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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>372816</law_id><section_number>59.1-21.14</section_number><catch_line>Producer or refiner not to terminate, etc., agreement without notice and reasonable cause; nonrenewal by franchisor</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="127" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="2.2">Virginia Petroleum Products Franchise Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A producer or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span> shall not terminate, cancel, or fail to renew a <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> unless he furnishes prior written notification pursuant to this paragraph to each <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> affected thereby. Such notification shall contain a <span class="dictionary">statement of intention</span> to terminate, cancel, or not renew with the reasons therefor; the date on which such action shall take effect; and shall be sent to such <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> by certified mail not less than sixty days prior to the date on which such <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> will be terminated, canceled, or not renewed. In circumstances where it would not be reasonable to provide advance notice of sixty days, the producer or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span> shall provide notice at the earliest date as is reasonably practicable. Termination, cancellation, or failure to renew shall be effective immediately upon notice given by certified mail to the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> at his last known address in situations involving: <a id="paragraph-1390358" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Failure of the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> to open for business during reasonable business hours for five consecutive days, or <a id="paragraph-1390359" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Criminal conduct or violations of <span class="dictionary">law</span> by the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> involving <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span>, or <a id="paragraph-1390360" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> <span class="dictionary">Bankruptcy</span>, an assignment for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> by the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>, or a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for reorganization by the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>, or <a id="paragraph-1390361" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Condemnation or other taking of the premises, in whole or in part, pursuant to the power of eminent domain, or <a id="paragraph-1390362" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Mutual agreement of the parties to terminate the <span class="dictionary">franchise</span>, or <a id="paragraph-1390363" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Death, incapacity, or permanent and total disability of the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>. <a id="paragraph-1390364" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A producer or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span> shall not terminate, cancel, or fail to renew, a <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span>, except for reasonable cause. <a id="paragraph-1390365" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Reasonable cause shall include, but not be limited to: <a id="paragraph-1390366" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A failure of the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> to comply substantially with the express provisions of such <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span>, or <a id="paragraph-1390367" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A failure of the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> to act in good faith in carrying out the terms of such <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span>, and federal and state <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, which shall include, but not be limited to: <a id="paragraph-1390368" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2a" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> Adulteration of the producer&#x2019;s or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span>&#x2019;s products, or <a id="paragraph-1390369" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C2a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2b" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Misbranding of gasoline, or <a id="paragraph-1390370" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C2b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2c" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Misleading or deceiving consumers, or <a id="paragraph-1390371" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C2c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2d" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> Trademark violations, or <a id="paragraph-1390372" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C2d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2e" class="indent-2"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> False or deceptive representations to the producer or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span>, or <a id="paragraph-1390373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C2e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Receipt and documentation by the supplier of repeated customer complaints uncorrected by the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span> within a reasonable time, or <a id="paragraph-1390374" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> A total withdrawal by the producer or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span> from the sale of <span class="dictionary">motor fuels</span> in commerce for sale in the county, city or standard statistical metropolitan area in which the <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> is situated, or <a id="paragraph-1390375" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The occurrence of any of the situations set out in subsection A hereof, not requiring sixty days&#x2019; notice. <a id="paragraph-1390376" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">franchisor</span> may elect not to renew a <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> which involves the lease by the <span class="dictionary">franchisor</span> to the franchisee of premises, in the event the <span class="dictionary">franchisor</span>: <a id="paragraph-1390377" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Sells or leases such premises to other than a subsidiary or affiliate of the <span class="dictionary">franchisor</span> for any use; or <a id="paragraph-1390378" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Sells or leases such premises to a subsidiary or affiliate of the <span class="dictionary">franchisor</span>, except such subsidiary or affiliate shall not use such premises for the <span class="dictionary">retail</span> sale of <span class="dictionary">motor fuels</span>; or <a id="paragraph-1390379" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Converts such premises to a use other than the <span class="dictionary">retail</span> sale of <span class="dictionary">motor fuels</span>; or <a id="paragraph-1390380" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#D3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Has leased such premises from a person not the franchisee and such lease is terminated, canceled or not renewed; or <a id="paragraph-1390381" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#D4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Determines, in the case of any <span class="dictionary">retail</span> service station opened after July 1, 1979, under a <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> term of at least three years, in good faith and in the normal course of business that renewal of the <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> is likely to be uneconomical to the producer or <span class="dictionary">refiner</span> despite any reasonable changes or reasonable additions to the provisions of the <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> which may be acceptable to the <span class="dictionary">dealer</span>. <a id="paragraph-1390382" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#D5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The provisions of this section shall apply to any <span class="dictionary">petroleum products</span> <span class="dictionary">franchise</span> entered into or renewed on and after July 1, 1976. <a id="paragraph-1390383" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-21.14/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1973, c. 423; 1976, c. 645; 1979, c. 306; 1997, c. 801.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
