{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/56-265.24_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/56-265.24_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/56-265.24_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/56-265.24_1.html"}],"law_id":370273,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370273,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.24:1","catch_line":"Request to cease operation; immediate threat; penalty","history":"2023, cc. 299, 300.","full_text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 56-265.15:1, any person, as defined in \u00a7 56-265.15, who knowingly and intentionally excavates after being notified by a representative of the Commission of a determination that such excavation constitutes an immediate threat to safety or property and such representative requests that excavation cease is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The representative of the Commission shall immediately notify the agency with primary law-enforcement authority over the area of excavation, as well as the fire marshal, (i) that such excavation site is a threat to safety or property and (ii) of the request to cease excavation.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1381384,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 56-265.15:1, any person, as defined in \u00a7 56-265.15, who knowingly and intentionally excavates after being notified by a representative of the Commission of a determination that such excavation constitutes an immediate threat to safety or property and such representative requests that excavation cease is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The representative of the Commission shall immediately notify the agency with primary law-enforcement authority over the area of excavation, as well as the fire marshal, (i) that such excavation site is a threat to safety or property and (ii) of the request to cease excavation.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52732,"edition_id":2,"name":"Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act","identifier":"10.3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":16,"parent_id":52702,"metadata":{"child_laws":29,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:48","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:39","permalink":{"id":1476263,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52732,"identifier":"10.3","token":"56\/10.3","url":"\/56\/10.3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52702,"edition_id":2,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":121,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":710,"child_structures":93},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:34","permalink":{"id":1475475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52702,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370253,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.14","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/56-265.14\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.14","metadata":false},{"id":370254,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.15","catch_line":"Definitions; calculation of time periods","url":"\/56-265.15\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.15","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. v. Properties One, Inc.","case_number":"Record 930110","citation":"439 S.E.2d 369","date":"1994-01-07","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1301658\/chesapeake-potomac-telephone-co-v-properties-one-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 439 S.E.2d 369 (1994) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":370255,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.15:1","catch_line":" Exemptions; routine maintenance","url":"\/56-265.15_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.15_1","metadata":false},{"id":370256,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.16\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.16","metadata":false},{"id":370257,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.16:1","catch_line":"Operators to join notification centers; certification","url":"\/56-265.16_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.16_1","metadata":false},{"id":370258,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17","catch_line":"Notification required prior to excavation or demolition; waiting periods; marking of proposed site","url":"\/56-265.17\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17","metadata":false},{"id":370259,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17:1","catch_line":"Notification and procedures for designers","url":"\/56-265.17_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17_1","metadata":false},{"id":370260,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17:2","catch_line":"Procedures for project owners","url":"\/56-265.17_2\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17_2","metadata":false},{"id":370261,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17:3","catch_line":"Procedures for operators in response to a designer notice","url":"\/56-265.17_3\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17_3","metadata":false},{"id":370262,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.18","catch_line":"Notification requirements","url":"\/56-265.18\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.18","metadata":false},{"id":370263,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.19","catch_line":"Duties of operator; regulations","url":"\/56-265.19\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.19","metadata":false},{"id":370264,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.19:1","catch_line":"Private sewer laterals and sewer system laterals","url":"\/56-265.19_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.19_1","metadata":false},{"id":370266,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.20","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.20\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.20","metadata":false},{"id":370267,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.20:1","catch_line":"Locating nonmetallic underground utility lines","url":"\/56-265.20_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.20_1","metadata":false},{"id":370268,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.21","catch_line":"Marking by color","url":"\/56-265.21\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.21","metadata":false},{"id":370269,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.22","catch_line":"Duties of notification center upon notification by person intending to excavate; record of notification made by telephone required","url":"\/56-265.22\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.22","metadata":false},{"id":370270,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.22:1","catch_line":"Meetings between excavators and operators","url":"\/56-265.22_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.22_1","metadata":false},{"id":370271,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.23","catch_line":"Exemption for roadway maintenance operations by the Virginia Department of Transportation and certain counties, cities, and towns","url":"\/56-265.23\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.23","metadata":false},{"id":370272,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.24","catch_line":"Duties of excavator","url":"\/56-265.24\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24","metadata":false},{"id":370273,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.24:1","catch_line":"Request to cease operation; immediate threat; penalty","url":"\/56-265.24_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24_1","metadata":false},{"id":370274,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.25","catch_line":"Liability of operator and excavator; penalties","url":"\/56-265.25\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.25","metadata":false},{"id":370275,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.26","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.26\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26","metadata":false},{"id":370276,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.26:1","catch_line":"Utility line depth requirement","url":"\/56-265.26_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26_1","metadata":false},{"id":370277,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.27","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.27\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.27","metadata":false},{"id":370278,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.28","catch_line":"Sovereign immunity","url":"\/56-265.28\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.28","metadata":false},{"id":370279,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.29","catch_line":"Other similar laws","url":"\/56-265.29\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.29","metadata":false},{"id":370282,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.30","catch_line":"Authority of the State Corporation Commission","url":"\/56-265.30\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.30","metadata":false},{"id":370283,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.31","catch_line":"Commission to establish advisory committee","url":"\/56-265.31\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.31","metadata":false},{"id":370284,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.32","catch_line":"Commission to impose civil penalties for certain violations; establishment of Underground Utility Damage Prevention Special Fund","url":"\/56-265.32\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.32","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370272,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.24","catch_line":"Duties of excavator","url":"\/56-265.24\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":370274,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.25","catch_line":"Liability of operator and excavator; penalties","url":"\/56-265.25\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.25","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-265.24:1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2023. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 299<\/a> and 300<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":370254,"section_number":"56-265.15","catch_line":"Definitions; calculation of time periods","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.15\/"},{"id":370255,"section_number":"56-265.15:1","catch_line":" Exemptions; routine maintenance","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.15_1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1476341,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370273,"identifier":"56-265.24:1","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24_1","url":"\/56-265.24_1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-265.24_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Request to cease operation; immediate threat; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-265.24:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Notwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 56-265.15:1<\/a>, any person<\/span>, as defined in \u00a7 56-265.15<\/a>, who knowingly and intentionally excavates after being notified by a representative of the Commission<\/span> of a determination that such excavation constitutes an immediate threat to safety or property and such representative requests that excavation cease is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. The representative of the Commission<\/span> shall immediately notify the agency with primary law<\/span>-enforcement authority over the area of excavation, as well as the fire marshal, (i) that such excavation site is a threat to safety or property and (ii) of the request to cease excavation.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREQUEST TO CEASE OPERATION; IMMEDIATE THREAT; PENALTY (\u00a7 56-265.24:1)\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of \u00a7 56-265.15:1, any person, as defined in \u00a7\n56-265.15, who knowingly and intentionally excavates after being notified by a\nrepresentative of the Commission of a determination that such excavation\nconstitutes an immediate threat to safety or property and such representative\nrequests that excavation cease is guilty of a Class 6 felony. The representative\nof the Commission shall immediately notify the agency with primary\nlaw-enforcement authority over the area of excavation, as well as the fire\nmarshal, (i) that such excavation site is a threat to safety or property and\n(ii) of the request to cease excavation.\n\nHISTORY: 2023, cc. 299, 300.","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"}}