{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/10.1-213.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/10.1-213.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/10.1-213.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/10.1-213.html"}],"law_id":345881,"edition_id":2,"section_id":345881,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-213","catch_line":"Dedication of natural area preserves","history":"1989, c. 553.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Director may, in the name of the Department, accept the dedication of natural areas on lands deemed by the Director to qualify as natural area preserves under the provisions of this article. Natural area preserves may be dedicated by voluntary act of the owner. The owner of a qualified natural area may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth. Natural area preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.\n\nB\n\nDedication of a natural preserve shall become effective only upon acceptance of the instrument of dedication by the Director.\n\nC\n\nThe instrument of dedication may:\n\n1\n\nContain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use, development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the purposes of this article;\n\n2\n\nDefine, consistently with the purposes of this article, the respective rights and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be followed in case of violations of the restrictions;\n\n3\n\nRecognize and create reversionary rights, transfers upon conditions or with limitations, and gifts over; and\n\n4\n\nVary in provisions from one natural area preserve to another in accordance with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas.\n\nD\n\nPublic departments, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities, corporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are empowered to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdiction as natural area preserves.\n\nE\n\nSubject to the approval of the Governor, the Commonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication upon finding that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area inconsistent with the provisions of this article. If the fee simple estate in the natural area preserve is not held by the Department under this article, no amendment may be made without the written consent of the owner of the other interests therein.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1289636,"text":"The Director may, in the name of the Department, accept the dedication of natural areas on lands deemed by the Director to qualify as natural area preserves under the provisions of this article. Natural area preserves may be dedicated by voluntary act of the owner. The owner of a qualified natural area may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth. Natural area preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1289637,"text":"Dedication of a natural preserve shall become effective only upon acceptance of the instrument of dedication by the Director.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1289638,"text":"The instrument of dedication may:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":1289639,"text":"Contain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use, development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the purposes of this article;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":1289640,"text":"Define, consistently with the purposes of this article, the respective rights and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be followed in case of violations of the restrictions;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1","next_prefix":"C3"},"5":{"id":1289641,"text":"Recognize and create reversionary rights, transfers upon conditions or with limitations, and gifts over; and","type":"section","prefixes":["C","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"C3","prefix_anchor":"C3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C2","next_prefix":"C4"},"6":{"id":1289642,"text":"Vary in provisions from one natural area preserve to another in accordance with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"C4","prefix_anchor":"C4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C3","next_prefix":"D"},"7":{"id":1289643,"text":"Public departments, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities, corporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are empowered to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdiction as natural area preserves.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C4","next_prefix":"E"},"8":{"id":1289644,"text":"Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Commonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication upon finding that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area inconsistent with the provisions of this article. If the fee simple estate in the natural area preserve is not held by the Department under this article, no amendment may be made without the written consent of the owner of the other interests therein.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":49662,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Natural Area Preserves Act","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":4,"parent_id":49657,"metadata":{"child_laws":9,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:13:09","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:46","permalink":{"id":1370695,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49662,"identifier":"3","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49657,"edition_id":2,"name":"Parks and Recreation","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":49585,"metadata":{"child_laws":28,"child_structures":5},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:13:04","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:45","permalink":{"id":1370615,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49657,"identifier":"2","token":"10.1\/I\/2","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49585,"edition_id":2,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":49584,"metadata":{"child_laws":357,"child_structures":44},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:11:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:44","permalink":{"id":1370317,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49585,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":49584,"edition_id":2,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":38,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":886,"child_structures":125},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:11:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:44","permalink":{"id":1370315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":49584,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":345853,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-209","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/10.1-209\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-209","metadata":false},{"id":345854,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-210","catch_line":"Additional powers of the Department","url":"\/10.1-210\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-210","metadata":false},{"id":345860,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-211","catch_line":"Additional duties of the Department","url":"\/10.1-211\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-211","metadata":false},{"id":345867,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-212","catch_line":"Virginia Natural Heritage Program","url":"\/10.1-212\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-212","metadata":false},{"id":345881,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-213","catch_line":"Dedication of natural area preserves","url":"\/10.1-213\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-213","metadata":false},{"id":345889,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-214","catch_line":"Virginia natural area preserves system established","url":"\/10.1-214\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-214","metadata":false},{"id":345890,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-215","catch_line":"Natural Area Preservation Fund established","url":"\/10.1-215\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-215","metadata":false},{"id":345891,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-216","catch_line":"Natural area registry","url":"\/10.1-216\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-216","metadata":false},{"id":345893,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-217","catch_line":"Gifts, devises and bequests","url":"\/10.1-217\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-217","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":345867,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-212","catch_line":"Virginia Natural Heritage Program","url":"\/10.1-212\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-212","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":345889,"structure_id":49662,"section_number":"10.1-214","catch_line":"Virginia natural area preserves system established","url":"\/10.1-214\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-214","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-213\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 553 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1989 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":[{"id":345343,"section_number":"10.1-1022.1","catch_line":"Expenditure of funds for natural area protection","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1022.1\/"},{"id":345853,"section_number":"10.1-209","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-209\/"},{"id":345889,"section_number":"10.1-214","catch_line":"Virginia natural area preserves system established","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-214\/"},{"id":356459,"section_number":"28.2-1104","catch_line":"Coordination","order_by":null,"url":"\/28.2-1104\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1370713,"object_type":"law","relational_id":345881,"identifier":"10.1-213","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-213","url":"\/10.1-213\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-213\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/3\/10.1-213","dublin_core":{"Title":"Dedication of natural area preserves","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-213","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Director<\/span> may, in the name of the Department<\/span>, accept the dedication<\/span> of natural areas<\/span> on lands deemed by the Director<\/span> to qualify as natural area preserves<\/span> under the provisions of this article. Natural area preserves<\/span> may be dedicated by voluntary act of the owner<\/span>. The owner<\/span> of a qualified natural area may transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth. Natural area preserves<\/span> may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Dedication of a natural preserve shall become effective only upon acceptance of the instrument of dedication<\/span> by the Director<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The instrument of dedication<\/span> may: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Contain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use, development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the purposes of this article; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Define, consistently with the purposes of this article, the respective rights and duties of the owner<\/span> and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be followed in case of violations of the restrictions; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Recognize and create reversionary rights, transfers upon conditions or with limitations, and gifts over; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Vary in provisions from one natural area preserve<\/span> to another in accordance with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Public departments<\/span>, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities, corporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are empowered to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdiction<\/span> as natural area preserves<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Commonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication<\/span> upon finding<\/span> that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area inconsistent with the provisions of this article. If the fee simple estate in the natural area preserve<\/span> is not held by the Department<\/span> under this article, no amendment may be made without the written consent of the owner<\/span> of the other interests therein. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEDICATION OF NATURAL AREA PRESERVES (\u00a7 10.1-213)\n\nA. The Director may, in the name of the Department, accept the dedication of\nnatural areas on lands deemed by the Director to qualify as natural area\npreserves under the provisions of this article. Natural area preserves may be\ndedicated by voluntary act of the owner. The owner of a qualified natural area\nmay transfer fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth.\nNatural area preserves may be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.\n\nB. Dedication of a natural preserve shall become effective only upon acceptance\nof the instrument of dedication by the Director.\n\nC. The instrument of dedication may:\n\n 1. Contain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use,\n development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other\n restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the\n purposes of this article;\n\n 2. Define, consistently with the purposes of this article, the respective\n rights and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures\n to be followed in case of violations of the restrictions;\n\n 3. Recognize and create reversionary rights, transfers upon conditions or with\n limitations, and gifts over; and\n\n 4. Vary in provisions from one natural area preserve to another in accordance\n with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas.\n\nD. Public departments, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities,\ncorporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and\ninstrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are\nempowered to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdiction as natural area\npreserves.\n\nE. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Commonwealth may enter into\namendments to the instrument of dedication upon finding that the amendment will\nnot permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area\ninconsistent with the provisions of this article. If the fee simple estate in\nthe natural area preserve is not held by the Department under this article, no\namendment may be made without the written consent of the owner of the other\ninterests therein.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 553.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}