Rules of Construction and Definitions

This is the 2026 edition of the code. This is the current edition. It was last updated Aug 02, 2026. Browse all editions.

This is Article 2 of the Code of Virginia, titled “Rules of Construction and Definitions.” It is part of Chapter 2.1 “Common Law and Rules of Construction”, which is part of Title 1 “General Provisions”. It contains 61 laws.

It’s comprised of the following 61 sections.

§ 1-202	General rule of construction
§ 1-203	Adult
§ 1-204	Age of majority
§ 1-205	Bond with surety
§ 1-206	Certified mail equivalent to registered mail; certain subsequent mail or notice may be sent by regular mail
§ 1-207	Child; juvenile; minor; infant
§ 1-208	City
§ 1-208.1	Carbon-free energy; clean energy
§ 1-209	Collegial body
§ 1-210	Computation of time
§ 1-211	Constitutional references
§ 1-211.1	Courthouse; posting of notices
§ 1-212	Courts of record
§ 1-213	Delegation of duties assigned to political subdivision
§ 1-214	Effective dates
§ 1-215	Ex officio
§ 1-216	Gender
§ 1-217	Headlines of sections
§ 1-218	Includes
§ 1-219	Land; real estate
§ 1-219.1	Limitations on eminent domain
§ 1-220	Local ordinances incorporating state law by reference
§ 1-221	Locality
§ 1-222	Majority authority
§ 1-222.1	Manufacturer
§ 1-223	Month; year
§ 1-224	Municipality; incorporated communities; municipal corporation
§ 1-225	Nonlegislative citizen member
§ 1-226	Notary
§ 1-227	Number
§ 1-228	Oath
§ 1-229	Optional form of county government; effect of change in form
§ 1-230	Person
§ 1-231	When "person" includes business trust and limited liability company
§ 1-232	Person under disability
§ 1-233	Personal estate
§ 1-234	Personal representative
§ 1-235	Population; inhabitants
§ 1-236	Population classifications
§ 1-237	Process
§ 1-238	Reenacted
§ 1-239	Repeal not to affect liabilities; mitigation of punishment
§ 1-240	Repeal not to revive former act
§ 1-240.1	Rights of parents
§ 1-241	Seal
§ 1-242	Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
§ 1-243	Severability
§ 1-244	Short title citations
§ 1-245	State
§ 1-246	Stricken language or italics
§ 1-247	Summaries of legislation
§ 1-248	Supremacy of federal and state law
§ 1-249	Supreme Court
§ 1-250	Swear; sworn
§ 1-251	Systems of state highways
§ 1-252	Tier-city
§ 1-253	Time zone
§ 1-254	Town
§ 1-255	United States
§ 1-256	Weights and measurements; metric equivalents
§ 1-257	Written; writing; in writing