{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-316.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-316.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-316.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-316.html"}],"law_id":350737,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350737,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-316","catch_line":"Duty of persons causing well or pit to be dug to fill it before abandonment","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-73; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","full_text":"Any person who has caused to be dug on his own land or the land of another any well or pit, shall fill such well or pit with earth so that the same shall not be dangerous to human beings, animals or fowls before such well or such pit is abandoned; and any person owning land whereon any such well or pit is located shall in the same manner fill with earth any such well or pit which has been abandoned, provided such person has knowledge of the existence of such well or pit.\n\nBut in the case of mining operations in lieu of filling the shaft or pit the owner or operator thereof on ceasing operations in such shaft or pit shall securely fence the same and keep the same at all times thereafter securely fenced.\n\nAny person violating any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1306638,"text":"Any person who has caused to be dug on his own land or the land of another any well or pit, shall fill such well or pit with earth so that the same shall not be dangerous to human beings, animals or fowls before such well or such pit is abandoned; and any person owning land whereon any such well or pit is located shall in the same manner fill with earth any such well or pit which has been abandoned, provided such person has knowledge of the existence of such well or pit.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1306639,"text":"But in the case of mining operations in lieu of filling the shaft or pit the owner or operator thereof on ceasing operations in such shaft or pit shall securely fence the same and keep the same at all times thereafter securely fenced.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1306640,"text":"Any person violating any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":50175,"edition_id":2,"name":"Miscellaneous Dangerous Conduct","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":13,"parent_id":50159,"metadata":{"child_laws":21,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:57","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:22","permalink":{"id":1394309,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50175,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/7\/8","url":"\/18.2\/7\/8\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50159,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Involving Health and Safety","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":7,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":216,"child_structures":13},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:33","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:20","permalink":{"id":1393503,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50159,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/7","url":"\/18.2\/7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350731,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-312","catch_line":"Illegal use of tear gas, phosgene and other gases","url":"\/18.2-312\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-312","metadata":false},{"id":350734,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-313","catch_line":"Handling or using snakes so as to endanger human life or health","url":"\/18.2-313\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-313","metadata":false},{"id":350732,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-313.1","catch_line":"Withholding information about possibly rabid animal; penalty","url":"\/18.2-313.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-313.1","metadata":false},{"id":350733,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-313.2","catch_line":"Introduction of snakehead fish or zebra mussel; penalty","url":"\/18.2-313.2\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-313.2","metadata":false},{"id":350735,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-314","catch_line":"Failing to secure medical attention for injured child","url":"\/18.2-314\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-314","metadata":false},{"id":350736,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-315","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-315\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-315","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":350737,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-316","catch_line":"Duty of persons causing well or pit to be dug to fill it before abandonment","url":"\/18.2-316\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-316","metadata":false},{"id":350738,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-317","catch_line":"Covers to be kept on certain wells","url":"\/18.2-317\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-317","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Kaniesha Shatae Hannon v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1374163","citation":"803 S.E.2d 355","date":"2017-08-22","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4420617\/kaniesha-shatae-hannon-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":350739,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-318","catch_line":"Authority of counties, cities and towns to require and regulate well covers","url":"\/18.2-318\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-318","metadata":false},{"id":350740,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-319","catch_line":"Discarding or abandoning iceboxes, etc.; precautions required","url":"\/18.2-319\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-319","metadata":false},{"id":350745,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-320","catch_line":"Sale, etc., of plastic bags; warning required","url":"\/18.2-320\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-320","metadata":false},{"id":350746,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-321","catch_line":"Using X ray, fluoroscope, etc., in the fitting of footwear","url":"\/18.2-321\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-321","metadata":false},{"id":350748,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-322","catch_line":"Expectorating in public places","url":"\/18.2-322\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-322","metadata":false},{"id":350747,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-322.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-322.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-322.1","metadata":false},{"id":350752,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-323","catch_line":"Leaving disabled or dead animal in road, or allowing dead animal to remain unburied","url":"\/18.2-323\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-323","metadata":false},{"id":350749,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-323.01","catch_line":"Prohibition against disposal of dead body; penalty","url":"\/18.2-323.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-323.01","metadata":false},{"id":350750,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-323.02","catch_line":"Prohibition against concealment of dead body; penalty","url":"\/18.2-323.02\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-323.02","metadata":false},{"id":350751,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-323.1","catch_line":"Drinking while operating a motor vehicle; possession of open container while operating a motor vehicle and presumption; penalty","url":"\/18.2-323.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-323.1","metadata":false},{"id":350755,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-324","catch_line":"Throwing or depositing certain substances upon highway; removal of such substances","url":"\/18.2-324\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-324","metadata":false},{"id":350753,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-324.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-324.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-324.1","metadata":false},{"id":350754,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-324.2","catch_line":"Use of unmanned aircraft system for certain purposes; penalty","url":"\/18.2-324.2\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-324.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350736,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-315","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-315\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-315","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"next_section":{"id":350738,"structure_id":50175,"section_number":"18.2-317","catch_line":"Covers to be kept on certain wells","url":"\/18.2-317\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-317","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Kaniesha Shatae Hannon v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1374163","citation":"803 S.E.2d 355","date":"2017-08-22","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4420617\/kaniesha-shatae-hannon-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-316\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1394335,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350737,"identifier":"18.2-316","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-316","url":"\/18.2-316\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-316\/","token":"18.2\/7\/8\/18.2-316","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duty of persons causing well or pit to be dug to fill it before abandonment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-316","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Any person who has caused to be dug on his own land or the land of another any well or pit, shall fill such well or pit with earth so that the same shall not be dangerous to human beings, animals or fowls before such well or such pit is abandoned; and any person owning land whereon any such well or pit is located shall in the same manner fill with earth any such well or pit which has been abandoned, provided such person has knowledge of the existence of such well or pit.<\/p><p>But in the case of mining operations in lieu of filling the shaft or pit the owner or operator thereof on ceasing operations in such shaft or pit shall securely fence the same and keep the same at all times thereafter securely fenced.<\/p><p>Any person violating any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTY OF PERSONS CAUSING WELL OR PIT TO BE DUG TO FILL IT BEFORE ABANDONMENT (\u00a7\n18.2-316)\n\nAny person who has caused to be dug on his own land or the land of another any\nwell or pit, shall fill such well or pit with earth so that the same shall not\nbe dangerous to human beings, animals or fowls before such well or such pit is\nabandoned; and any person owning land whereon any such well or pit is located\nshall in the same manner fill with earth any such well or pit which has been\nabandoned, provided such person has knowledge of the existence of such well or\npit.\n\nBut in the case of mining operations in lieu of filling the shaft or pit the\nowner or operator thereof on ceasing operations in such shaft or pit shall\nsecurely fence the same and keep the same at all times thereafter securely\nfenced.\n\nAny person violating any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a\nClass 3 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-73; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","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"}}