reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-900. Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs

In addition to the remedy provided by § 48-5 and any other remedy provided by law, any locality may maintain an action to compel a responsible party to abate, raze, or remove a public nuisance. If the public nuisance presents an imminent and immediate threat to life or property, then the locality may abate, raze, or remove such public nuisance, and a locality may bring an action against the responsible party to recover the necessary costs incurred for the provision of public emergency services reasonably required to abate any such public nuisance.
The term "nuisance" includes, but is not limited to, dangerous or unhealthy substances which have escaped, spilled, been released or which have been allowed to accumulate in or on any place and all unsafe, dangerous, or unsanitary public or private buildings, walls, or structures which constitute a menace to the health and safety of the occupants thereof or the public. The term "responsible party" includes, but is not limited to, the owner, occupier, or possessor of the premises where the nuisance is located, the owner or agent of the owner of the material which escaped, spilled, or was released and the owner or agent of the owner who was transporting or otherwise responsible for such material and whose acts or negligence caused such public nuisance.
1990, c. 674, § 15.1-29.21; 1997, c. 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-901.1. Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty

A. For purposes of this section, "running bamboo" means any bamboo that is characterized by aggressive spreading behavior, including species in the genus Phyllostachys.
B. Any locality may, by ordinance, provide that:
1. No landowner shall allow running bamboo to grow without proper upkeep and appropriate containment measures, including barriers or trenching; and
2. No landowner shall allow running bamboo to spread from his property to any public right-of-way or adjoining property not owned by the landowner.
C. A violation of a running bamboo ordinance authorized by this section shall be subject to a civil penalty, not to exceed $50 for the first violation or violations arising from the same set of operative facts. The civil penalty for subsequent violations not arising from the same set of operative facts within 12 months of the first violation shall not exceed $200. Each business day during which the same violation is found to have existed shall constitute a separate offense. In no event shall a series of specified violations arising from the same set of operative facts result in civil penalties that exceed a total of $3,000 in a 12-month period.
D. No violation of a running bamboo ordinance arising from the same set of operative facts shall be subject to a civil penalty under both (i) an ordinance adopted pursuant to this section and (ii) an ordinance adopted pursuant to § 15.2-901.
2017, cc. 213, 392.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-902. Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds

A. Any locality may by ordinance prevent, control and abate the growth, importation, spread and contamination of uninfested lands by the species of grass Sorghum halepense, commonly known as Johnson grass or by the woody shrub rosa multiflora, commonly known as multiflora rose.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is authorized to provide financial and technical assistance to, and enter into agreements with, any locality which adopts an ordinance for the control of Johnson grass or multiflora rose.
B. Any locality may by ordinance control the growth of musk thistle, the weed designated as Carduus nutans L., a biennial weed of the Compositae family, or curled thistle, the weed designated as Carduus acanthoides L., an annual and biennial weed of the Compositae family. Any such musk thistle or curled thistle growing in the locality may be declared a public nuisance and noxious weed, harmful to plant and grass growth and to pastures, and may be destroyed.
1984, c. 216, § 15.1-28.4; 1997, c. 587; 2008, c. 860.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-903. Ordinances taxing and regulating "automobile graveyards," "junkyards," and certain vacant and abandoned property

A. Any locality may adopt ordinances imposing license taxes upon and otherwise regulating the maintenance and operation of places commonly known as automobile graveyards and junkyards and may prescribe fines and other punishment for violations of such ordinances.
No such ordinance shall be adopted until after notice of the proposed ordinance has been published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality. The ordinance need not be advertised in full, but may be advertised by reference. Every such advertisement shall contain a descriptive summary of the proposed ordinance and a reference to the place or places within the locality where copies of the proposed ordinance may be examined.
As used in this section the terms "automobile graveyard" and "junkyard" have the meanings ascribed to them in § 33.2-804.
B. The Counties of Bedford, Campbell, Caroline, Fauquier, Rockbridge, Shenandoah, Tazewell, Warren and York may adopt an ordinance imposing the screening of automobile graveyards and junkyards, unless screening is impractical due to topography, as set forth in § 33.2-804. Any such ordinance may apply to any automobile graveyard or junkyard within the boundaries of such county regardless of the date on which any such automobile graveyard or junkyard may have come into existence, notwithstanding the provisions of § 33.2-804.
C. The City of Newport News may adopt an ordinance imposing screening or landscape screening for retail or commercial properties that have been vacant or abandoned for more than three years within designated areas consistent with the city's comprehensive plan.
Code 1950, § 15-18; 1956, c. 672; 1958, c. 552; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-28; 1968, c. 409; 1993, c. 714; 1995, c. 207; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 180; 2001, c. 10; 2004, c. 493; 2005, c. 702; 2006, cc. 669, 722.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-908. Authority of localities to remove or repair the defacement of buildings, walls, fences and other structures

A. Any locality may by ordinance undertake or contract for the removal or repair of the defacement of any public building, wall, fence or other structure or any private building, wall, fence or other structure where such defacement is visible from any public right-of-way. The ordinance may provide that whenever the property owner, after reasonable notice, fails to remove or repair the defacement, the locality may have such defacement removed or repaired by its agents or employees. Such agents or employees shall have any and all immunity normally provided to an employee of the locality. For purposes of this section, the term "defacement" means the unauthorized application by any means of any writing, painting, drawing, etching, scratching, or marking of an inscription, word, mark, figure, or design of any type.
If the defacement occurs on a public or private building, wall, fence, or other structure located on an unoccupied property, and the locality, through its own agents or employees, removes or repairs the defacement after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the actual cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. No lien shall be chargeable to the owners of such property unless the locality shall have given a minimum of 15 days notice to the property owner prior to the removal of the defacement.
Every charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property shall have been assessed and that remains unpaid shall constitute a lien against such property, ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local real estate taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Articles 3 (§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and 4 (§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1. A locality may waive and release such liens in order to facilitate the sale of the property. Such liens may be waived only as to a purchaser who is unrelated by blood or marriage to the owner and who has no business association with the owner. All such liens shall remain a personal obligation of the owner of the property at the time the liens were imposed.
B. The court may order any person convicted of unlawfully defacing property described in subsection A to pay full or partial restitution to the locality for costs incurred by the locality in removing or repairing the defacement if the locality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to this section.
C. An order of restitution pursuant to this section shall be docketed as provided in § 8.01-446 when so ordered by the court or upon written request of the locality and may be enforced by the locality in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action.
1995, cc. 332, 667, § 15.1-11.2:2; 1997, cc. 587, 874; 2008, c. 582; 2009, cc. 319, 462, 475; 2017, cc. 118, 610.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-909. Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of wharves, piers, pilings, bulkheads, vessels or abandoned, obstructing or hazardous property

Any locality may by ordinance provide:
1. The owners of property therein shall at such time or times as the governing body may prescribe, remove, repair or secure any vessel which has been abandoned or any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or any other structure or vessel which might endanger the public health or safety of other persons, or which might constitute an obstruction or hazard to the lawful use of the waters within or adjoining such locality. If such property is deemed to be abandoned, the governing body may designate and empower an official to ascertain the lawful owner of such property and to have the owner repair, remove or secure such property;
2. The locality, through its own agents or employees, may remove, repair or secure any vessel which has been abandoned or any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead, or other structure or vessel which might endanger the public health or safety of other persons or which might constitute a hazard or obstruction to the lawful use of the waters within such locality, if the owner of such property, after reasonable notice and reasonable time to do so, has failed to remove, repair or secure such wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or other structure or vessel;
3. In the event the locality, through its own agents or employees removes, repairs or secures any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or other structure or vessel after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and to the extent applicable may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected;
4. If the identity or whereabouts of the lawful owner is unknown or not able to be ascertained after a reasonable search and after lawful notice has been made to the last known address of any known owner, the locality, through its own agents or employees, may repair such wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead or other structure or vessel or remove such property after giving notice by publication once each week for two weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where such property is located;
5. Every charge authorized by this section with which the owner of any such property has been assessed and which remains unpaid, to the extent applicable, shall constitute a lien against the owner's real property, and such lien shall be recorded in the judgment lien docket book in the circuit court for such locality. Such lien may also be reduced to a personal judgment against the owner.
1976, c. 449, § 15.1-11.3; 1997, cc. 548, 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-910. Ordinance certifying boiler and pressure vessel operators; penalty

A. Any locality may by ordinance require any person who engages in, or offers to engage in, for the general public for compensation, the operation or maintenance of a boiler or pressure vessel in such locality, to obtain a certificate from the locality.
B. The ordinance shall require the applicant for such certificate to furnish evidence of his ability and proficiency; shall require the examination of every such applicant to determine his qualifications; and shall designate or establish an agent or board for the locality to examine and determine a person's qualifications for certification. A certificate shall not be granted to an applicant found not to be qualified.
C. In accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), the Safety and Health Codes Board shall establish standards to be used in determining an applicant's ability, proficiency and qualifications.
D. No person certified pursuant to this section or certified or licensed pursuant to Chapter 3.1 (§ 40.1-51.5 et seq.) of Title 40.1 shall be required to obtain any other such certificate or to pay a fee, other than the initial certification fee, in any locality in which he practices his trade.
E. Any such ordinance adopted by a locality may provide for penalties not exceeding those applicable to Class 3 misdemeanors.
1989, c. 224, § 15.1-11.6; 1997, c. 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-912. Regulation of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons; definition; exception

A. Any locality may by ordinance regulate the sanitary condition of the personnel, equipment and premises of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons and specify procedures for enforcement of compliance with the disease control and disclosure requirements of § 18.2-371.3.
B. For the purposes of this section:
"Body-piercing salon" means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the skin to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature. "Body piercing" does not include the use of a mechanized, presterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear or both.
"Tattoo parlor" means any place in which is offered or practiced the placing of designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols or any other marks upon or under the skin of any person with ink or any other substance, resulting in the permanent coloration of the skin, including permanent make-up or permanent jewelry, by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.
C. This section shall not apply to medical doctors, veterinarians, registered nurses or any other medical services personnel licensed pursuant to Title 54.1 in performance of their professional duties.
D. Localities requiring regulation of tattoo parlors and piercing salons by ordinance shall include in such ordinance authorization for unannounced inspections by appropriate personnel of the locality.
1983, c. 429, § 15.1-28.3; 1997, c. 587; 2000, c. 842; 2001, c. 270.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-912.1. Regulation of martial arts instruction

A. The Cities of Chesapeake and Norfolk may by ordinance require any person who operates a business providing martial arts instruction to have at the site where instruction is taking place a person who has current certification or, within the last two years, has received training in emergency first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
Any person who violates such an ordinance may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50 for the first violation and $100 for any subsequent violation.
B. As used in this section, "martial arts instruction" means any course of instruction for self defense, such as judo or karate.
1998, c. 583; 2007, c. 813.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-912.2. Proceeds exempt from local taxation

No locality may impose a gross receipts, entertainment, admission or any other tax based on revenues of qualified organizations derived from the conduct of charitable gaming.
The definitions set forth in § 18.2-340.16 shall apply to this section.
1995, c. 837, § 18.2-340.32; 1997, cc. 777, 838; 1998, c. 679; 2003, c. 884; 2004, c. 462; 2006, c. 644.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-912.3. Regulation of dance halls by counties, cities, and towns

For the purposes of this section, "public dance hall" means any place open to the general public where dancing is permitted; however, a restaurant located in any city licensed under subsection A of § 4.1-206.3 to serve food and beverages having a dance floor with an area not exceeding 10 percent of the total floor area of the establishment shall not be considered a public dance hall.
Any locality may by ordinance regulate public dance halls in such locality and prescribe punishment for violation of such ordinance not to exceed that prescribed for a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Such ordinance shall prescribe for (i) the issuance of permits to operate public dance halls, grounds for revocation and procedure for revocation of such permits; (ii) a license tax not to exceed $600 on every person operating or conducting any such dance hall; and (iii) rules and regulations for the operation of such dance halls. Such ordinances may exempt from their operation dances held for benevolent or charitable purposes and dances conducted under the auspices of religious, educational, civic, or military organizations.
No county ordinance adopted under the provisions of this section shall be in effect in any town in which an ordinance adopted under the provisions of this section is in effect.
Code 1950, § 18.1-354; 1960, c. 358; 1962, c. 620; 1975, cc. 14, 15, § 18.2-433; 1978, c. 661; 1993, c. 866; 2004, c. 462; 2020, cc. 1113, 1114.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-913. Ordinances regulating certain vendors

A. Any locality may by ordinance provide for the regulation of persons not otherwise licensed by the Commonwealth under Title 38.2, offering any item for sale within the locality when such persons go from one place of human habitation to another offering an item, other than newspapers and fresh farm products, for sale. The purpose of such ordinance is to reasonably control the activities of door-to-door vendors for the safety and well-being of the people residing in the locality. However, the locality may in such ordinance exempt such activities when they are conducted on behalf of a nonprofit charitable, civic or religious organization and may provide for other reasonable exemptions in such ordinance.
B. Any locality adopting an ordinance under this section may collect a fee in an amount not to exceed twenty dollars, from each person granted a permit to sell door to door.
1975, c. 378, §§ 15.1-37.3:1, 15.1-37.3:2; 1983, c. 383; 1997, c. 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-914. Regulation of child-care services and facilities in cities and certain counties

Any (i) county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government or (ii) city may by ordinance provide for the regulation and licensing of persons who provide child-care services for compensation and for the regulation and licensing of child-care facilities. "Child-care services" means provision of regular care, protection and guidance to one or more children not related by blood or marriage while such children are separated from their parent, guardian or legal custodian in a dwelling not the residence of the child during a part of the day for at least four days of a calendar week. "Child-care facilities" includes any commercial or residential structure that is used to provide child-care services.
Such local ordinance shall not require the regulation or licensing of any child-care facility that is licensed by the Commonwealth and such ordinance shall not require the regulation or licensing of any facility operated by a religious institution as exempted from licensure by § 22.1-289.031.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, such local ordinances shall not be more extensive in scope than comparable state regulations applicable to family day homes. Such local ordinances may regulate the possession and storage of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof at child-care facilities and may be more extensive in scope than comparable state statutes or regulations applicable to family day homes. Local regulations shall not affect the manner of construction or materials to be used in the erection, alteration, repair or use of a residential dwelling.
Such local ordinances may require that persons who provide child-care services shall provide certification from the Central Criminal Records Exchange and a national criminal background check, in accordance with §§ 19.2-389 and 19.2-392.02, that such persons have not been convicted of any offense involving the sexual molestation of children or the physical or sexual abuse or rape of a child or any barrier crime defined in § 19.2-392.02, and such ordinances may require that persons who provide child-care services shall provide certification from the central registry of the Department of Social Services that such persons have not been the subject of a founded complaint of abuse or neglect. If an applicant is denied licensure because of any adverse information appearing on a record obtained from the Central Criminal Records Exchange, the national criminal background check, or the Department of Social Services, the applicant shall be provided a copy of the information upon which that denial was based.
1990, cc. 605, 609, § 15.1-37.3:12; 1997, c. 587; 2010, c. 649; 2011, c. 251; 2017, c. 809; 2020, cc. 860, 861, 910, 911; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 479.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun

The governing body of any county or city may by ordinance make it unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road, or highway within such locality. Any violation of such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Conservation police officers, sheriffs and all other law-enforcement officers shall enforce the provisions of this section. No ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall be enforceable unless the governing body adopting such ordinance so notifies the Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources by registered mail prior to May 1 of the year in which such ordinance is to take effect.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized law-enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, nor to any person who reasonably believes that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his personal safety in the course of his employment or business.
1976, c. 506, § 18.2-287.1; 1977, c. 377; 1989, c. 50; 2004, c. 462; 2020, c. 958.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-915.4. Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns

A. A locality may prohibit, by ordinance, the shooting of pneumatic guns in any areas of the locality that are in the opinion of the governing body so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants thereof, and may require supervision by a parent, guardian, or other adult supervisor approved by a parent or guardian of any minor below the age of 16 in all uses of pneumatic guns on private or public property. The ordinance may specify that minors above the age of 16 may, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, use a pneumatic gun at any place designated for such use by the local governing body or on private property with the consent of the owner. The ordinance may specify that any minor, whether permitted by a parent or guardian to use a pneumatic gun or not, shall be responsible for obeying all laws, regulations and restrictions governing such use. Any penalty for a pneumatic gun offense set forth in such an ordinance shall not exceed a Class 3 misdemeanor.
B. No such ordinance authorized by subsection A shall prohibit the use of pneumatic guns at facilities approved for shooting ranges, on other property where firearms may be discharged, or on or within private property with permission of the owner or legal possessor thereof when conducted with reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property.
C. Training of minors in the use of pneumatic guns shall be done only under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor, or a certified instructor. Training of minors above the age of 16 may also be done without direct supervision if approved by the minor's instructor, with the permission of and under the responsibility of a parent or guardian, and in compliance with all requirements of this section. Ranges and instructors may be certified by the National Rifle Association, a state or federal agency that has developed a certification program, any service of the Department of Defense, or any person authorized by these authorities to certify ranges and instructors.
D. Commercial or private areas designated for use of pneumatic paintball guns may be established and operated for recreational use. Equipment designed to protect the face and ears shall be provided to participants at such recreational areas, and signs must be posted to warn against entry into the paintball area by persons who are unprotected or unaware that paintball guns are in use.
E. As used in this section, "pneumatic gun" means any implement, designed as a gun, that will expel a BB or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. "Pneumatic gun" includes a paintball gun that expels by action of pneumatic pressure plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of marking the point of impact.
2004, c. 930; 2011, c. 832.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-915.5. Disposition of firearms acquired by localities

A. No locality or agent of such locality may participate in any program in which individuals are given a thing of value provided by another individual or other entity in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality or agent of such locality unless the governing body of the locality has enacted an ordinance, pursuant to § 15.2-1425, authorizing the participation of the locality or agent of such locality in such program.
B. Any ordinance enacted pursuant to this section shall require that any firearm received, except a firearm of the type defined in § 18.2-288 or 18.2-299 or a firearm the transfer for which is prohibited by federal law, shall be destroyed by the locality unless the person surrendering the firearm requests in writing that the firearm be offered for sale by public auction or sealed bids to a person licensed as a dealer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 921 et seq. Notice of the date, time, and place of any sale conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be given by advertisement in at least two newspapers published and having general circulation in the Commonwealth, at least one of which shall have general circulation in the locality in which the property to be sold is located. At least 30 days shall elapse between publication of the notice and the auction or the date on which sealed bids will be opened. Any firearm remaining in possession of the locality or agent of the locality after attempts to sell at public auction or by sealed bids shall be disposed of in a manner the locality deems proper, which may include destruction of the firearm or, subject to any registration requirements of federal law, sale of the firearm to a licensed dealer.
2012, c. 211; 2020, cc. 1205, 1247.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-916. Prohibiting shooting of compound bows, slingbows, arrowguns, crossbows, longbows, and recurve bows

Any locality may prohibit the shooting of an arrow from a bow or arrowgun in a manner that can be reasonably expected to result in the impact of the arrow upon the property of another without permission from the owner or tenant of such property. For the purposes of this section, "bow" includes all compound bows, crossbows, slingbows, longbows, and recurve bows having a peak draw weight of 10 pounds or more. The term "bow" does not include bows that have a peak draw weight of less than 10 pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys. The term "arrow" means a shaft-like projectile intended to be shot from a bow.
1995, c. 284, § 15.1-518.2; 1997, c. 587; 2017, c. 530; 2018, cc. 557, 558.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-917. Applicability of local noise ordinances to certain sport shooting ranges

A. No local ordinance regulating any noise shall subject a sport shooting range to noise control standards more stringent than those in effect at its effective date. The operation or use of a sport shooting range shall not be enjoined on the basis of noise, nor shall any person be subject to action for nuisance or criminal prosecution in any matter relating to noise resulting from the operation of the range, if the range is in compliance with all ordinances relating to noise in effect at the time construction or operation of the range was approved, or at the time any application was submitted for the construction or operation of the range.
B. Any sport shooting range operating or approved for construction within the Commonwealth, which has been condemned through an eminent domain proceeding by any condemning entity, and which relocates to another site within the same locality within two years of the final condemnation order, shall not be subjected to any noise control standard more stringent than those in effect at the effective date of such sport shooting range.
C. For purposes of this section, "sport shooting range" means an area or structure designed for the use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, silhouettes, skeet, trap, black powder, or any other similar sport shooting.
For purposes of this section, "effective date" means the time the construction or operation of the sports shooting range initially was approved, or at the time any application was submitted for the construction or operation of the sports shooting range, whichever is earliest.
1990, cc. 541, 577, § 15.1-29.20; 1997, c. 587; 2005, c. 544; 2006, c. 704.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-918. Locality may prohibit or regulate use of air cannons

Any locality may by ordinance prohibit or regulate the use within its jurisdiction of certain devices, including air cannons, carbide cannons, or other loud explosive devices which are designed to produce high intensity sound percussions for the purpose of repelling birds.
Such ordinance may prescribe the degree of sound or the decibel level produced by the cannon or device which is unacceptable in that jurisdiction.
In adopting an ordinance pursuant to the provisions of this section, the governing body may provide that any person who violates the provisions of such ordinance shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
1986, c. 106, § 15.1-29.13; 1997, c. 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-920. Regulation of outdoor lighting near certain facilities

In addition to any other authority granted to localities by law, any locality may by ordinance regulate outdoor lighting within an area one-half mile around planetariums, astronomical observatories and meteorological laboratories. This section shall not be construed to affect any ordinance heretofore adopted by a locality.
1980, c. 512, § 15.1-29.8; 1997, c. 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-921. Ordinances requiring fencing of swimming pools

For the purposes of this section:
"Fence" means a close type vertical barrier not less than four feet in height above ground surface. A woven steel wire, chain link, picket or solid board type fence or a fence of similar construction which will prevent the smallest of children from getting through shall be construed as within this definition.
"Swimming pool" includes any outdoor man-made structure constructed from material other than natural earth or soil designed or used to hold water for the purpose of providing a swimming or bathing place for any person or any such structure for the purpose of impounding water therein to a depth of more than two feet.
Any locality may adopt ordinances making it unlawful for any person to construct, maintain, use, possess or control any pool on any property in such locality, without having a fence completely around such swimming pool. Such ordinances also may provide that every gate in such fence shall be capable of being securely fastened at a height of not less than four feet above ground level; that it shall be unlawful for any such gate to be allowed to remain unfastened while the pool is not in use; and that such fence shall be constructed so as to come within two inches of the ground at the bottom and shall be at least five feet from the edge of the pool at any point.
Violation of any such ordinance may be made punishable by a fine of not more than $300 or confinement in jail for not more than thirty days, either or both. Each day's violation may be construed as a separate offense.
Any such ordinance may be made applicable to swimming pools constructed before, as well as those constructed after, the adoption thereof. No such ordinance shall take effect less than ninety days from the adoption thereof, nor shall any such ordinance apply to any swimming pool operated by or in conjunction with any hotel located on a government reservation.
Code 1950, § 15-18.1; 1958, c. 123; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-29; 1997, c. 587.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-922. Smoke alarms in certain buildings

A. Any locality, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, may by ordinance require that smoke alarms be installed in the following structures or buildings if smoke alarms have not been installed in accordance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§ 36-97 et seq.): (i) any building containing one or more dwelling units, (ii) any hotel or motel regularly used, offered for, or intended to be used to provide overnight sleeping accommodations for one or more persons, and (iii) any rooming houses regularly used, offered for, or intended to be used to provide overnight sleeping accommodations. Smoke alarms installed pursuant to this section shall be installed only in conformance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and shall be permitted to be either battery operated or AC powered. Such installation shall not require new or additional wiring and shall be maintained in accordance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (§ 27-94 et seq.) and subdivision C 6 of § 36-105, Part III of the Uniform Statewide Building Code. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize a locality to require the upgrading of any smoke alarms provided by the building code in effect at the time of the last renovation of such building, for which a building permit was required, or as otherwise provided in the Uniform Statewide Building Code.
B. The ordinance may require the owner of a rental unit to provide the tenant a certificate that all smoke alarms are present, have been inspected by the owner, his employee, or an independent contractor, and are in good working order. Except for smoke alarms located in public or common areas of multifamily buildings, interim testing, repair, and maintenance of smoke alarms in rented or leased dwelling units shall be the responsibility of the tenant in accordance with § 55.1-1227.
1981, c. 324, § 15.1-29.9; 1984, c. 387; 1990, c. 184; 1997, c. 587; 2011, c. 766; 2018, cc. 41, 81.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-922.1. Regulating or prohibiting the making of fires

A. Any city or town may by ordinance regulate or prohibit the making of fires in streets, alleys, and other public places and regulate the making of fires on private property.
B. In addition to the authority provided under § 27-98, any county may by ordinance regulate or prohibit the making of fires in streets, alleys, and other public places and, when a declared emergency exists, pursuant to § 44-146.21, regulate the making of fires on private property.
2007, c. 256.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-922.2. Special fee for emergency services in certain counties

A. Any county with a population of less than 3,000 may by ordinance, and after a public hearing and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the ordinance, levy a fee to fund the provision of emergency medical services in the county, not to exceed the actual cost incurred by the county in providing such services.
B. The county may enter into a contractual agreement with any water or heat, light, and power company or other corporation coming within the provisions of Chapter 26 (§ 58.1-2600 et seq.) of Title 58.1 for the collection of such fee. The agreement may include a commission for such service in the form of a deduction from the fee remitted. The commission shall be provided for in the ordinance, which shall set the rate not to exceed five percent of the amount of fees due and collected.
2018, c. 660.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-923. Local water-saving ordinances

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, as shall be necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare, any locality may by ordinance (i) require the installation of water conservation devices in the case of the retrofitting of buildings constructed prior to July 1, 1978, and (ii) restrict the nonessential use of ground water during declared water shortages or water emergencies.
For purposes of this section "nonessential use" shall not include agricultural use.
1978, c. 469, § 15.1-37.2:1; 1992, c. 589; 1997, c. 587; 2004, c. 402.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-925. Regulation, etc., of assemblies or movement of persons or vehicles under certain circumstances; curfew; penalty

A. Any locality may empower the chief law-enforcement officer to regulate, restrict, or prohibit any assembly of persons or the movement of persons or vehicles if there exists an imminent threat of any civil commotion or disturbance in the nature of a riot which constitutes a clear and present danger. In such circumstances the governing body may convene immediately in a special meeting and enact an emergency ordinance or ordinances for such purposes, notwithstanding any contrary provisions in any charter or under the general law.
B. Any such action may include a curfew issued by the chief law-enforcement officer, but in cities, such action shall be in concurrence with the city manager and the mayor. Such curfew shall include the following elements:
1. Shall specify the hours of the curfew and the geographic area to which the curfew applies.
2. Shall contain exceptions for:
a. Any person traveling to or from home, work, or a place of worship;
b. Medical personnel;
c. Members of the press;
d. Federal, state, and local employees and volunteers engaged in official business, including emergency response;
e. Military personnel, including but not limited to National Guard troops;
f. Travel to or from public meetings of the local governing body;
g. Persons seeking emergency services or fleeing any emergency or danger or acting to save other persons from an emergency or danger; and
h. Persons who are incapacitated or who are seeking medical care for themselves or others.
The action authorizing the curfew shall provide for reasonable efforts to inform the public in advance of the curfew, which shall be valid for no more than 24 hours. The curfew shall not be extended or renewed unless by recorded vote of the local governing body or by judicial order.
In such circumstances the governing body may convene immediately in a special meeting and enact an emergency ordinance or ordinances, including an extension or renewal of a curfew, for such purposes, notwithstanding any contrary provisions in any charter or under the general law.
C. Any violation of a regulation, restriction, or curfew imposed hereunder shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor.
1968, c. 459, § 15.1-514.1; 1997, c. 587; 2023, c. 360.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-925.1. Local notifications

Any locality may by ordinance establish a system to deliver notifications to residents by email, phone, text message or other similar means of communication. Such ordinance shall be adopted only after a public hearing and shall contain an opt-in provision for non-emergency notifications.
2015, c. 192.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-926. Prohibiting loitering; frequenting amusements and curfew for minors; penalty

A. Any locality may by ordinance prohibit loitering in, upon or around any public place, whether on public or private property. Any locality may by ordinance also prohibit minors who are not attended by their parents from frequenting or being in public places, whether on public or private property, at such times, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., as the governing body deems proper.
A violation of such ordinances by a minor shall be disposed of as provided in §§ 16.1-278.4 and 16.1-278.5.
B. A locality may by ordinance regulate the frequenting, playing in or loitering in public places of amusement by minors, and may prescribe punishment for violations of such ordinances not to exceed that prescribed for a Class 3 misdemeanor.
C. Without limiting or restricting the general powers created by this section, the term "public place" shall also include public libraries.
Code 1950, § 15-8; 1954, c. 529; 1956, cc. 218, 664; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 40; 1958, c. 279; 1960, c. 606; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-514; 1968, c. 425; 1983, c. 502, § 15.1-33.4; 1995, cc. 59, 658; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 865; 1999, c. 1023; 2004, c. 462; 2009, c. 481.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-926.1. Bounties for coyotes

Any locality may by ordinance permit the killing of coyotes within its boundaries at any time and may pay, out of any available funds, a bounty for each coyote killed within its boundaries. The ordinance may prescribe the conditions to be met and the evidence to be submitted before any such payment is made, as well as the amount of the bounty to be paid.
1999, c. 487.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-926.2. Adoption of ordinances prohibiting obscenity

The locality may adopt ordinances to prohibit obscenity or conduct paralleling the provisions of Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) and Article 6 (§ 18.2-390 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 and prohibiting the dissemination to juveniles of, and their access to, materials deemed harmful to juveniles as defined in subsection (6) of § 18.2-390 in public at places frequented by juveniles or where juveniles are or may be invited as part of the general public. Exceptions as provided in § 18.2-391.1 shall apply thereto. The penalty for violating the provisions of such ordinance shall not be greater than the penalty imposed for a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Code 1950, § 18.1-236.5; 1970, c. 423; 1975, cc. 14, 15, § 18.2-389; 1977, c. 295; 1982, c. 477; 1991, c. 710; 2004, c. 462.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns › Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments › § 15.2-926.3. Local regulation of certain aircraft

A. No political subdivision may regulate the use of a privately owned, unmanned aircraft system as defined in § 19.2-60.1 within its boundaries.
B. Notwithstanding the prohibition of subsection A, a political subdivision may, by ordinance or regulation, regulate the take-off and landing of an unmanned aircraft, as defined in § 19.2-60.1, on property owned by the political subdivision. Such ordinance or regulation shall be developed and authorized in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Aviation (the Department). Such rules and regulations shall be in accordance with federal rules and regulations and shall include a process for adoption of an ordinance or regulation, exemptions to the ordinance or regulation, political subdivision training, and notification requirements. The political subdivision shall report to the Department any ordinance or regulation adopted pursuant to this section, and the Department shall publish and update annually on its website, and any other website the Department deems appropriate, a summary of any such ordinance or regulation adopted.
C. Nothing in this section shall permit a person to go or enter upon land owned by a political subdivision solely because he is in possession of an unmanned aircraft system if he would not otherwise be permitted entry upon such land.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (i) the take-off or landing of an unmanned aircraft by a commercial operator in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, or as deemed reasonable or necessary by private or public entities for emergency or maintenance support functions or services, including the protection and maintenance of public or private critical infrastructure; (ii) the landing of an unmanned aircraft by an operator in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations as deemed reasonable or necessary by the operator in the event of a technical malfunction of an unmanned aircraft system; (iii) the take-off or landing of an unmanned aircraft being operated by a sworn public safety officer in the performance of his duties; or (iv) the take-off or landing of an unmanned aircraft owned or operated by the United States government, or any operator under contract with any agency of the United States government, in performance of his assigned duties.
2016, c. 451; 2018, cc. 851, 852; 2020, c. 345.