{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/15.2-3523.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/15.2-3523.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/15.2-3523.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/15.2-3523.html"}],"law_id":348263,"edition_id":2,"section_id":348263,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3523","catch_line":"Parties","history":"1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-1130.4; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"In any proceedings instituted under the provisions of this article for the creation of a consolidated city, any voter, person having an interest or property owner of any locality which is a party to the consolidation agreement may by petition become party to the proceedings. Any locality having a common boundary, or other person affected by the proceedings may appear and shall be made party to the case.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1298717,"text":"In any proceedings instituted under the provisions of this article for the creation of a consolidated city, any voter, person having an interest or property owner of any locality which is a party to the consolidation agreement may by petition become party to the proceedings. Any locality having a common boundary, or other person affected by the proceedings may appear and shall be made party to the case.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":49956,"edition_id":2,"name":"Consolidation of Certain Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":2,"parent_id":49954,"metadata":{"child_laws":31,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:18:49","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:47","permalink":{"id":1384353,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49956,"identifier":"2","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49954,"edition_id":2,"name":"Consolidation of Localities","identifier":"35","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":6,"parent_id":49941,"metadata":{"child_laws":51,"child_structures":2},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:18:47","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:46","permalink":{"id":1384269,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49954,"identifier":"35","token":"15.2\/III\/35","url":"\/15.2\/III\/35\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49941,"edition_id":2,"name":"Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":49831,"metadata":{"child_laws":234,"child_structures":20},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:18:37","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:43","permalink":{"id":1383921,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49941,"identifier":"III","token":"15.2\/III","url":"\/15.2\/III\/","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":348260,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3520","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative consolidations","url":"\/15.2-3520\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3520","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348261,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3521","catch_line":"Proposed consolidated city; notice of motion; service and publication","url":"\/15.2-3521\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3521","metadata":false},{"id":348262,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3522","catch_line":"Petition; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3522\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3522","metadata":false},{"id":348263,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3523","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3523\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3523","metadata":false},{"id":348264,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3524","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors","url":"\/15.2-3524\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3524","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348265,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3525","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3525\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3525","metadata":false},{"id":348266,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3526","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3526\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3526","metadata":false},{"id":348267,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3527","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3527\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3527","metadata":false},{"id":348268,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3528","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3528\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3528","metadata":false},{"id":348269,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3529","catch_line":"Consolidation agreement generally; advisory committee; filing agreement and referendum petition with court","url":"\/15.2-3529\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3529","metadata":false},{"id":348270,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3530","catch_line":"Continuation of services of Department of Transportation after consolidation","url":"\/15.2-3530\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3530","metadata":false},{"id":348271,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3531","catch_line":"Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum","url":"\/15.2-3531\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3531","metadata":false},{"id":348272,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3532","catch_line":"Required provisions of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3532\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3532","metadata":false},{"id":348273,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3533","catch_line":"Transfer of property and indebtedness","url":"\/15.2-3533\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3533","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":348274,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3534","catch_line":"Optional provisions of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3534\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3534","metadata":false},{"id":348275,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3535","catch_line":"Advertising of charter","url":"\/15.2-3535\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3535","metadata":false},{"id":348276,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3536","catch_line":"Charter for consolidated city","url":"\/15.2-3536\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3536","metadata":false},{"id":348277,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3537","catch_line":"Publication of consolidation agreement","url":"\/15.2-3537\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3537","metadata":false},{"id":348278,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3538","catch_line":"Order for election","url":"\/15.2-3538\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3538","metadata":false},{"id":348279,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3539","catch_line":"Conduct of election","url":"\/15.2-3539\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3539","metadata":false},{"id":348280,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3540","catch_line":"Result of elections; determination of form of government","url":"\/15.2-3540\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3540","metadata":false},{"id":348281,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3541","catch_line":"General effect of consolidation; officers","url":"\/15.2-3541\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3541","metadata":false},{"id":348282,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3542","catch_line":"Governing body to be elected and take office before effective date of consolidation in certain cases; powers","url":"\/15.2-3542\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3542","metadata":false},{"id":348283,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3543","catch_line":"Electoral board, general registrar and officers of election","url":"\/15.2-3543\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3543","metadata":false},{"id":348284,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3544","catch_line":"Effect on pending suits","url":"\/15.2-3544\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3544","metadata":false},{"id":348285,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3545","catch_line":"Effect on assembly districts","url":"\/15.2-3545\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3545","metadata":false},{"id":348286,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3546","catch_line":"Effect on jurisdiction of courts","url":"\/15.2-3546\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3546","metadata":false},{"id":348287,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3547","catch_line":"Consolidation of entire county requires no action of town council","url":"\/15.2-3547\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3547","metadata":false},{"id":348288,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3548","catch_line":"Effect on town charter","url":"\/15.2-3548\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3548","metadata":false},{"id":348289,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3549","catch_line":"Powers of a tier-city","url":"\/15.2-3549\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3549","metadata":false},{"id":348290,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3550","catch_line":"Effect of consolidation into single county; exceptions for tier-city","url":"\/15.2-3550\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3550","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":348262,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3522","catch_line":"Petition; appointment of special court","url":"\/15.2-3522\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3522","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":348264,"structure_id":49956,"section_number":"15.2-3524","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors","url":"\/15.2-3524\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3524","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3523\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 85 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: 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":1384367,"object_type":"law","relational_id":348263,"identifier":"15.2-3523","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3523","url":"\/15.2-3523\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3523\/","token":"15.2\/III\/35\/2\/15.2-3523","dublin_core":{"Title":"Parties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3523","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In any proceedings instituted under the provisions of this article for the creation of a consolidated <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span>, any <span class=\"dictionary\">voter<\/span>, person having an interest or property owner of any <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> which is a <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> to the <span class=\"dictionary\">consolidation<\/span> agreement may by <span class=\"dictionary\">petition<\/span> become <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> to the proceedings. Any <span class=\"dictionary\">locality<\/span> having a common boundary, or other person affected by the proceedings may appear and shall be made <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> to the case.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPARTIES (\u00a7 15.2-3523)\n\nIn any proceedings instituted under the provisions of this article for the\ncreation of a consolidated city, any voter, person having an interest or\nproperty owner of any locality which is a party to the consolidation agreement\nmay by petition become party to the proceedings. Any locality having a common\nboundary, or other person affected by the proceedings may appear and shall be\nmade party to the case.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-1130.4; 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"}}