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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>346018</law_id><section_number>10.1-517</section_number><catch_line>Application and statement to the Secretary of the Commonwealth</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="38" identifier="10.1">Conservation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="7" identifier="5">Soil and Water Conservation</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="3" identifier="3">Soil and Water Conservation Districts</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon the creation of a district by any means authorized by this chapter, two <span class="dictionary">district directors</span> appointed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and authorized by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to do so, shall present to the Secretary of the Commonwealth an application signed by them, which shall set forth: (i) that a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the creation of the district was filed with the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and that the proceedings specified in this chapter were conducted; (ii) that the application is being filed in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to complete the organization of the district as a political subdivision under this chapter; (iii) that the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> has appointed them as <span class="dictionary">district directors</span>; (iv) the name and official residence of each of the <span class="dictionary">district directors</span> together with a certified copy of the appointments evidencing their right to office; (v) the term of office of each of the <span class="dictionary">district directors</span>; (vi) the proposed name of the district; and (vii) the location of the principal office of the <span class="dictionary">district directors</span>. The application shall be subscribed and sworn to by the two <span class="dictionary">district directors</span> authorized by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to make such application before an officer authorized by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth to take and certify <span class="dictionary">oaths</span>. The application shall be accompanied by a certified statement by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> that the district was created as required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. The statement shall set forth the boundaries of the district as they have been defined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.</p><p>If the creation of a district necessitates the dissolution of an existing district, an application shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, with the application for the district to be created, by the directors of the district to be dissolved, for the discontinuance of such district, contingent upon the creation of the new district. The application for discontinuance, duly verified, shall simply state that the lands encompassed in the district to be dissolved shall be included within the territory of the district created. The application for discontinuance of such district shall be accompanied by a certified statement by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> that the discontinued district was dissolved as required by <span class="dictionary">law</span> and the new district was created as required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. The statement shall contain a description of the boundaries of each district dissolved and shall set forth the boundaries of the district created as defined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the directors of each district a certificate of dissolution and shall record the certificate in an appropriate book of record in his office.</p><p>When the boundaries of <span class="dictionary">districts</span> are changed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the various affected district <span class="dictionary">boards</span> shall each present to the Secretary of the Commonwealth an application, signed by them, for a new certificate of organization evidencing the change of boundaries. The application shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth accompanied by a certified statement by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> that the boundaries have been changed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The statement by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall define the new boundary line in a manner adequate to describe the boundary changes of <span class="dictionary">districts</span>. When the application and statement have been filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the change of boundary shall become effective and the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the directors of each of the <span class="dictionary">districts</span> a certificate of organization evidencing the change of boundaries.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 21-28; 1964, c. 512; 1970, c. 480; 1988, c. 891.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
