{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/15.2-1416.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/15.2-1416.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/15.2-1416.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/15.2-1416.html"}],"law_id":347328,"edition_id":2,"section_id":347328,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1416","catch_line":"Regular meetings","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-241; 1950, p. 8; 1954, c. 286; 1958, c. 291; 1960, c. 33; 1962, cc. 218, 623, \u00a7 15.1-536; 1964, c. 403; 1980, c. 420; 1994, cc. 371, 591; 1997, c. 587; 2004, c. 549; 2017, c. 616; 2020, c. 1144; 2023, c. 536.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body shall assemble at a public place as the governing body may prescribe, in regular session in January for counties and in July for cities and towns. Future meetings shall be held on such days as may be prescribed by resolution of the governing body but in no event shall less than six meetings be held in each fiscal year.\n\nB\n\nThe days, times and places of regular meetings to be held during the ensuing months shall be established at the first meeting which meeting may be referred to as the annual or organizational meeting; however, if the governing body subsequently prescribes any public place other than the initial public meeting place, or any day or time other than that initially established, as a meeting day, place or time, the governing body shall pass a resolution as to such future meeting day, place or time. The governing body shall cause a copy of such resolution to be posted on the door of the courthouse or the initial public meeting place and inserted in a newspaper having general circulation in the county or municipality at least seven days prior to the first such meeting at such other day, place or time. Should the day established by the governing body as the regular meeting day fall on any legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next following regular business day, without action of any kind by the governing body.\n\t\t\tAt its annual meeting the governing body may fix the day or days to which a regular meeting shall be continued if the chairman or mayor, or vice-chairman or vice-mayor if the chairman or mayor is unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the regular meeting. Such finding shall be communicated to the members and the press as promptly as possible. All hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further advertisement is required.\n\nC\n\nRegular meetings may be adjourned from day to day or from time to time or from place to place, not beyond the time fixed for the next regular meeting, until the business before the governing body is completed. Notice of any regular meeting continued under this section shall be reasonable under the circumstances and be given as provided in subsection E of § 2.2-3707.\n\nD\n\nThe governing body shall provide members of the general public with the opportunity for public comment during a regular meeting at least quarterly.\n\nE\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of this section, any city or town that holds an organizational meeting in compliance with its charter or code shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1295970,"text":"The governing body shall assemble at a public place as the governing body may prescribe, in regular session in January for counties and in July for cities and towns. Future meetings shall be held on such days as may be prescribed by resolution of the governing body but in no event shall less than six meetings be held in each fiscal year.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1295971,"text":"The days, times and places of regular meetings to be held during the ensuing months shall be established at the first meeting which meeting may be referred to as the annual or organizational meeting; however, if the governing body subsequently prescribes any public place other than the initial public meeting place, or any day or time other than that initially established, as a meeting day, place or time, the governing body shall pass a resolution as to such future meeting day, place or time. The governing body shall cause a copy of such resolution to be posted on the door of the courthouse or the initial public meeting place and inserted in a newspaper having general circulation in the county or municipality at least seven days prior to the first such meeting at such other day, place or time. Should the day established by the governing body as the regular meeting day fall on any legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next following regular business day, without action of any kind by the governing body.\n\t\t\tAt its annual meeting the governing body may fix the day or days to which a regular meeting shall be continued if the chairman or mayor, or vice-chairman or vice-mayor if the chairman or mayor is unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the regular meeting. Such finding shall be communicated to the members and the press as promptly as possible. All hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further advertisement is required.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1295972,"text":"Regular meetings may be adjourned from day to day or from time to time or from place to place, not beyond the time fixed for the next regular meeting, until the business before the governing body is completed. Notice of any regular meeting continued under this section shall be reasonable under the circumstances and be given as provided in subsection E of § 2.2-3707.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1295973,"text":"The governing body shall provide members of the general public with the opportunity for public comment during a regular meeting at least quarterly.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1295974,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any city or town that holds an organizational meeting in compliance with its charter or code shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":49850,"edition_id":2,"name":"Meetings of Governing Bodies","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":49847,"metadata":{"child_laws":8,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:16:38","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:28","permalink":{"id":1379919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49850,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2","url":"\/15.2\/II\/14\/2\/","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":347326,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1415","catch_line":"At what meetings governing body may act","url":"\/15.2-1415\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1415","metadata":false},{"id":347328,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1416","catch_line":"Regular meetings","url":"\/15.2-1416\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1416","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Nancy Lund v. Rowan County, North Carolina","case_number":"15-1591","citation":"837 F.3d 407","date":"2016-09-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4257648\/nancy-lund-v-rowan-county-north-carolina\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Reversed and remanded with directions by published opinion. Judge AGEE wrote the majority opinion, .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"Nancy Lund v. Rowan County, North Carolina","case_number":"15-1591","citation":"863 F.3d 268","date":"2017-07-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4409203\/nancy-lund-v-rowan-county-north-carolina\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *301AGEE, Circuit Judge, .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"Nancy Lund v. Rowan County, North Carolina","case_number":"15-1591","citation":null,"date":"2016-09-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4258896\/nancy-lund-v-rowan-county-north-carolina\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PUBLISHED .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}}},{"id":347327,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1416.1","catch_line":"Actions prior to convening of meeting","url":"\/15.2-1416.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1416.1","metadata":false},{"id":347329,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1417","catch_line":"Special meetings","url":"\/15.2-1417\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1417","metadata":false},{"id":347330,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1418","catch_line":"Same; how called","url":"\/15.2-1418\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1418","metadata":false},{"id":347331,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1419","catch_line":"Meeting times of certain authorities, boards and commissions","url":"\/15.2-1419\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1419","metadata":false},{"id":347332,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1420","catch_line":"How questions determined; tie breaker","url":"\/15.2-1420\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1420","metadata":false},{"id":347333,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1421","catch_line":"Tie breakers","url":"\/15.2-1421\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1421","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":347326,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1415","catch_line":"At what meetings governing body may act","url":"\/15.2-1415\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1415","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":347327,"structure_id":49850,"section_number":"15.2-1416.1","catch_line":"Actions prior to convening of meeting","url":"\/15.2-1416.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1416.1","metadata":false},"metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Nancy Lund v. Rowan County, North Carolina","case_number":"15-1591","citation":"837 F.3d 407","date":"2016-09-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4257648\/nancy-lund-v-rowan-county-north-carolina\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Reversed and remanded with directions by published opinion. Judge AGEE wrote the majority opinion, .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"Nancy Lund v. Rowan County, North Carolina","case_number":"15-1591","citation":"863 F.3d 268","date":"2017-07-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4409203\/nancy-lund-v-rowan-county-north-carolina\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *301AGEE, Circuit Judge, .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"Nancy Lund v. Rowan County, North Carolina","case_number":"15-1591","citation":null,"date":"2016-09-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4258896\/nancy-lund-v-rowan-county-north-carolina\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PUBLISHED .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"}}},"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1416\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 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 1954, chapter 286; in 1958, chapter 291; in 1960, chapter 33; in 1962, chapters 218 and 623; in 1964, chapter 403; in 1980, chapter 420; in 1994, chapters 371<\/a> and 591<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 587<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 549<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 616<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 1144<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 536<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":352980,"section_number":"2.2-3707","catch_line":"Meetings to be public; notice of meetings; recordings; minutes","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3707\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1379925,"object_type":"law","relational_id":347328,"identifier":"15.2-1416","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1416","url":"\/15.2-1416\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1416\/","token":"15.2\/II\/14\/2\/15.2-1416","dublin_core":{"Title":"Regular meetings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1416","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> shall assemble at a public place as the governing body<\/span> may prescribe, in regular session in January for counties and in July for cities and towns<\/span>. Future meetings shall be held on such days as may be prescribed by resolution of the governing body<\/span> but in no event shall less than six meetings be held in each fiscal year. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The days, times and places of regular meetings to be held during the ensuing months shall be established at the first meeting which meeting may be referred to as the annual or organizational meeting; however, if the governing body<\/span> subsequently prescribes any public place other than the initial public meeting place, or any day or time other than that initially established, as a meeting day, place or time, the governing body<\/span> shall pass a resolution as to such future meeting day, place or time. The governing body<\/span> shall cause a copy of such resolution to be posted on the door of the courthouse or the initial public meeting place and inserted in a newspaper having general circulation in the county<\/span> or municipality at least seven days prior to the first such meeting at such other day, place or time. Should the day established by the governing body<\/span> as the regular meeting day fall on any legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next following regular business day, without action of any kind by the governing body<\/span>.\n\t\t\tAt its annual meeting the governing body<\/span> may fix the day or days to which a regular meeting shall be continued if the chairman or mayor, or vice-chairman or vice-mayor if the chairman or mayor is unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend the regular meeting. Such finding<\/span> shall be communicated to the members and the press as promptly as possible. All hearings<\/span> and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further advertisement is required. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Regular meetings may be adjourned from day to day or from time to time or from place to place, not beyond the time fixed for the next regular meeting, until the business before the governing body<\/span> is completed. Notice of any regular meeting continued under this section shall be reasonable under the circumstances and be given as provided in subsection E of § 2.2-3707<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> shall provide members of the general public with the opportunity for public comment during a regular meeting at least quarterly. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any city<\/span> or town<\/span> that holds an organizational meeting in compliance with its charter or code shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREGULAR MEETINGS (\u00a7 15.2-1416)\n\nA. The governing body shall assemble at a public place as the governing body may\nprescribe, in regular session in January for counties and in July for cities and\ntowns. Future meetings shall be held on such days as may be prescribed by\nresolution of the governing body but in no event shall less than six meetings be\nheld in each fiscal year.\n\nB. The days, times and places of regular meetings to be held during the ensuing\nmonths shall be established at the first meeting which meeting may be referred\nto as the annual or organizational meeting; however, if the governing body\nsubsequently prescribes any public place other than the initial public meeting\nplace, or any day or time other than that initially established, as a meeting\nday, place or time, the governing body shall pass a resolution as to such future\nmeeting day, place or time. The governing body shall cause a copy of such\nresolution to be posted on the door of the courthouse or the initial public\nmeeting place and inserted in a newspaper having general circulation in the\ncounty or municipality at least seven days prior to the first such meeting at\nsuch other day, place or time. Should the day established by the governing body\nas the regular meeting day fall on any legal holiday, the meeting shall be held\non the next following regular business day, without action of any kind by the\ngoverning body.\n\t\t\tAt its annual meeting the governing body may fix the day or days to which a\nregular meeting shall be continued if the chairman or mayor, or vice-chairman or\nvice-mayor if the chairman or mayor is unable to act, finds and declares that\nweather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend\nthe regular meeting. Such finding shall be communicated to the members and the\npress as promptly as possible. All hearings and other matters previously\nadvertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further\nadvertisement is required.\n\nC. Regular meetings may be adjourned from day to day or from time to time or\nfrom place to place, not beyond the time fixed for the next regular meeting,\nuntil the business before the governing body is completed. Notice of any regular\nmeeting continued under this section shall be reasonable under the circumstances\nand be given as provided in subsection E of § 2.2-3707.\n\nD. The governing body shall provide members of the general public with the\nopportunity for public comment during a regular meeting at least quarterly.\n\nE. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any city or town that holds\nan organizational meeting in compliance with its charter or code shall be deemed\nto be in compliance with this section.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-241; 1950, p. 8; 1954, c. 286; 1958, c. 291; 1960, c.\n33; 1962, cc. 218, 623, \u00a7 15.1-536; 1964, c. 403; 1980, c. 420; 1994, cc. 371,\n591; 1997, c. 587; 2004, c. 549; 2017, c. 616; 2020, c. 1144; 2023, c. 536.","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"}}