Requirements for initiating condemnation; filing of ordinance or resolution with petition; voluntary conveyance
Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-1903
in effectA. Condemnation proceedings may be instituted when:
1. the locality and owner cannot agree on the compensation to be paid or other terms of purchase or settlement;
2. the owner is legally incapacitated;
3. either the owner or his whereabouts is unknown; or
4. the owner is unable to convey valid title to the property.
B. Prior to initiating condemnation proceedings, the governing body shall, after a public hearing, adopt a resolution or ordinance approving the proposed public use and directing the acquisition of property for the public use by condemnation or other means. The resolution or ordinance shall state the use to which the property shall be put and the necessity therefor. Furthermore, other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth shall also be required to hold a public hearing prior to initiating condemnation proceedings.
C. When a petition for condemnation is filed by or on behalf of the locality, a true copy of the resolution or ordinance duly adopted by the governing body declaring the intended public use of the property, and the necessity therefor, may be filed with the petition, and when so filed constitutes sufficient evidence of such public use and necessity.
D. The fact that no petition has been filed by a locality to condemn any interest conveyed by deed shall not by itself render such conveyance free from the threat of condemnation, nor shall such fact constitute sufficient proof of voluntary conveyance for the purposes of any taxing authority.
1997, c. 587; 2006, c. 927 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/15.2-1903/Fetched: 10/16/2026