CODE OF VIRGINIA

PETITION BY VOTERS OF ADJACENT TERRITORY, OR GOVERNING BODY OF ADJACENT COUNTY
OR TOWN, FOR ANNEXATION; VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT BY GOVERNING BODY TO REJECT
ANNEXATION (§ 15.2-3203)

A. Whenever fifty-one percent of the voters of any territory adjacent to any
city or town or fifty-one percent of the owners of real estate in number and
land area in a designated area, or the governing body of the county in which
such territory is located, or of the town desiring to annex such territory
petition the circuit court for the county, stating that it is desirable that
such territory be annexed to the city or town and setting forth the metes and
bounds thereof, a copy of such petition shall be served on the city or town
council, and published in the manner prescribed in § 15.2-3204. The case shall,
except as otherwise provided in this chapter, proceed in all respects as though
instituted in the manner prescribed in § 15.2-3202; however, the special court
shall not increase the area of the territory described in the petition.

B. Any city or town to which the annexation is proposed may reject such
annexation by ordinance, duly adopted by a majority of the elected members of
the governing body of the city or town, if such ordinance is adopted either
prior to the pretrial conference provided for in § 15.2-3207 or within the time
limits set forth in § 15.2-3213.

C. Any county, city or town may enter into a voluntary agreement with any other
county, city or town or combination thereof, whereby such city or town agrees to
reject any annexations initiated under subsection A. Such agreement may be for
such period of time as specified by the parties to such agreement with respect
to all or a portion of the county.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 15-152.4; 1952, c. 328; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-1034; 1979,
c. 85; 1983, c. 594; 1985, c. 478; 1997, c. 587.