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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>347627</law_id><section_number>15.2-2001</section_number><catch_line>Streets, sidewalks and public rights-of-way generally</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="46" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="13" identifier="20">Streets and Alleys</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Construction of Roads, Streets and Alleys Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may lay out, open, extend, widen, narrow, establish or change the grade of, close, construct, pave, curb, gutter, plant and maintain shade trees on, improve, maintain, repair, clean and light: streets, limited access highways, express highways, roads, alleys, bridges, viaducts, subways and underpasses. Localities may make, improve and repair sidewalks upon all public rights-of-way and may convert sidewalks to bicycle paths. A <span class="dictionary">locality</span>&#x2019;s power and authority over its public rights-of-way and other public places shall be the same, regardless of whether the public right-of-way or place has been expressly or impliedly dedicated to public use, has been conveyed to the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> by deed, or has been acquired by any other means.</p><p>Furthermore, any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> may establish highway user fees for highways that are not part of any system of state highways when such highway&#x2019;s traffic-carrying capacity is increased by construction or improvement.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 15-77.53; 1958, c. 328; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-889; 1974, c. 407; 1997, c. 587; 2006, c. 924.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Friends for Ferrell Parkway, LLC v. Stasko</name><case_number>01-1899</case_number><citation>282 F.3d 315</citation><date>2002-02-28</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2967563/friends-for-ferrell-parkway-llc-v-stasko/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Affirmed by published opinion. Chief Judge WILKINSON wrote the opinion, in which Judge DIANA GRIBBON .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Friends for Ferrell Parkway, LLC v. Stasko</name><case_number>01-1899</case_number><citation>282 F.3d 315</citation><date>2002-02-28</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/776765/friends-for-ferrell-parkway-llc-v-stasko/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 282 F.3d 315 .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit</court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
