner, political subdivision, or other interested party not served may become a party to proceedings instituted under this chapter, and thereafter no such petition shall be received except for go…

The special court shall, prior to hearing any case under this chapter, 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; 2. Amendment of pleadings and filing of add…

A. The special court shall enter an order granting town status if, after hearing the evidence, the court finds that: 1. The city has a current population of less than 50,000 people; 2. The adjoining county or counties have been made party defendants to the proceedings; 3. The pro…

The special 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 may de…

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…

In any proceedings brought under the provisions of this chapter, the governing body of the city, may, by ordinance or resolution, decline to accept eligibility for town status on the terms and conditions imposed by the special court at any time prior to twenty-one days after entr…

In the event the special court determines the city to be ineligible for town status or in the event that town status is declined under the provisions of § 15.2-4109, no subsequent proceedings shall be brought under the provisions of this chapter within five years of the date of t…

The special court in its order granting town status shall specify the effective date of transition from city status to town status, but in no event shall such date be sooner than six months from the date of the court order.

A. If a proposed charter for the resulting town has been approved by the General Assembly for adoption pending order of the special court pursuant to this chapter, such proposed charter shall be the charter of the town upon approval of the transition from city to town status. B. …

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, a town created under this chapter shall not return to its previous independent city status.

Unless otherwise provided by agreement of the governing bodies of the city and county, or by order of the special court pursuant to § 15.2-4106, a town created under this chapter shall remain liable for all of the bonded indebtedness, current debts, obligations, and liabilities i…

When a city becomes a town under the provisions of this chapter, its ordinances shall become the ordinances of the town, insofar as they are applicable, and consistent with law, until they are repealed, and the existence of such city as an independent city of the Commonwealth sha…

When a city becomes a town under the provisions of this chapter and the police department or sheriff's department of the former city ceases to exist, officers of the former city police department or sheriff's department shall be entitled to purchase motorcycles that previously be…

In any transition under the provisions of this chapter, if a regional library system existed between a former city and the county surrounding it, or if the former city continues to operate an independent library, the Commonwealth shall continue state aid to the former regional li…

For a period of two years from the effective date of a court order granting town status to a city making the transition from city status to town status, the town shall not file an annexation notice with the Commission on Local Government pursuant to § 15.2-2907, nor shall it inst…

If at the time a city becomes a town under the provisions of this chapter there are any pending actions or proceedings by or against the city, or if after a city becomes a town under the provisions of this chapter an action or proceeding out of a cause of action which arose prior…

Upon the effective date of the transition from city to town status, all criminal prosecutions then pending therein, whether by indictment, warrant or other complaint, and all suits, actions, motions, warrants, and other proceedings of a civil nature, with all the records of the c…

A. The special court created pursuant to § 15.2-4101 shall not be dissolved after rendering a decision granting any motion or petition for transition to town status, but shall remain in existence for a period of 10 years from the effective date of any transition order entered, or…