A. Whenever a number of voters equal to at least one third of the voters of a county registered in the county on the January 1 preceding filing of the petition, petition the circuit court of such county, or whenever the governing body of any county by resolution duly adopted requests the circuit court for such county, for an election in such county on the question of the removal of the courthouse to one or more places specified in the petition or resolution, such court shall issue a writ of election in accordance with Article 5 (§ 24.2-681 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 24.2, which shall fix the day of holding such election. Such petition shall also state the amount to be appropriated by the board of supervisors for the purchase of land, unless the land is to be donated, and for the erection of necessary buildings and improvements at the new location.
B. If the courthouse is used before and after removal for any city as well as for the county, then the petition shall be signed by a number of voters equal to at least one-third of the total number of voters registered in the locality on the January 1 preceding filing of the petition. The registered voters of such city shall be eligible to sign the petition. The petition shall state the amounts to be appropriated by both the county and city. The voters of such city shall be eligible to vote in any election on the question of relocating the courthouse. The court shall issue a writ of election to such city the same as issued to and for the county.
The votes of such city voters shall be treated as if they were cast by qualified voters of the county for the purposes of these sections (§§ 15.2-1644 through 15.2-1654).
C. In the case of the removal of a county courthouse that is not located in a city or town, and that is not being relocated to a city or town, such removal shall not require a petition or approval by the voters. However, this subsection shall not apply to the removal or relocation of any county courthouse, whether located on county or city property, that is entirely surrounded by a city, and any such courthouse shall be removed or relocated only in accordance with the provisions of subsections A and B.
Code 1950, § 15-43; 1956, c. 95; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-559; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 42, 245; 1975, c. 517; 1978, c. 380; 1997, c. 587; 2017, c. 487; 2018, c. 732.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 16 - Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies
§ 15.2-1601. Requirements for officers
§ 15.2-1602. Sharing of such officers by two or more units of government
§ 15.2-1603. Appointment of deputies; their powers; how removed
§ 15.2-1605. Vacations; sick leave and compensatory time for certain officers and employees
§ 15.2-1605.1. Supplementing compensation of certain county and city officers and their employees
§ 15.2-1605.2. Salary increases for constitutional officers
§ 15.2-1606. Defense of constitutional officers; appointment of counsel
§ 15.2-1607. Providing legal fees and expenses for sheriffs and deputies
§ 15.2-1608.1. Salaries of city treasurers
§ 15.2-1608.2. Salaries of county treasurers
§ 15.2-1609.1. Number of deputies
§ 15.2-1609.2. Sheriffs' salaries; salaries of certain full-time deputies; maximum limits
§ 15.2-1609.3. Fees and mileage allowances
§ 15.2-1609.4. Records of expenses of sheriffs and full-time deputies
§ 15.2-1609.5. Submission of statement of expenses
§ 15.2-1609.6. Agreements regarding traveling expenses
§ 15.2-1609.7. Salaries and expense allowances to be paid by Commonwealth
§ 15.2-1609.8. Payments to counties having certain optional forms of organization and government
§ 15.2-1609.9. Compensation of part-time deputies
§ 15.2-1609.10. Prohibited practices; collection of data
§ 15.2-1609.11. Arrest or summons quota prohibited
§ 15.2-1610. Standard uniforms and motor vehicle markings to be adopted by sheriffs
§ 15.2-1611. Alternate clothing for sheriff and deputies
§ 15.2-1612. Wearing of same or similar uniforms by unauthorized persons; penalty
§ 15.2-1613. Operation of sheriff's office
§ 15.2-1613.1. Processing fee may be imposed on certain individuals
§ 15.2-1614. Destruction of receipts
§ 15.2-1614.1. Expense of boarding and lodging jurors
§ 15.2-1615.1. Manner of payment of certain items in budgets of sheriffs
§ 15.2-1616. When deputy may act in place of sheriff
§ 15.2-1617. Deputies of deceased sheriffs
§ 15.2-1618. Compensating certain law-enforcement officers disabled in performance of duty
§ 15.2-1619. When officers not to take obligations
§ 15.2-1620. Process, etc., sent to officer by mail
§ 15.2-1621. Receipts to be given by officers
§ 15.2-1622. Judgment against officer for money due from him
§ 15.2-1624. When judgment against officer or sureties has been obtained and paid
§ 15.2-1625. In what court motions may be made
§ 15.2-1626. Attorney for the Commonwealth
§ 15.2-1627. Duties of attorneys for the Commonwealth and their assistants
§ 15.2-1627.1. Salaries of attorneys for the Commonwealth and assistants
§ 15.2-1627.2. Disposition of fees of attorneys for the Commonwealth
§ 15.2-1629. Part-time attorneys for the Commonwealth in certain counties may seek full-time status
§ 15.2-1631. Part-time attorneys for the Commonwealth in certain cities may seek full-time status
§ 15.2-1633. Part-time compensated assistants to attorneys for the Commonwealth
§ 15.2-1634. Clerks of circuit courts
§ 15.2-1635. Appointment of deputy when clerk of circuit court unable to perform duties
§ 15.2-1635.1. Maximum total compensation for clerk of the court in certain counties
§ 15.2-1636. Commissioner of the revenue
§ 15.2-1636.1. Salaries of city commissioners of the revenue
§ 15.2-1636.2. Salaries of county commissioners of the revenue
§ 15.2-1636.3. Real estate transfer and license fees in counties
§ 15.2-1636.4. Real estate transfer and license fees in cities
§ 15.2-1636.5. Membership; compensation
§ 15.2-1636.6. Duties of chairman
§ 15.2-1636.6:1. Statement of receipts and expenses of officers
§ 15.2-1636.7. Filing requests for salaries
§ 15.2-1636.8. Duties of Board in fixing salaries, expenses, etc.
§ 15.2-1636.9. Appeal from decision of Board
§ 15.2-1636.10. Appeals from certain decisions affecting expenses, etc., of circuit court clerks
§ 15.2-1636.11. Determination of population
§ 15.2-1636.12. Increase in salaries in certain cases
§ 15.2-1636.13. Time and manner of payment
§ 15.2-1636.14. Proportion borne by Commonwealth and by localities
§ 15.2-1636.16. Appropriations chargeable with Commonwealth's proportion of salaries, etc.
§ 15.2-1636.17. Payments to counties which do not have certain officers
§ 15.2-1636.18. Deputies, office expenses, premiums on bonds, etc.
§ 15.2-1636.19. Adjustment of questions of division of compensation, expenses, etc.
§ 15.2-1636.20. Payments to localities under the Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998
§ 15.2-1637. Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction
§ 15.2-1639. Providing offices for various officers, judges, etc.
§ 15.2-1640. Renting rooms in courthouse
§ 15.2-1641. Leasing or other use of other buildings
§ 15.2-1642. Certain conveyances of courthouse grounds validated
§ 15.2-1643. Circuit courts to order court facilities to be repaired
§ 15.2-1644. Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election
§ 15.2-1645. How election held and conducted
§ 15.2-1648. Donation of land and money
§ 15.2-1649. Town may issue bonds to finance donation; election on bonds
§ 15.2-1650. When and how council to issue bonds; payment of interest; sinking fund
§ 15.2-1651. When supervisors may issue bonds of county
§ 15.2-1653. Ascertaining results
§ 15.2-1654. Contest of election
§ 15.2-1655. No other election held for ten years
§ 15.2-1656. Supplies and equipment to be furnished to clerks of courts of record