A. Any city in this Commonwealth with a population at the time of the latest United States decennial census of less than 50,000 people, after fulfilling the requirements of Chapter 29 (§ 15.2-2900 et seq.), may by ordinance passed by a recorded majority vote of all the members thereof, petition the circuit court for the city, alleging that the city meets the criteria set out in § 15.2-4106 for an order granting town status to the city. The circuit court with which the petition is filed shall notify the Supreme Court, which shall appoint a special court to hear the case as prescribed by Chapter 30 (§ 15.2-3000 et seq.) of this title.
B. Before instituting a proceeding under this chapter for a grant of town status, a city shall serve notice on the county attorney, or if there is none, on the attorney for the Commonwealth, and on the chairman of the board of supervisors of the adjoining county that it will, on a given day, petition the circuit court for a grant of town status. The notice served on each official shall include a certified copy of the ordinance. A copy of the notice and ordinance, or a descriptive summary of the notice and ordinance and a reference to the place within the city or adjoining county where copies of the notice and ordinance may be examined, shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper having general circulation in the city and adjoining county. The notice and ordinance shall be returned after service to the clerk of the circuit court. Certification by the owner, editor or manager of the newspaper publishing the notice and ordinance shall be proof of publication.
1988, c. 881, §§ 15.1-965.10, 15.1-965.11; 1997, c. 587.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 41 - Transition of City to Town Status
§ 15.2-4100. City may change to town status
§ 15.2-4101. Ordinance petitioning court for town status; notice of motion
§ 15.2-4102. Citizen petition for town status
§ 15.2-4104. Time limit for intervenors; publication of order
§ 15.2-4105. Pretrial conference; matters considered
§ 15.2-4106. Hearing and decision by court
§ 15.2-4107. Assistance of state agencies
§ 15.2-4109. Declining a grant of town status
§ 15.2-4110. Proceedings final for five years
§ 15.2-4111. Effective date of transition
§ 15.2-4112. Charter for resulting town
§ 15.2-4113. Restriction on subsequent change in status
§ 15.2-4114. Liabilities and assets of such city
§ 15.2-4115. Effect when city becomes town; officers
§ 15.2-4115.1. Disposition of police department or sheriff's department motorcycles
§ 15.2-4116. Library aid continued
§ 15.2-4117. Temporary restriction on annexation
§ 15.2-4118. Effect on pending suits
§ 15.2-4119. Effect on jurisdiction of courts
§ 15.2-4120. Court granting transition to town status to exist for 10 years