{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/17.1-516.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/17.1-516.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/17.1-516.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/17.1-516.html"}],"law_id":350166,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350166,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-516","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 5958, \u00a7 17-1; 1948, p. 151; 1998, c. 872; 2005, cc. 45, 114.","full_text":"Where any river, watercourse, or bay lies between any counties or any cities, or any county and city in this Commonwealth, the circuit courts for the counties and the cities, on each side, respectively, shall have concurrent territorial jurisdiction over so much thereof as shall be opposite to such counties and cities. And the circuit courts for counties and cities lying on the waters bounding the Commonwealth shall have concurrent territorial jurisdiction respectively over such waters opposite such counties and cities, as far as the jurisdiction of this Commonwealth extends. This section shall not apply to the City of Richmond.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1305006,"text":"Where any river, watercourse, or bay lies between any counties or any cities, or any county and city in this Commonwealth, the circuit courts for the counties and the cities, on each side, respectively, shall have concurrent territorial jurisdiction over so much thereof as shall be opposite to such counties and cities. And the circuit courts for counties and cities lying on the waters bounding the Commonwealth shall have concurrent territorial jurisdiction respectively over such waters opposite such counties and cities, as far as the jurisdiction of this Commonwealth extends. This section shall not apply to the City of Richmond.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":50124,"edition_id":2,"name":"Establishment; Jurisdiction; Etc","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50123,"metadata":{"child_laws":36,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:41","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:13","permalink":{"id":1390699,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50124,"identifier":"1","token":"17.1\/5\/1","url":"\/17.1\/5\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50123,"edition_id":2,"name":"Circuit Courts","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":50105,"metadata":{"child_laws":36,"child_structures":1},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:41","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:13","permalink":{"id":1390697,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50123,"identifier":"5","token":"17.1\/5","url":"\/17.1\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50105,"edition_id":2,"name":"Courts of Record","identifier":"17.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":50,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":322,"child_structures":25},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:09","permalink":{"id":1389801,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50105,"identifier":"17.1","token":"17.1","url":"\/17.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350140,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-500","catch_line":"Establishment of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-500\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":350141,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-501","catch_line":"Judges of circuit courts; selection, powers and duties of chief judges; exercise of appointive powers","url":"\/17.1-501\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":350142,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-502","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system","url":"\/17.1-502\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":350143,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-503","catch_line":"Rules of practice and procedure; rules not to preclude judges from hearing certain cases","url":"\/17.1-503\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":350144,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-504","catch_line":"Reserved","url":"\/17.1-504\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":350145,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-505","catch_line":"Circuit court of county to constitute circuit court of certain cities","url":"\/17.1-505\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":350146,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-506","catch_line":"Judicial circuits","url":"\/17.1-506\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":350147,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-507","catch_line":"Maximum number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc","url":"\/17.1-507\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":350148,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-508","catch_line":"Judges in new or changed circuits; ratifying, validating and confirming certain actions","url":"\/17.1-508\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":350149,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-509","catch_line":"Vacancies in office of judge","url":"\/17.1-509\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-509","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350150,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-510","catch_line":"Election of judge of new circuit; how court held meanwhile","url":"\/17.1-510\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":350151,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-511","catch_line":"Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled","url":"\/17.1-511\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":350152,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-512","catch_line":"Election of successor judge before date of vacancy","url":"\/17.1-512\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":350156,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-513\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":350153,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513.01","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of circuit courts with respect to charitable assets","url":"\/17.1-513.01\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.01","metadata":false},{"id":350154,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513.1","catch_line":"Appeals from administrative proceedings; abuse and neglect; record to be sealed","url":"\/17.1-513.1\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":350155,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-513.2","catch_line":"Use of telephonic communication systems or electronic video and audio communication systems to conduct hearing","url":"\/17.1-513.2\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-513.2","metadata":false},{"id":350157,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-514","catch_line":"When plaintiff entitled to less than $100; judgment for defendant","url":"\/17.1-514\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-514","metadata":false},{"id":350165,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515","catch_line":"Jurisdiction formerly in county courts","url":"\/17.1-515\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515","metadata":false},{"id":350158,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.1","catch_line":"Territorial jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg","url":"\/17.1-515.1\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.1","metadata":false},{"id":350159,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-515.2\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.2","metadata":false},{"id":350160,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.3","catch_line":"Designation of courtrooms within twenty-first and twenty-third circuits for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.3\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.3","metadata":false},{"id":350161,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.4","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within sixteenth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.4\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.4","metadata":false},{"id":350162,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.5","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.5\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.5","metadata":false},{"id":350163,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.6","catch_line":"Concurrent law-enforcement jurisdiction over Joint Judicial Center in Winchester","url":"\/17.1-515.6\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.6","metadata":false},{"id":350164,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.7","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.7\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.7","metadata":false},{"id":350166,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-516","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters","url":"\/17.1-516\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-516","metadata":false},{"id":350167,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-517","catch_line":"Number of terms; how fixed","url":"\/17.1-517\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-517","metadata":false},{"id":350168,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-518","catch_line":"Special terms; when, how and by whom appointed","url":"\/17.1-518\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-518","metadata":false},{"id":350169,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-519","catch_line":"Adjournment thereof to a future day","url":"\/17.1-519\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-519","metadata":false},{"id":350170,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-520","catch_line":"What tried at a special term","url":"\/17.1-520\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-520","metadata":false},{"id":350171,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-521","catch_line":"Who to hold special term; powers","url":"\/17.1-521\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-521","metadata":false},{"id":350172,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-522","catch_line":"Adjournment of special term","url":"\/17.1-522\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-522","metadata":false},{"id":350173,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-523","catch_line":"Salaries of judges of circuit courts","url":"\/17.1-523\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-523","metadata":false},{"id":350174,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-524","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/17.1-524\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-524","metadata":false},{"id":350175,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-525","catch_line":"Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty","url":"\/17.1-525\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-525","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350164,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-515.7","catch_line":"Designation of certain courtrooms within twenty-fifth circuit for trial of certain cases","url":"\/17.1-515.7\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-515.7","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350167,"structure_id":50124,"section_number":"17.1-517","catch_line":"Number of terms; how fixed","url":"\/17.1-517\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-517","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/17.1-516\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1998, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?981+ful+CHAP0872\">872<\/a>; in 2005, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0045\">45<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0114\">114<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1390805,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350166,"identifier":"17.1-516","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-516","url":"\/17.1-516\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/17.1-516\/","token":"17.1\/5\/1\/17.1-516","dublin_core":{"Title":"Jurisdiction of courts over certain waters","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 17.1-516","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Where any river, watercourse, or bay lies between any counties or any cities, or any county and city in this Commonwealth, the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> for the counties and the cities, on each side, respectively, shall have concurrent territorial <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> over so much thereof as shall be opposite to such counties and cities. And the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> for counties and cities lying on the waters bounding the Commonwealth shall have concurrent territorial <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> respectively over such waters opposite such counties and cities, as far as the <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> of this Commonwealth extends. This section shall not apply to the City of Richmond.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJURISDICTION OF COURTS OVER CERTAIN WATERS (\u00a7 17.1-516)\n\nWhere any river, watercourse, or bay lies between any counties or any cities, or\nany county and city in this Commonwealth, the circuit courts for the counties\nand the cities, on each side, respectively, shall have concurrent territorial\njurisdiction over so much thereof as shall be opposite to such counties and\ncities. And the circuit courts for counties and cities lying on the waters\nbounding the Commonwealth shall have concurrent territorial jurisdiction\nrespectively over such waters opposite such counties and cities, as far as the\njurisdiction of this Commonwealth extends. This section shall not apply to the\nCity of Richmond.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 5958, \u00a7 17-1; 1948, p. 151; 1998, c. 872; 2005, cc. 45,\n114.","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"}}