{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/15.2-3903.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/15.2-3903.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/15.2-3903.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/15.2-3903.html"}],"law_id":348348,"edition_id":2,"section_id":348348,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3903","catch_line":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer","history":"1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-977.3; 1997, c. 587.","full_text":"At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding under the provisions of this chapter, a county shall serve notice on the attorney for the Commonwealth, or on the city or county attorney, if there is one, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors of each adjoining county and the mayor of each city and town within the county instituting proceedings that it will, on a given day, petition the circuit court for an order declaring the county eligible for city status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance. A copy of the notice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance and a reference to the place within the county where copies of the notice and ordinance may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper having general circulation in the county seeking eligibility for city status. The notice and ordinance shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification from the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance shall be proof of publication.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1298910,"text":"At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding under the provisions of this chapter, a county shall serve notice on the attorney for the Commonwealth, or on the city or county attorney, if there is one, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors of each adjoining county and the mayor of each city and town within the county instituting proceedings that it will, on a given day, petition the circuit court for an order declaring the county eligible for city status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance. A copy of the notice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance and a reference to the place within the county where copies of the notice and ordinance may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper having general circulation in the county seeking eligibility for city status. The notice and ordinance shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification from the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance shall be proof of publication.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":49960,"edition_id":2,"name":"Transition of Counties to Cities","identifier":"39","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":10,"parent_id":49941,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:19:03","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:29:48","permalink":{"id":1384701,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49960,"identifier":"39","token":"15.2\/III\/39","url":"\/15.2\/III\/39\/","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":348345,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3900","catch_line":"Transition authorized","url":"\/15.2-3900\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3900","metadata":false},{"id":348346,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3901","catch_line":"Ordinance petitioning court to declare eligibility","url":"\/15.2-3901\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3901","metadata":false},{"id":348347,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3902","catch_line":"Moratorium on annexation suits pending transition to city","url":"\/15.2-3902\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3902","metadata":false},{"id":348348,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3903","catch_line":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer","url":"\/15.2-3903\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3903","metadata":false},{"id":348349,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3904","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3904\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3904","metadata":false},{"id":348350,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3905","catch_line":"Time limit for intervenors; publication of order","url":"\/15.2-3905\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3905","metadata":false},{"id":348351,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3906","catch_line":"Pretrial conference; matters considered","url":"\/15.2-3906\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3906","metadata":false},{"id":348352,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3907","catch_line":"Hearing and decision by court","url":"\/15.2-3907\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3907","metadata":false},{"id":348353,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3908","catch_line":"Assistance of state agencies","url":"\/15.2-3908\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3908","metadata":false},{"id":348354,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3909","catch_line":"Appeals","url":"\/15.2-3909\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3909","metadata":false},{"id":348355,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3910","catch_line":"Charter commission; appointment; compensation","url":"\/15.2-3910\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3910","metadata":false},{"id":348356,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3911","catch_line":"Charter provisions generally","url":"\/15.2-3911\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3911","metadata":false},{"id":348357,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3912","catch_line":"Optional charter provisions","url":"\/15.2-3912\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3912","metadata":false},{"id":348358,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3913","catch_line":"Public hearing on charter; notice and publication; adoption of charter by governing body","url":"\/15.2-3913\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3913","metadata":false},{"id":348359,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3914","catch_line":"Rejection or adoption of charter at election","url":"\/15.2-3914\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3914","metadata":false},{"id":348360,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3915","catch_line":"Transition of county to independent city requires no action of town council","url":"\/15.2-3915\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3915","metadata":false},{"id":348361,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3916","catch_line":"Creation of townships; effect on town charters; right of certain townships to obtain city status","url":"\/15.2-3916\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3916","metadata":false},{"id":348362,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3917","catch_line":"Certain cities not affected by chapter","url":"\/15.2-3917\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3917","metadata":false},{"id":348363,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3918","catch_line":"Optional status of streets","url":"\/15.2-3918\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3918","metadata":false},{"id":348364,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3919","catch_line":"Legislative, etc., district and judicial circuit not affected","url":"\/15.2-3919\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3919","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":348347,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3902","catch_line":"Moratorium on annexation suits pending transition to city","url":"\/15.2-3902\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3902","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":348349,"structure_id":49960,"section_number":"15.2-3904","catch_line":"Parties","url":"\/15.2-3904\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3904","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-3903\/","history_text":"

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 587<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1384715,"object_type":"law","relational_id":348348,"identifier":"15.2-3903","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3903","url":"\/15.2-3903\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-3903\/","token":"15.2\/III\/39\/15.2-3903","dublin_core":{"Title":"Notice of motion; service and publication; answer","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-3903","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding under the provisions of this chapter, a county<\/span> shall serve notice on the attorney for the Commonwealth, or on the city<\/span> or county<\/span> attorney, if there is one, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors<\/span> of each adjoining county<\/span> and the mayor of each city<\/span> and town<\/span> within the county<\/span> instituting proceedings that it will, on a given day, petition<\/span> the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> for an order<\/span> declaring the county<\/span> eligible for city<\/span> status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance<\/span>. A copy of the notice and ordinance<\/span>, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance<\/span> and a reference to the place within the county<\/span> where copies of the notice and ordinance<\/span> may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper having general circulation in the county<\/span> seeking eligibility for city<\/span> status. The notice and ordinance<\/span> shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span>. Certification from the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance<\/span> shall be proof of publication.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNOTICE OF MOTION; SERVICE AND PUBLICATION; ANSWER (\u00a7 15.2-3903)\n\nAt least thirty days before instituting a proceeding under the provisions of\nthis chapter, a county shall serve notice on the attorney for the Commonwealth,\nor on the city or county attorney, if there is one, and on the chairman of the\nboard of supervisors of each adjoining county and the mayor of each city and\ntown within the county instituting proceedings that it will, on a given day,\npetition the circuit court for an order declaring the county eligible for city\nstatus. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the\nordinance. A copy of the notice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the\nnotice and ordinance and a reference to the place within the county where copies\nof the notice and ordinance may be examined, shall be published at least once a\nweek for four successive weeks in some newspaper having general circulation in\nthe county seeking eligibility for city status. The notice and ordinance shall\nbe returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification from\nthe owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and\nordinance shall be proof of publication.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 85, \u00a7 15.1-977.3; 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"}}