Any locality may codify or recodify any or all of its ordinances, in permanently bound or loose-leaf form. Such ordinances may be changed, altered or amended by the governing body, and ordinances or portions thereof may be deleted and new material may be added by the governing body. Such changes, alterations, amendments or deletions and such new material shall become effective on the effective date of the codification or recodification.
Ordinances relating to zoning and the subdivision of land may be included in any codification or recodification of ordinances; however, no change, alteration, amendment, deletion or addition of a substantive nature shall be made and no new material of a substantive nature shall be added to such ordinances unless, prior to the date of adoption of such codification or recodification, notice of such proposed changes, alterations, amendments, deletions or additions shall be published as required by the Code of Virginia and public hearings held thereon as provided by the Code of Virginia for adoption and amendment of zoning and subdivision ordinances. Renumbering or rearranging of sections, articles or other divisions of any such ordinance shall not be deemed to be a change, alteration or amendment of a substantive nature.
Any such codification or recodification may be adopted by reference by a single ordinance, without further publication of such codification or recodification or any portions thereof. The ordinance adopting such codification or recodification shall comply with all laws of the Commonwealth and any provision of any city or town charter requiring posting or publication of ordinances or notice of intent to adopt ordinances. At least one copy of such codification or recodification or a complete set of printer's proofs of the text thereof shall be made available for public inspection in the office of the clerk of the governing body in which such codification or recodification is proposed to be adopted.
No ordinance levying or increasing taxes shall be enacted as new material in any such codification or recodification or amended in substance therein unless advertised in accordance with general law.
Supplements for such codifications or recodifications may be prepared from time to time at the direction of the governing body of the locality, either as units or on a replacement page basis; however, where replacement pages are prepared, a distinguishing mark or notation shall be placed on each replacement page to distinguish it from original pages and pages of other supplements. No further adoption procedure shall be required for supplements or replacement pages in which no substantive change is made in ordinances previously and validly adopted by the governing body of the locality. If changes, alterations, amendments, deletions or additions of a substantive nature are made in any such supplement, then such supplement shall be adopted by the governing body in the same manner provided by general or special law.
At least one copy of any codification or recodification adopted hereunder and at least one copy of every supplement thereto shall be kept in the office of the clerk of the governing body and shall there be available for public inspection during normal business hours.
Any codification or recodification adopted hereunder shall be admitted in evidence in all courts without further proof.
1966, c. 269, § 15.1-37.3; 1997, c. 587; 2003, c. 200.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 14 - Governing Bodies of Localities
§ 15.2-1401. Powers granted localities vested in their governing bodies
§ 15.2-1402. Declared to be body politic of Commonwealth; seal
§ 15.2-1403. Governing body to be continuing body
§ 15.2-1404. How localities may sue or be sued; arbitration
§ 15.2-1405. Immunity of members of local governmental entities; exception
§ 15.2-1406. Compensation of governing bodies
§ 15.2-1407. Administrative leave for certain members of governing bodies
§ 15.2-1409. Investigations by governing bodies
§ 15.2-1410. Chairman and mayor may administer oaths
§ 15.2-1414. Governing bodies may have a legal enumeration of the population
§ 15.2-1414.1. Each member to be paid annual salary
§ 15.2-1414.2. Salaries to be fixed by board; limits; reimbursement in addition to salary
§ 15.2-1414.5. Each councilman to be paid annual salary; effect of charter
§ 15.2-1414.6. Permitted salaries; salary increases; reimbursement for expenses
§ 15.2-1414.7. Salaries of town council members and mayors
§ 15.2-1415. At what meetings governing body may act
§ 15.2-1416.1. Actions prior to convening of meeting
§ 15.2-1419. Meeting times of certain authorities, boards and commissions
§ 15.2-1420. How questions determined; tie breaker
§ 15.2-1422. Electing a chairman and vice-chairman or a mayor and vice-mayor
§ 15.2-1423. Powers of chairman or mayor
§ 15.2-1424. Vacancies in office
§ 15.2-1425. Actions by localities
§ 15.2-1426. Form of ordinances
§ 15.2-1427. Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances
§ 15.2-1428. Procedures for certain acts
§ 15.2-1429. Penalties for violation of ordinances
§ 15.2-1430. Bonds of persons convicted
§ 15.2-1431. Appeals; nonpayment of fine
§ 15.2-1432. Injunctive relief against continuing violation of ordinance