{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/15.2-1404.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/15.2-1404.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/15.2-1404.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/15.2-1404.html"}],"law_id":347308,"edition_id":2,"section_id":347308,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1404","catch_line":"How localities may sue or be sued; arbitration","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-3; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-508; 1968, c. 422; 1985, c. 416; 1987, c. 483; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"Every locality may sue or be sued in its own name in relation to all matters connected with its duties. The process instituting suit against a locality shall be served as provided in \u00a7 8.01-300.\n\nThe governing body of any locality may enter into a written agreement to submit any existing controversy to arbitration and may execute a contract which contains a provision to submit to arbitration any controversy thereafter arising.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1295929,"text":"Every locality may sue or be sued in its own name in relation to all matters connected with its duties. The process instituting suit against a locality shall be served as provided in \u00a7 8.01-300.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1295930,"text":"The governing body of any locality may enter into a written agreement to submit any existing controversy to arbitration and may execute a contract which contains a provision to submit to arbitration any controversy thereafter arising.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":49848,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":49847,"metadata":{"child_laws":15,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:16:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:28","permalink":{"id":1379827,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49848,"identifier":"1","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1","url":"\/15.2\/II\/14\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49847,"edition_id":2,"name":"Governing Bodies of Localities","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":49834,"metadata":{"child_laws":42,"child_structures":5},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:16:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:28","permalink":{"id":1379825,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49847,"identifier":"14","token":"15.2\/II\/14","url":"\/15.2\/II\/14\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49834,"edition_id":2,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":49831,"metadata":{"child_laws":1081,"child_structures":112},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:16:24","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:25","permalink":{"id":1379371,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49834,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49831,"edition_id":2,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":46,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":2297,"child_structures":225},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:16:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:22","permalink":{"id":1378281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49831,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":347304,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1400","catch_line":"Governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1400\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1400","metadata":false},{"id":347305,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1401","catch_line":"Powers granted localities vested in their governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1401\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1401","metadata":false},{"id":347306,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1402","catch_line":"Declared to be body politic of Commonwealth; seal","url":"\/15.2-1402\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1402","metadata":false},{"id":347307,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1403","catch_line":"Governing body to be continuing body","url":"\/15.2-1403\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1403","metadata":false},{"id":347308,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1404","catch_line":"How localities may sue or be sued; arbitration","url":"\/15.2-1404\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1404","metadata":false},{"id":347309,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1405","catch_line":"Immunity of members of local governmental entities; exception","url":"\/15.2-1405\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1405","metadata":false},{"id":347310,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1406","catch_line":"Compensation of governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1406\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1406","metadata":false},{"id":347311,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1407","catch_line":"Administrative leave for certain members of governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1407\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1407","metadata":false},{"id":347312,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1408","catch_line":"Restrictions on activities of former officers and employees by certain counties and cities","url":"\/15.2-1408\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1408","metadata":false},{"id":347313,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1409","catch_line":"Investigations by governing bodies","url":"\/15.2-1409\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1409","metadata":false},{"id":347314,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1410","catch_line":"Chairman and mayor may administer oaths","url":"\/15.2-1410\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1410","metadata":false},{"id":347315,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1411","catch_line":"Appointment of advisory boards, committees and commissions; compensation and reimbursement of expenses","url":"\/15.2-1411\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1411","metadata":false},{"id":347316,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1412","catch_line":"Reproductions of records and documents and legal status thereof; destruction of originals","url":"\/15.2-1412\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1412","metadata":false},{"id":347317,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1413","catch_line":"Governing bodies of localities may provide for continuity of government in case of enemy attack, etc","url":"\/15.2-1413\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1413","metadata":false},{"id":347325,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1414","catch_line":"Governing bodies may have a legal enumeration of the population","url":"\/15.2-1414\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1414","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":347307,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1403","catch_line":"Governing body to be continuing body","url":"\/15.2-1403\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1403","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":347309,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1405","catch_line":"Immunity of members of local governmental entities; exception","url":"\/15.2-1405\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1405","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1404\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 623; in 1968, chapter 422; in 1985, chapter 416; in 1987, chapter 483; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":377118,"section_number":"8.01-300","catch_line":"How process served on municipal and county governments and on quasi-governmental entities","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-300\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1379845,"object_type":"law","relational_id":347308,"identifier":"15.2-1404","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1404","url":"\/15.2-1404\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1404\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1404","dublin_core":{"Title":"How localities may sue or be sued; arbitration","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1404","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Every locality<\/span> may sue or be sued in its own name in relation to all matters connected with its duties. The process instituting suit against a locality<\/span> shall be served as provided in \u00a7 8.01-300<\/a>.<\/p>

The governing body<\/span> of any locality<\/span> may enter into a written agreement to submit any existing controversy to arbitration and may execute a contract<\/span> which contains a provision to submit to arbitration any controversy thereafter arising.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHOW LOCALITIES MAY SUE OR BE SUED; ARBITRATION (\u00a7 15.2-1404)\n\nEvery locality may sue or be sued in its own name in relation to all matters\nconnected with its duties. The process instituting suit against a locality shall\nbe served as provided in \u00a7 8.01-300.\n\nThe governing body of any locality may enter into a written agreement to submit\nany existing controversy to arbitration and may execute a contract which\ncontains a provision to submit to arbitration any controversy thereafter\narising.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-3; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-508; 1968, c. 422; 1985, c.\n416; 1987, c. 483; 1997, c. 587.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}