{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/57-2.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/57-2.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/57-2.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/57-2.1.html"}],"law_id":370770,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370770,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.1","catch_line":"Advertising by hotels, etc., that persons find objectionable because of religion; exemptions","history":"1954, c. 701.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Establishment” means any building or part thereof, including without being limited to public inns and hotels, any structure, enclosure, tract of land, and all improvements, appurtenances, and additions, bodies of water whether natural or artificial, and any other place of whatsoever nature to which the general public is or will be admitted, allowed or invited on payment of a fee, free of charge or otherwise.\n\n\t\t\t“Person” means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether incorporated or not.\n\nB\n\nNo person, directly or indirectly, for himself or for another, shall publish in any newspaper or magazine, post on any sign, or broadcast by radio or television any commercial advertisement that any person not otherwise prohibited by law from using an establishment is not welcome, or is objectionable, or is not acceptable because of his religion. No person shall cause or solicit another person to violate this section.\n\nC\n\nThis section shall not apply (i) to any establishment that is private or restricted to membership only; (ii) to any institution of higher education, school, educational institution, or camp, admission to which is based on religious belief or affiliation; or (iii) to any gathering, meeting, or assembly held under the auspices of any religious group or sect.\n\nD\n\nAny commercial advertisement as set forth herein is declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement by injunctive relief; any aggrieved individual or group of individuals may proceed to obtain an injunction enjoining and restraining the person from continuing such commercial advertisement.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1383218,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Establishment” means any building or part thereof, including without being limited to public inns and hotels, any structure, enclosure, tract of land, and all improvements, appurtenances, and additions, bodies of water whether natural or artificial, and any other place of whatsoever nature to which the general public is or will be admitted, allowed or invited on payment of a fee, free of charge or otherwise.\t\t\t“Person” means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether incorporated or not.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1383219,"text":"No person, directly or indirectly, for himself or for another, shall publish in any newspaper or magazine, post on any sign, or broadcast by radio or television any commercial advertisement that any person not otherwise prohibited by law from using an establishment is not welcome, or is objectionable, or is not acceptable because of his religion. No person shall cause or solicit another person to violate this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1383220,"text":"This section shall not apply (i) to any establishment that is private or restricted to membership only; (ii) to any institution of higher education, school, educational institution, or camp, admission to which is based on religious belief or affiliation; or (iii) to any gathering, meeting, or assembly held under the auspices of any religious group or sect.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1383221,"text":"Any commercial advertisement as set forth herein is declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement by injunctive relief; any aggrieved individual or group of individuals may proceed to obtain an injunction enjoining and restraining the person from continuing such commercial advertisement.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52797,"edition_id":2,"name":"Religious Freedom","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52796,"metadata":{"child_laws":5,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:05:57","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:46","permalink":{"id":1478505,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52797,"identifier":"1","token":"57\/1","url":"\/57\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52796,"edition_id":2,"name":"Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries","identifier":"57","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":123,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":105,"child_structures":18},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:05:57","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:46","permalink":{"id":1478503,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52796,"identifier":"57","token":"57","url":"\/57\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370755,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-1","catch_line":"Act for religious freedom recited","url":"\/57-1\/","token":"57\/1\/57-1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"United States v. Moore","case_number":"No. 14-6870","citation":"585 F. App'x 13","date":"2014-10-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8693028\/united-states-v-moore\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"United States v. Bryan Ogle","case_number":"21-4043","citation":"82 F.4th 272","date":"2023-09-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9426361\/united-states-v-bryan-ogle\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 21-4043 Doc: 44 Filed: 09\/13\/2023 Pg: 1 of 9 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"Vlaming v. West Point School Board","case_number":"1211061","citation":null,"date":"2023-12-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9451980\/vlaming-v-west-point-school-board\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Roberts v. Roberts","case_number":"Record 000071","citation":"536 S.E.2d 714","date":"2000-11-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1059547\/roberts-v-roberts\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 536 S.E.2d 714 (2000) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Anthony Brian Barnett v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0487203","citation":null,"date":"2021-04-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4871198\/anthony-brian-barnett-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Stoltz v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record No. 181033","citation":"831 S.E.2d 164","date":"2019-08-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7480031\/stoltz-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Code \u00a7 18.2-374.3(C) (emphasis added). Stoltz argues that the phrase \"reason to believe,\" id. , .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Henry v. Commonwealth","case_number":"0246942","citation":"462 S.E.2d 578","date":"1995-10-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1068226\/henry-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MOON, Chief Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"South v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2209041","citation":"623 S.E.2d 419","date":"2005-12-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063333\/south-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *250KELSEY, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"Necaise v. Com.","case_number":"100157","citation":"708 S.E.2d 864","date":"2011-04-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058042\/necaise-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 708 S.E.2d 864 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Brandon Scott Blankenship v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1455183","citation":null,"date":"2020-03-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4733875\/brandon-scott-blankenship-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":370771,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2","catch_line":"Rights asserted therein reaffirmed","url":"\/57-2\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2","metadata":false},{"id":370768,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.01","catch_line":"Religious Freedom Week and Day","url":"\/57-2.01\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.01","metadata":false},{"id":370769,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.02","catch_line":"Religious freedom preserved; definitions; applicability; construction; remedies","url":"\/57-2.02\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.02","metadata":false},{"id":370770,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.1","catch_line":"Advertising by hotels, etc., that persons find objectionable because of religion; exemptions","url":"\/57-2.1\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370769,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.02","catch_line":"Religious freedom preserved; definitions; applicability; construction; remedies","url":"\/57-2.02\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.02","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/57-2.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1954. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 701 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 1954 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1478523,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370770,"identifier":"57-2.1","token":"57\/1\/57-2.1","url":"\/57-2.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/57-2.1\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Advertising by hotels, etc., that persons find objectionable because of religion; exemptions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 57-2.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Establishment<\/span>” means any building or part thereof, including without being limited to public inns and hotels, any structure, enclosure, tract of land, and all improvements, appurtenances, and additions, bodies of water whether natural or artificial, and any other place of whatsoever nature to which the general public is or will be admitted, allowed or invited on payment of a fee, free of charge or otherwise.

\t\t\t“Person<\/span>” means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons<\/span> whether incorporated or not. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No person<\/span>, directly or indirectly, for himself or for another, shall publish in any newspaper or magazine, post on any sign, or broadcast by radio or television any commercial advertisement that any person<\/span> not otherwise prohibited by law<\/span> from using an establishment<\/span> is not welcome, or is objectionable, or is not acceptable because of his religion. No person<\/span> shall cause or solicit another person<\/span> to violate this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> This section shall not apply (i) to any establishment<\/span> that is private or restricted to membership only; (ii) to any institution of higher education, school, educational institution, or camp, admission to which is based on religious belief or affiliation; or (iii) to any gathering, meeting, or assembly held under the auspices of any religious group or sect. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any commercial advertisement as set forth herein is declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement by injunctive relief; any aggrieved individual or group of individuals may proceed to obtain an injunction<\/span> enjoining and restraining the person<\/span> from continuing such commercial advertisement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nADVERTISING BY HOTELS, ETC., THAT PERSONS FIND OBJECTIONABLE BECAUSE OF\nRELIGION; EXEMPTIONS (\u00a7 57-2.1)\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Establishment” means any building or part thereof, including\nwithout being limited to public inns and hotels, any structure, enclosure, tract\nof land, and all improvements, appurtenances, and additions, bodies of water\nwhether natural or artificial, and any other place of whatsoever nature to which\nthe general public is or will be admitted, allowed or invited on payment of a\nfee, free of charge or otherwise.\t\t\t“Person” means any individual,\npartnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether\nincorporated or not.\n\nB. No person, directly or indirectly, for himself or for another, shall publish\nin any newspaper or magazine, post on any sign, or broadcast by radio or\ntelevision any commercial advertisement that any person not otherwise prohibited\nby law from using an establishment is not welcome, or is objectionable, or is\nnot acceptable because of his religion. No person shall cause or solicit another\nperson to violate this section.\n\nC. This section shall not apply (i) to any establishment that is private or\nrestricted to membership only; (ii) to any institution of higher education,\nschool, educational institution, or camp, admission to which is based on\nreligious belief or affiliation; or (iii) to any gathering, meeting, or assembly\nheld under the auspices of any religious group or sect.\n\nD. Any commercial advertisement as set forth herein is declared a public\nnuisance and shall be subject to abatement by injunctive relief; any aggrieved\nindividual or group of individuals may proceed to obtain an injunction enjoining\nand restraining the person from continuing such commercial advertisement.\n\nHISTORY: 1954, c. 701.","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"}}