{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/15.2-1409.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/15.2-1409.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/15.2-1409.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/15.2-1409.html"}],"law_id":347313,"edition_id":2,"section_id":347313,"structure_id":49848,"section_number":"15.2-1409","catch_line":"Investigations by governing bodies","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-394; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-801; 1980, c. 335; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"The governing body of any locality may make such investigations relating to its government affairs as it deems necessary, may employ financial, legal and other personnel it deems necessary to assist in such investigations, may order the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers and may administer oaths. Such governing bodies may apply to the circuit court for their locality for a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum against any person refusing to appear and testify or refusing to produce books, papers or records as ordered by such governing bodies and the judge of such court shall, upon good cause shown, cause the subpoenas to be issued. Any person failing to comply with any such subpoena shall be subject to punishment for contempt by the court issuing the subpoena.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1295937,"text":"The governing body of any locality may make such investigations relating to its government affairs as it deems necessary, may employ financial, legal and other personnel it deems necessary to assist in such investigations, may order the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers and may administer oaths. Such governing bodies may apply to the circuit court for their locality for a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum against any person refusing to appear and testify or refusing to produce books, papers or records as ordered by such governing bodies and the judge of such court shall, upon good cause shown, cause the subpoenas to be issued. Any person failing to comply with any such subpoena shall be subject to punishment for contempt by the court issuing the subpoena.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1409\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1980, chapter 335; in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1379865,"object_type":"law","relational_id":347313,"identifier":"15.2-1409","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1409","url":"\/15.2-1409\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1409\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/1\/15.2-1409","dublin_core":{"Title":"Investigations by governing bodies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1409","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> of any <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> may make such investigations relating to its government affairs as it deems necessary, may employ financial, legal and other personnel it deems necessary to assist in such investigations, may <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers and may administer <span class=\"dictionary\">oaths<\/span>. Such governing bodies may apply to the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> for their <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> for a subpoena or <span class=\"dictionary\">subpoena duces tecum<\/span> against any person refusing to appear and testify or refusing to produce books, papers or records as ordered by such governing bodies and the <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> of such <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> shall, upon good cause shown, cause the <span class=\"dictionary\">subpoenas<\/span> to be issued. Any person failing to comply with any such subpoena shall be subject to punishment for <span class=\"dictionary\">contempt<\/span> by the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> issuing the subpoena.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINVESTIGATIONS BY GOVERNING BODIES (\u00a7 15.2-1409)\n\nThe governing body of any locality may make such investigations relating to its\ngovernment affairs as it deems necessary, may employ financial, legal and other\npersonnel it deems necessary to assist in such investigations, may order the\nattendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers and may\nadminister oaths. Such governing bodies may apply to the circuit court for their\nlocality for a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum against any person refusing to\nappear and testify or refusing to produce books, papers or records as ordered by\nsuch governing bodies and the judge of such court shall, upon good cause shown,\ncause the subpoenas to be issued. Any person failing to comply with any such\nsubpoena shall be subject to punishment for contempt by the court issuing the\nsubpoena.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-394; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-801; 1980, c. 335; 1997, c.\n587.","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"}}