At least thirty days before instituting a proceeding under the provisions of this article for the creation of a consolidated city, the counties and cities proposing to consolidate shall serve notice on the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for the city or county, and on the chairman of the governing body or mayor of each county and city having a common boundary that they will, on a given day, petition the circuit court for a determination of whether the proposed consolidated city is eligible for city status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the consolidation agreement. A copy of the notice and the consolidation agreement, or a descriptive summary of the notice and agreement and a reference to the place within the city or town where copies of the notice and agreement may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper or newspapers having general circulation in the localities which are parties to the agreement. The notice and consolidation agreement shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification of the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and agreement shall be proof of publication.
1979, c. 85, § 15.1-1130.2; 1986, c. 312; 1997, c. 587.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 35 - Consolidation of Localities
§ 15.2-3500. Application of article
§ 15.2-3501. Authority to consolidate counties, cities or towns
§ 15.2-3502. Agreement for consolidation
§ 15.2-3503. Petition requesting agreement
§ 15.2-3504. Publication of agreement
§ 15.2-3505. Order for election
§ 15.2-3506. Conduct of election
§ 15.2-3507. Result of election
§ 15.2-3508. Election or appointment of county officers
§ 15.2-3509. Election or appointment of city or town officers
§ 15.2-3510. General effect of consolidation
§ 15.2-3512. Suits and prosecutions
§ 15.2-3513. Magisterial, school and election districts, etc.
§ 15.2-3514. Courts and judicial circuits
§ 15.2-3515. Congressional and assembly districts
§ 15.2-3516. Registration of voters
§ 15.2-3517. Existing ordinances
§ 15.2-3518. Determination of rights
§ 15.2-3519. Repeal of certain charters
§ 15.2-3520. Counties, cities and towns specified; alternative consolidations
§ 15.2-3521. Proposed consolidated city; notice of motion; service and publication
§ 15.2-3522. Petition; appointment of special court
§ 15.2-3524. Time limit for intervenors
§ 15.2-3525. Pretrial conference; matters considered
§ 15.2-3526. Hearing and decision by court
§ 15.2-3527. Assistance of state agencies
§ 15.2-3530. Continuation of services of Department of Transportation after consolidation
§ 15.2-3531. Voters' petition requesting consolidation agreement and referendum
§ 15.2-3532. Required provisions of consolidation agreement
§ 15.2-3533. Transfer of property and indebtedness
§ 15.2-3534. Optional provisions of consolidation agreement
§ 15.2-3535. Advertising of charter
§ 15.2-3536. Charter for consolidated city
§ 15.2-3537. Publication of consolidation agreement
§ 15.2-3538. Order for election
§ 15.2-3539. Conduct of election
§ 15.2-3540. Result of elections; determination of form of government
§ 15.2-3541. General effect of consolidation; officers
§ 15.2-3543. Electoral board, general registrar and officers of election
§ 15.2-3544. Effect on pending suits
§ 15.2-3545. Effect on assembly districts
§ 15.2-3546. Effect on jurisdiction of courts
§ 15.2-3547. Consolidation of entire county requires no action of town council
§ 15.2-3548. Effect on town charter
§ 15.2-3549. Powers of a tier-city
§ 15.2-3550. Effect of consolidation into single county; exceptions for tier-city