Code of Virginia
Chapter 38 - Transition of Towns to Cities
§ 15.2-3801. Referendum

Prior to the adoption of an ordinance petitioning the court for city status, the town council shall petition the court to order a referendum held within the town on the question of seeking city status. The provisions of § 24.2-684 shall govern the order for a referendum. The question on the ballot shall be:
"Shall the Town of ____________________ seek to become a city?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No."
If a majority of the electorate voting in the referendum vote "No," the town council shall not proceed in seeking city status. If a majority of the electorate voting in such referendum vote "Yes," the town council shall proceed as provided in § 15.2-3800.
1979, c. 85, § 15.1-982.2; 1982, c. 181; 1997, c. 587.

Structure Code of Virginia

Code of Virginia

Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns

Chapter 38 - Transition of Towns to Cities

§ 15.2-3800. Ordinance petitioning court for city status; appointment of special court

§ 15.2-3801. Referendum

§ 15.2-3802. Town and county agreement concerning proposed city

§ 15.2-3803. Notice of motion; service and publication; answer or other pleading

§ 15.2-3804. Parties

§ 15.2-3805. Time limit for intervenors; publication of order

§ 15.2-3806. Pretrial conference; matters considered

§ 15.2-3807. Hearing and decision by court

§ 15.2-3808. Assistance of state agencies

§ 15.2-3809. Appeals

§ 15.2-3810. Declining of grant of city status

§ 15.2-3811. Proceeding final for three years

§ 15.2-3812. Effect when town becomes city

§ 15.2-3813. Town liabilities and assets

§ 15.2-3814. Mayor of town to continue in office

§ 15.2-3815. Council of town to continue in office; additional members

§ 15.2-3816. Town treasurer to continue in office; appointment where town had no treasurer

§ 15.2-3817. Commissioner of revenue or assessor to continue in office; appointment where town had no commissioner or assessor

§ 15.2-3818. Town sergeant to continue in office

§ 15.2-3819. Election and terms of office of mayor and councilmen after town becomes city

§ 15.2-3820. Election and terms of other city officers

§ 15.2-3821. Qualification of officers; vacancies

§ 15.2-3822. Sharing of offices; transfer of jurisdiction

§ 15.2-3823. Tenure and reelection of county officer whose homesite becomes part of city

§ 15.2-3824. Town officers

§ 15.2-3825. Courts

§ 15.2-3826. Appointment of electoral board, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth and circuit court clerk

§ 15.2-3827. Transfer of assessments to city books

§ 15.2-3828. State, county and district taxes accruing before transition; county sales and use tax becomes city sales and use tax

§ 15.2-3829. Assumption of debt; adjustment

§ 15.2-3830. Certain costs and expenses to be apportioned between city and county

§ 15.2-3831. Registrars and their duties

§ 15.2-3832. Authority to city to provide by condemnation, etc., water, light, power and fuel

§ 15.2-3833. Chapter not applicable to cities already existing

§ 15.2-3834. Congressional, etc., districts and judicial circuit not changed