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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>346139</law_id><section_number>10.1-615</section_number><catch_line>Petition for establishment; what to set forth</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="38" identifier="10.1">Conservation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="8" identifier="6">Flood Protection and Dam Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="6" identifier="3">Watershed Improvements Districts</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any twenty-five owners of land lying within the limits of a proposed watershed improvement district, or a majority of such owners if there are fewer than fifty, may file a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> with the <span class="dictionary">directors</span> of the soil and water conservation district or districts in which the proposed watershed improvement district is situated asking that a watershed improvement district be organized to function in the territory described in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. The <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall set forth: <a id="paragraph-1290402" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The proposed name of the watershed improvement district; <a id="paragraph-1290403" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> That there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, for a watershed improvement district to function in the territory described in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>; <a id="paragraph-1290404" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A description of the territory proposed to be organized as a watershed improvement district, which description shall be deemed sufficient if generally accurate; <a id="paragraph-1290405" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> That the territory described in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> is contiguous and is the same watershed, or is two or more contiguous watersheds; <a id="paragraph-1290406" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> A request that the territory described in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> be organized as a watershed improvement district; <a id="paragraph-1290407" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The method for financing the proposed district, whether by means of a tax on all real estate in the proposed district or a service charge on the increase in the fair market value of all real estate in the proposed district caused by the district&#x2019;s project. <a id="paragraph-1290408" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Land lying within the limits of one watershed improvement district shall not be included in another watershed improvement district. <a id="paragraph-1290409" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-615/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1956, c. 668, &#xA7; 21-112.2; 1964, c. 512; 1970, c. 480; 1977, c. 40; 1981, c. 156; 1988, c. 891.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
