1165:. With regards to building and maintaining of roads and laying out roads is considered to be a governmental function, but cleaning and maintaining roads and public ways that have already been laid out is deemed to be proprietary. An activity that combines governmental and proprietary functions is clothed in the protection of governmental functions. A suit cannot be brought based on an unsafe condition of the street unless the municipality is first given reasonable notice and allowed a reasonable amount of time to remedy it. The operation of public recreational facilities is stated by the state statute to fall within the immunity of governmental function.
1042:. The claim was that their voting power had been deliberately diminished by the attempts of city leaders to add white voters and dilute to black vote. The pre-annexation population of the city as of 1970 was 202,359, of which 104,207 or 52% were black citizens. The annexation added to the city 47,262 people, of whom 1,557 were black and 45,705 were non-black. The post-annexation population of the city was therefore 249,621, of which 105,764 or 42% were black. The plaintiffs prevailed in court by creation of a ward system which guaranteed black voters would be represented fairly in city government.
1104:. This limitation also applies where the subject of the contract is permissible under the charter, but the manner in which the contract is made or awarded violates proscriptions set forth in the charter. For example, if the charter requires that contracts for provision of a public service be awarded to the lowest bidder in an open bidding process, and such a process is not used to award the contract, then the contract itself is void and the private party to the contract will have no recourse to enforce the local government's obligations thereunder.
570:, so that a resident may be reasonably certain that their conduct conforms to the law. Furthermore, local governments cannot delegate the power to enact ordinances to other bodies. However, they may establish fixed and certain standards for carrying out certain activities (such as home building or operating restaurants), and then delegate to subordinate bodies the power to make rules governing how residents can demonstrate compliance with these standards.
579:
prohibited local regulation altogether, or where it is inconsistent with state law. An ordinance may not permit an activity that is expressly prohibited by state law or prohibits an activity that is expressly permitted by state law. However, if some state regulation exists as to an activity, political subdivisions may impose further regulations on that activity so long as it is possible for a resident to comply with both sets of regulations.
1134:. The claim must be brought within thirty days of the disallowance if the claimant is present when the governing body so decides; if the claimant is not present, the claim must be brought within thirty days of the claimant receiving notice of the disallowance. In either case, the appeal must specify that the required presentment was made. This rule also applies to equitable claims for monetary relief.
181:
887:, state funding formulas have tended to favor rural areas, and growth through annexation was seen as a countermeasure financially by many cities and towns. However, such actions are often controversial and in some cases, have resulted in protracted and costly legal proceedings. They also often leave residents of an annexed area feeling that they had no say in the process.
171:
209:
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including the text of the ordinance or a reasonable summary thereof, and particularly directed to the attention of residents likely to be affected by it and advising such residents of their ability to object to the proposal. The ordinance must be debated in a public meeting and passed by a majority vote of the governing body of that subdivision.
193:
210:
172:
211:
168:
92:
167:
194:
224:
154:
212:
145:
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408:. But cities that were classified as second-class cities at the time of the adoption of the 1971 Virginia Constitution were authorized to continue sharing their court system and three constitutional officers with the adjacent county. As of 2003, 14 of Virginia's independent cities retain these features.
656:
of jurors to determine the fair value. A resident can also seek compensation for damage to the value of real property arising out of government activity through an action for inverse condemnation. The immunity to suit generally enjoyed by local governments does not apply to such actions, pursuant to the
160:
213:
153:
1156:
lawsuits. Cities and towns are not considered arms of the state and are only held to be immune from such lawsuits if the city or town was exercising a public or "governmental" function. Such functions have been held to include police and firefighting activities, and education. However, a city or town
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Many of the 47,000 residents who lived in the annexed area of the compromise of 1970 had been opposed to the annexation. They fought unsuccessfully for over seven years in the courts to have the annexation reversed, and ruefully called it the 23 square miles (60 km) zone "Occupied
Chesterfield."
943:
While the mass conversion to independent cities such as occurred in the
Hampton Roads region did not repeat elsewhere in the state, city-county annexations have generally created more conflicts and been a barrier to future regional cooperation than those of towns and counties. This may be because the
591:
map indicating what parcels of property within the municipality may be used for what purpose. This map must be updated at least every five years. Every municipality is required by state law to have a zoning administrator who oversees the local government's regulatory scheme and is generally the party
428:
are municipalities that are within counties. Local government is thus divided between the town and the county. A town can be formed from any area with a defined boundary having a population of 1,000 or more. The method for forming towns is the same as for cities, petitioning the state legislature to
180:
1174:
when applied against local governments providing such services, so the civil plaintiff is required to prove that the local government is responsible for the condition that led to damage or injury. Political subdivisions may waive their sovereign immunity, and wherever and whenever a local government
979:
It would take more than three years for the special annexation court to announce its decision. Finally, on April 27, 1964, the court ruled in favor of the City of
Richmond, but it only awarded the city 17 square miles (44 km) of the 142 square miles (370 km) that it had requested. The City
895:
Partially because independent cities are immune from annexation by adjacent localities, an action much-feared by those in many communities, in the mid 20th century, a wave of consolidations of local governments led to almost the entire southeastern portion of
Virginia progressively becoming a web of
869:
Various political subdivisions may do business with each other and the state and federal government in a manner similar to private individuals, limited partnerships, and corporations, with the notable exception that some restrictions may apply with regards to public information, competitive bidding,
655:
of that land. If the government takes only part of the property, it must pay both the value of the land that was taken, plus any decrease in the market value of the remaining portion (called the "residue"). A person who contests the value assessed for such a taking is entitled to empanel a committee
630:
against property in its jurisdiction, provided that it comports with the requirements set forth by
Virginia law. All localities are empowered by their charters to acquire property through condemnation. In order to effect such a seizure of property, the local government must demonstrate that a public
215:
1186:
In addition to the aforementioned limitations, a plaintiff seeking to sue a city or county in tort must provide the subdivision with notice, said notice including the nature of the claim, and the date and location of the injury, within six months after the claim arises. This notice must be provided
1069:
adopted legislation that allowed any county meeting certain population and density standards to petition the local circuit court to declare the county permanently immune from annexation by any city with over 100,000 in population. In 1981, Chesterfield County and several other counties in the state
986:
More problems and hard feelings arose from a
Richmond-Chesterfield case which began in 1965; they were later used as prime examples of obstacles to regional cooperation as the state legislators have considered changes. The resulting 1970 annexation was exceptionally controversial and took more than
963:
In 1940, the City of
Richmond annexed 10 square miles (26 km) of Henrico County. In the two decades that followed, the little bedroom community known as Henrico County began to shape its own identity. When the City of Richmond decided once again that they needed to expand, things had changed.
403:
in. Second-class cities did not have a court of record and were required to share the cost of that court with their adjacent county and also shared the cost for three constitutional officers of that court — generally, the clerk, commonwealth's attorney and sheriff — and those shared officers stood
398:
in 1871 as cities of the first class and cities of the second class. The
Virginia Constitution of 1902 defined first-class cities as those having a population of 10,000 or more based upon the last census enumeration, while second-class cities were those that had a population of fewer than 10,000.
1107:
Individual employees of a local government, including the highest-level executives of that body, have no power to bind the local government to a contract that is void due to one of the above scenarios. This is because the limitations on the power of the local government to contract are a matter of
990:
In that case, while the annexation lawsuit filed by
Richmond in 1965 was being heard, with the city seeking 51 square miles (132 km) of the county, the leaders of the two jurisdictions, Irvin G. Horner, the chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, and Phil J. Bagley, Jr., the
971:
In the late 1950s and early 60s, annexing just a small portion of a neighboring county became largely a thing of the past. In order to meet the needs of their growing populations, some cities and counties throughout
Virginia began to merge entirely (through the consolidation process enabled by the
967:
In 1959, there were just over 107,000 residents in Henrico County. By 1965 that number had increased by nearly 40,000. Nationwide, urban flight was on the rise as people flocked to neighboring counties. As a result, Virginia's cities began to look across their borders for much needed tax relief.
545:
Both cities and towns in Virginia have certain functions that are considered "public" functions - such as having police apprehend criminals, or educating children - and others that are considered "private" functions - such as holding a town fair or landscaping around sidewalks on private land. The
537:
State law prohibits municipalities from having an amount of outstanding debt greater than 10% of the value of the taxable real estate within that municipality, with a few exceptions made for certain kinds of bonds, particularly those used to fund projects expected to make enough money to repay the
166:
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government that is alleged to be in breach, Virginia law imposes several additional steps before a lawsuit may be brought. Specifically, the claim must be formally presented to the county's governing body for an allowance, and it is only after that governing body has disallowed the claim that its
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In May 1969, the Horner-Bagley Compromise, as it came to be called, was approved by the county and city and incorporated in a court decree of July 12, 1969. This effectively shut out a number of third parties attempting to block the annexation, who felt they had been excluded from the process. An
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agreed upon, the citizens of both Richmond and Henrico were asked to approve the merger in a vote, held on December 12, 1961. The merger failed at the polls, and just two weeks later, on December 27, 1961, Richmond City Council filed suit to annex 142 square miles (370 km) of Henrico County.
873:
In recent years, Virginia has tried to encourage regional cooperation among localities. Special favorable funding for regional jails has been one area were incentives have encouraged such efforts. However, Virginia's annexation laws and past experiences have long been felt by many leaders to be a
688:
in most other states, Virginia's school divisions are not completely separate units of local government. This is because no school division has taxing authority. Instead, they are dependent upon their associated city, town, or county governments for at least a portion of their funding. Additional
218:
1087:
As noted above, a local government may only enter into a contract that is within the scope of its charter. A contract to do something beyond its power is void and unenforceable, and in fact the local government will be prohibited from performing its obligations under such a contract. The private
578:
alleging that the ordinance is void because it was not properly noticed, goes beyond the county charter, is arbitrary, discriminatory, or unreasonably vague, or that it is preempted by state or federal law. An ordinance will be deemed preempted if it addresses an activity for which the state has
975:
In 1959, local business owners in the City of Richmond reacted to the statewide trend and jump-started the process toward a consolidation agreement with Henrico County. In attempt to reach a mutual agreement, each locality appointed three negotiators to represent its interests. Once a plan was
609:
allowing a property owner to use a property for a purpose that is neither specifically permitted nor specifically prohibited within a particular zoning area, and such permits may be conditioned on the property owner making concessions such as improving roads leading into the property, providing
1073:
In 1987, the General Assembly, recognizing the controversy surrounding annexations in Virginia, placed a moratorium on future annexations of any county by any city. Should this moratorium expire, Chesterfield County would remain immune from annexation by Richmond because of the 1981 grant of
554:
One of the powers granted by the state to political subdivisions is the power to enact local regulations regarding matters covered by the local charter, called ordinances. In order to pass an ordinance, a locality must provide published notice of the proposed ordinance prior to its enactment,
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214:
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of the state with respect to actions brought under certain limitations. However, by the terms of the statute itself, this waiver does not extend to political subdivisions. Thus, counties, which are considered to be arms of the state, still carry the state's traditional complete immunity from
1050:
Since then, the State has taken several actions to avoid such conflicts. An agency of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Commission on Local Government promotes and preserves the viability of Virginia's local governments by fostering positive intergovernmental
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disputes. The standard for granting of variances is that the party requesting the variance faces an unnecessary hardship unique to that party, but that adjacent property will not suffer a substantial detriment, and the character of the district will not be changed. The board may also grant
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141:
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170:
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In Virginia, villages are defined as tracts of land with fixed boundaries for the purpose of preventing the free roaming of animals. Villages are defined as having at least 300 residents and are established by petition to the circuit court of the county in which they are located.
221:
207:
187:
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exist in Virginia, they are generally less important than in other states. As of June 2012, Virginia had 193 special-district governments, as well as numerous special agencies, areas, and districts that were subordinate to the state or to a county, city, or town government.
230:
161:
1124:
Where a local government makes a contract that is within its power, and then fails to perform its obligations under the contract, it may be sued in the same manner as any other entity and may raise all defenses typically available in a contract action. However, if it is a
220:
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for election in both the city and the county. At least two constitutional officers — treasurer and commissioner of the revenue — were required to be elected solely by the residents of the city. The distinction between first- and second-class cities was ended with the
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Expansion of borders through annexation suits against neighboring counties and incorporated towns has long been a method available to the independent cities to grow, with incorporated towns also able to take such actions against counties. Since the years of the
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183:
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1211:. High-level employees, such as mayors, city managers, and judges, are immune for decisions made within the scope of their employment. The immunity of lower level employees is determined by examining four factors set forth by the Virginia Supreme Court in
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The Chesterfield-Richmond annexation agreement resulted in Richmond receiving 23 square miles (60 km) of the county, as well as fire stations, parks, and other infrastructure such as water and sewer lines. Under the agreement, approximately a dozen
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need for the property exists, which must be declared in a resolution or ordinance passed through the usual process for passing ordinances. The locality must make a good-faith offer to purchase the land at a value appraised by the city.
142:
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296:", and as such form part of a county. Eight independent cities had 2010 populations of less than 10,000 with the smallest, Norton, having a population of only 3958. On the other hand, six towns had populations of over 10,000.
202:
148:
488:
Borrowing money and issuing tax-exempt bonds, with the caveat that bonds generally may not be issued unless they have been authorized by either a ballot vote or a special hearing, and only for the purpose of making capital
152:
1062:. Beginning in 1982, in return for receiving a portion of annual county tax revenues, the city agreed to not attempt to annex portions of the county. The agency's website lists many such deals between municipal neighbors.
176:
162:
135:
542:, but they may impose licensing fees on specific occupations, and the Virginia Supreme Court has held that such licensing fees can be adjusted upwards or downwards to reflect the level of income of a particular business.
1108:
public record. As a general rule, the individual employee is immune from being sued for inadvertently entering into a void contract with a private party. However, this immunity does not extend to the intentional tort of
53:, covering all of the territory not within the independent cities. Under Virginia law, counties may be chartered, although most are not. Their populations vary widely; in 2022 estimated populations ranged from 2,301 for
189:
448:, which holds that cities and towns only have those powers expressly granted to them by Virginia or federal law, any power implied by those express powers, and those powers essential to the municipality's existence.
149:
143:
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made a false representation to a third party that the local government would be bound to a particular contract, that employee could be sued for damages suffered by the third party's reliance on that false promise.
896:
adjoining independent cities. Many incorporated (formally constituted) localities, including counties, cities, and towns, some over 250 years old, became legally extinct between 1952 and 1975. A law passed by the
265:. This is the most noteworthy aspect of Virginia local government relative to the other 49 states. Of the 41 independent cities in the United States, 38 are in Virginia. The three that are not in Virginia are
216:
1827:
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A resident who wishes to challenge the validity of an ordinance need not wait until it has been enforced against them (although it may be challenged at that time). Instead, a resident may bring an action for a
208:
2268:
138:
156:
1792:
1757:
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155:
137:
1832:
1232:
Where an employee is grossly negligent, or engages in intentional torts, the employee may be held liable, but the locality remains immune so long as the employee was providing a governmental function.
198:
190:
1797:
1762:
1712:
233:
2180:
179:
133:
1802:
1707:
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to enact and enforce rules and regulations to promote the health, safety, morals, or welfare of its citizens, provided that such rules may not be arbitrary, discriminatory, or unreasonable.
1179:
for its vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and buses, that local government will be ruled to have waived its sovereign immunity up to the amount of the policy. A municipality can be sued for
2145:
1777:
1732:
1672:
1647:
1569:
232:
1203:
Employees of a municipality who are performing governmental functions generally share in the immunity of the municipality itself, although this does not protect them from being sued for
159:
2185:
1652:
2150:
2115:
1812:
1667:
644:, the Virginia legislature enacted limitations on the purposes for which property could be taken, specifying that public uses include government offices, utilities, and prevention of
139:
2065:
150:
2155:
2035:
1562:
2125:
2080:
2070:
2045:
2030:
1985:
1975:
1965:
173:
2195:
2170:
2075:
2015:
459:. The charter is a form of contract, and the municipality has no power to act outside of its charter. With few exceptions, a municipality's powers are narrowly construed.
134:
2130:
2085:
2025:
1894:
158:
191:
2040:
2005:
2165:
2020:
1884:
861:
The 1870 Constitution of Virginia required the division of counties into townships, but an amendment in 1874 converted those townships into magisterial districts.
234:
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individuals of the latter groups realize from the outset that they will be required to continue to work together afterward (since all towns are within counties).
793:§ 15.2-3534, when multiple local governments consolidate to form a consolidated city, the consolidated city may be divided into geographical subdivisions called "
502:
for the fulfillment of other functions within its powers. However, a contract between a municipality and another party to do something outside of its charter is
386:
983:
During the years that followed, Henrico County was granted immunity from the threat of annexation and consolidation, a State law that is still in force today.
743:(VHDA), a self-supporting, not-for-profit organization created by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1972, to help Virginians attain quality, affordable housing.
100:
816:
is divided into seven boroughs, one corresponding to the former city of Suffolk and one corresponding to each of the six magisterial districts of the former
999:
example among these was a small commuter bus company holding an operating rights in the county, whereas the city granted its bus franchise to a competitor.
797:", which may be the same as the existing (i) cities, (ii) counties, or (iii) portions of such counties. Those boroughs are not separate local governments.
2247:
98:
1483:"A Guide to the Frederick County (Va.) Township Records, 1871-1875 Frederick County (Va.) Township Records, 1871-1875 1098656, 1098661, 1099105, 1018039"
88:, while geographically small and entirely urbanized, is completely unincorporated, making the county board the sole governing body in the entire county.
1549:
1027:, the Fred D. Thompson Middle School, the Elkhardt Middle School, and eight elementary schools. In 1971, these schools were included in a court-ordered
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operators were similarly impacted. More significantly, 47,000 people found themselves living in a different jurisdiction without a public referendum.
657:
35:
According to the 2002 Census of Governments, Virginia ranked 43rd among the 50 states in the number of local governments, with 521 as of June 2002.
2237:
1642:
380:
368:
Where the residents of an area of sufficient size wish to incorporate as a city, they must petition the Virginia state legislature to grant them a
115:
1544:
1406:
131:
110:
105:
734:
467:
117:
32:; others are not. However, all local governments (counties, independent cities, and incorporated towns) are political subdivisions of the state.
1429:
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street lighting in the area, or setting aside a certain amount of land for public use. The board of zoning appeals may be appealed to the local
116:
1015:. Compounding the unhappiness of many of the residents of the annexed area was the fact that Richmond Public Schools was already involved in a
748:
326:
An area within a county, which may or may not have been a town previously, incorporates as a city and thus becomes independent. Examples are
1927:
379:
376:
97:
1183:- the negligent creation of a hazardous situation - even if the nuisance was created in the course of carrying out a governmental function.
1054:
In some instances, neighboring localities have entered into agreements, such as a revenue sharing agreement between the independent city of
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99:
1858:
1752:
382:
95:
727:
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101:
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State statute provides that when multiple local governments consolidate, existing political subdivisions may continue in existence as
381:
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102:
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1995:
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if such an appeal is filed within 30 days of the zoning board decision, and from there decisions may be appealed directly to the
546:
legal significance of this distinction lies in the liability of the municipality to be sued by someone injured by its employees.
96:
1377:
119:
1747:
1742:
1617:
1445:
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1936:
1837:
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in 1960 allowed any city and adjacent county to consolidate by mutual agreement. Of the 10 current independent cities of the
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29:
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730:(CVWMA), formed in 1990 to coordinate recycling and waste management programs for thirteen localities in central Virginia.
1662:
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1607:
1338:
1311:
713:, and collected tolls until 1973, when its duties were assumed by another state agency by an Act of the General Assembly.
705:
Several examples of the many special districts and agencies created as political subdivisions for specific purposes are:
1365:
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Other municipalities, even though they may be more populous than some existing independent cities, are incorporated as "
2227:
2110:
1602:
1270:
1039:
559:
2090:
2050:
1920:
1807:
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1008:
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Cities which previously had been granted a city charter, but did not have the requisite population, had their status
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2140:
2135:
1879:
1866:
1767:
1312:"Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas; Change Notice No. 7"
261:
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1980:
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At the same time, black plaintiffs who had lived in the city prior to the annexation claimed a violation of the
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established for elections, administrative functions, or both. They are not separate units of local government.
2100:
2095:
1970:
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1088:
party who performs under such a contract will have no means of recovery, even under equitable theories such as
335:
1368:
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website. 13 November 2003. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
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Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority, formed in 1955, which sold toll revenue bonds, built and operated the
592:
responsible for bringing legal actions against zoning violators. Each municipality is also required to have a
2190:
2060:
1404:
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2005
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1462:
2175:
2055:
2010:
1913:
1341:
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
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requires that laws, including municipal ordinances, may not be arbitrary or discriminatory, and may not be
44:
1990:
1960:
1950:
1290:
635:
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City of Virginia Beach Development Services Center, DSC INFORMATION NOTICE #63 - Correction May 15, 1998
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1011:, support buildings, and future school sites were conveyed to the City of Richmond to be operated by
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395:
293:
54:
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of an adjacent county, even though the city by definition is not part of that county. An example is
2232:
2120:
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may be sued when carrying out a "proprietary" function, such as providing gas, electricity, water,
953:
928:
821:
809:
698:
456:
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361:
331:
308:
58:
1482:
1012:
805:
794:
593:
357:
81:
1235:
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915:
This transition left the region with some oddities, such as the entire Virginia portion of the
909:
615:
611:
601:
327:
315:
50:
1584:
648:, and excluding the condemnation of property for the purpose of giving it to private parties.
980:
of Richmond then declined to accept and pay for the land that was awarded in the annexation.
1028:
1024:
920:
801:
778:
752:
733:
Airport authorities, such as the Peninsula Airport Commission, which owns and operates the
575:
353:
935:), even though it lacks the urban characteristics typically associated with large cities.
8:
1517:
1187:
to one of a set list of people set forth in state statute, these being the subdivision's
1020:
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facility which crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, entirely located within Virginia.
462:
Typically, the powers extended to Virginia municipalities usually include the following:
433:
342:
274:
77:
1905:
689:
funds may come directly to a school division, typically from state and federal sources.
1148:
1089:
1016:
992:
916:
905:
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567:
424:
400:
1170:
1101:
932:
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884:
813:
652:
523:
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369:
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69:
1238:
are not considered employees and are therefore not subject to any kind of immunity.
1070:
subsequently sought and received such immunity from further annexation by Richmond.
2205:
1852:
1254:
1208:
1204:
1093:
790:
445:
492:
Acquiring, possessing, and expending the revenue acquired through the above means.
1433:
1410:
1392:
1147:
The state of Virginia has enacted the Virginia Tort Claims Act, which waives the
952:
The City of Richmond grew by annexations, contested and not, of portions of both
685:
676:
538:
bonds within a set time frame. Municipalities are also prohibited from enacting
1097:
846:
627:
516:
65:
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and one corresponding to each of the five magisterial districts of the former
76:
local government for much of the state, from rural areas to densely populated
2262:
901:
721:
512:
1225:
The degree of control and direction exercised by the state over the employee
751:
serves suburbs in Virginia (and Maryland), the Census Bureau counts it as a
681:
645:
478:
429:
grant a charter. As of 2014, there are 191 incorporated towns in Virginia.
1585:
Administrative divisions of U.S. states, territories, and federal district
1228:
Whether the act complained of involved the use of judgment and discretion.
451:
Under Virginia law, a municipality, whether a city or a town, must have a
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region, fully 8 of them adjoin others. In the region, only the cities of
504:
300:
422:
Unlike Virginia's cities, and like municipalities in most other states,
763:
716:
Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District which built and operates the
539:
319:
25:
1077:
938:
804:
is divided into six boroughs, one corresponding to the former city of
341:
A county is converted into a city. An example was the former city of
1176:
870:
personal use of government-owned property, vehicles, resources, etc.
482:
270:
266:
2269:
Administrative divisions of the United States by state and territory
651:
The government, in asserting eminent domain, must pay the owner the
352:
Various local governments consolidate to form a city. An example is
1339:"Population and Area of All Virginia Local Governments, 1790-2010".
1180:
890:
597:
499:
259:
Since 1871, all incorporated cities in Virginia have classified as
21:
1286:
1222:
The extent of the state's interest and involvement in the function
1045:
28:, is divided for political and administrative purposes. Some are
1074:
immunity, but not from annexation by its other adjoining cities.
1000:
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Every municipality is required to maintain a publicly accessible
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of 5,000 or more. Cities have been formed in the following ways:
91:
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program, which was finally ceased sometime during the 1990s.
558:
Some limitations exist on the power to enact ordinances. The
1507:
Richmond-Chesterfield Case - Dilution of Black Voting Rights
824:, the seven boroughs were abolished effective July 1, 1998.
1153:
740:
621:
1935:
1518:
Horner-Bagley Line, History of Annexation in Chesterfield
1449:
1414:
1258:
1255:
2002 Census of Governments, Individual State Descriptions
474:
1023:. The schools involved in the annexed area included the
72:
cover such a small area of the state, the county is the
948:
Richmond: a center of annexation efforts and conflicts
864:
307:, which is an independent city as well as the seat of
394:
Virginia's independent cities were classified by the
1219:
The nature of the function performed by the employee
775:
Magisterial districts, election districts, and wards
764:
Magisterial districts, election districts, and wards
356:, formed from the merger of the independent city of
1078:
Legal liability of subdivisions and their employees
939:
Generating animosity between neighboring localities
856:
836:
874:barrier to regional cooperation among localities.
314:A city can be formed from any area with a defined
931:to the most populous city in the state (usurping
658:Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
515:, including through the exercise of the power of
477:on its residents, usually in the form of a local
299:An independent city in Virginia may serve as the
2260:
891:Wave of consolidations, town-to-city conversions
1545:Virginia Commission on Local government website
1046:Methods to avoid annexation fears and conflicts
995:, met privately and agreed to this compromise.
758:
735:Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
334:, which separated from (and later merged with)
94:
749:Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
692:
1921:
1570:
1531:, 221 Va. 43, 53, 282 S.E.2d 864, 869 (1980).
1207:(as opposed to "ordinary" negligence) or for
1279:
1168:Virginia does not recognize the doctrine of
1142:
877:
755:special district for statistical purposes.
728:Central Virginia Waste Management Authority
508:, and therefore unenforceable as a nullity.
444:Local government in Virginia is subject to
439:
330:, which separated from Fairfax County, and
1928:
1914:
1577:
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1355:
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436:which are also called towns colloquially.
1366:"Former Second Class Cities in Virginia".
1198:
770:List of magisterial districts in Virginia
277:. Cities in Virginia are thus similar to
1304:
912:are surrounded by traditional counties.
853:. However, none have yet been created.
522:Acquiring, possessing, and disposing of
511:Acquiring, possessing, and disposing of
239:Virginia counties and independent cities
1550:Functions of Counties, Cities and Towns
1344:
1334:
1332:
1287:"U.S. Census 2022 population estimates"
622:Eminent domain and inverse condemnation
2261:
919:being located entirely within cities (
741:Virginia Housing Development Authority
680:is the area under a jurisdiction of a
660:as incorporated by the Supreme Court.
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1937:Local government in the United States
1909:
1558:
1082:
987:seven years to be resolved in court.
626:A political subdivision may exercise
248:
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670:List of school divisions in Virginia
18:administrative divisions of Virginia
865:Relationships, regional cooperation
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243:
13:
1040:National Voting Rights Act of 1965
560:Supreme Court of the United States
90:
14:
2285:
1538:
1137:
1112:. If a local government employee
972:1960 Virginia General Assembly).
285:treats all cities in Virginia as
1130:decision may be appealed to the
857:Abolished political subdivisions
837:Potential political subdivisions
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1436:, from City of Suffolk Web site
1427:City of Suffolk voting boroughs
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1271:Total charter counties by state
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1371:
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1159:sewage collection and disposal
720:, a 23-mile-long (37 km)
1:
1378:General Law Local Governments
1241:
549:
406:Virginia Constitution of 1971
20:are the areas into which the
2274:Local government in Virginia
1393:Code of Virginia § 15.2-3534
759:Other political subdivisions
718:Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
711:Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike
495:Hiring and firing personnel.
45:List of counties in Virginia
7:
1463:"Virginia Code § 55.1-2828"
1291:United States Census Bureau
1065:Additionally, in 1979, the
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693:Special districts, agencies
636:United States Supreme Court
283:United States Census Bureau
38:
10:
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767:
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641:Kelo v. City of New London
564:United States Constitution
457:general-law municipalities
434:unincorporated communities
415:
345:, which later merged with
255:List of cities in Virginia
252:
78:unincorporated communities
42:
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1943:
1865:
1851:
1590:
1409:February 5, 2007, at the
1143:Liability of subdivisions
1067:Virginia General Assembly
878:Annexations, alternatives
845:(not to be confused with
582:
418:List of towns in Virginia
396:Virginia General Assembly
2238:Northern Mariana Islands
1885:Northern Mariana Islands
960:throughout its history.
455:; that is, there are no
440:Powers of municipalities
411:
22:Commonwealth of Virginia
1236:Independent contractors
1013:Richmond Public Schools
594:board of zoning appeals
466:Exercising the general
281:in some countries. The
1314:. 2001. Archived from
1199:Liability of employees
1195:, or chief executive.
1132:Virginia Circuit Court
851:tier-cities, or shires
616:Virginia Supreme Court
240:
64:Since Virginia has no
958:Chesterfield counties
779:minor civil divisions
238:
1487:ead.lib.virginia.edu
1029:desegregation busing
1025:Huguenot High School
753:District of Columbia
576:declaratory judgment
336:Princess Anne County
2248:U.S. Virgin Islands
1895:U.S. Virgin Islands
1021:U.S. Federal Courts
607:special use permits
596:empowered to grant
390:Second class cities
279:unitary authorities
275:Carson City, Nevada
271:St. Louis, Missouri
267:Baltimore, Maryland
1432:2007-02-10 at the
1149:sovereign immunity
1090:equitable estoppel
1083:Contract liability
927:) and the rise of
917:Great Dismal Swamp
568:unreasonably vague
562:has held that the
432:Virginia also has
425:incorporated towns
287:county-equivalents
262:independent cities
249:Independent cities
241:
70:incorporated towns
2256:
2255:
1903:
1902:
1209:intentional torts
1171:res ipsa loquitur
1102:unjust enrichment
885:Byrd Organization
849:in some states),
699:special districts
653:fair market value
524:personal property
453:municipal charter
370:municipal charter
57:to 1,138,331 for
30:local governments
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2212:Washington, D.C.
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1094:implied contract
1060:Albemarle County
1058:and surrounding
993:City of Richmond
898:General Assembly
818:Nansemond County
791:Code of Virginia
737:in Newport News.
686:school districts
664:School divisions
244:Cities and towns
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86:Arlington County
49:Virginia has 95
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1019:lawsuit in the
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847:civil townships
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1009:public schools
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929:Virginia Beach
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822:Virginia Beach
810:Norfolk County
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768:Main article:
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634:Following the
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416:Main article:
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362:Norfolk County
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332:Virginia Beach
309:Fairfax County
253:Main article:
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59:Fairfax County
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2186:West Virginia
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2051:Massachusetts
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1530:
1529:James v. Jane
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1318:on 2013-09-29
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991:mayor of the
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1890:Puerto Rico
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1798:South Dakota
1788:Rhode Island
1783:Pennsylvania
1763:North Dakota
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1490:. Retrieved
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1466:. Retrieved
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1320:. Retrieved
1316:the original
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1296:September 5,
1294:. Retrieved
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1971:California
1828:Washington
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1743:New Jersey
1618:California
1468:2024-01-23
1322:2006-05-27
1242:References
1175:purchases
921:Chesapeake
802:Chesapeake
684:. Unlike
550:Ordinances
354:Chesapeake
320:population
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2191:Wisconsin
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1181:nuisances
1177:insurance
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843:townships
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483:sales tax
473:Imposing
343:Nansemond
318:having a
2176:Virginia
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2056:Michigan
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2011:Illinois
1986:Delaware
1976:Colorado
1966:Arkansas
1823:Virginia
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1728:Nebraska
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2016:Indiana
1996:Georgia
1991:Florida
1961:Arizona
1951:Alabama
1843:Wyoming
1818:Vermont
1723:Montana
1663:Indiana
1643:Georgia
1638:Florida
1608:Arizona
1598:Alabama
1492:May 25,
1380:, from
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1001:Taxicab
954:Henrico
933:Norfolk
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347:Suffolk
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2131:Oregon
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2001:Hawaii
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273:; and
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2006:Idaho
1808:Texas
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1653:Idaho
1193:mayor
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475:taxes
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