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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>348200</law_id><section_number>15.2-3217</section_number><catch_line>Court granting annexation to exist for 10 years</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-3218</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="46" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="4" identifier="32">Boundary Changes of Towns and Cities</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Annexation</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The special <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall not be dissolved after rendering a decision granting any <span class="dictionary">motion</span> or <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for annexation, but shall remain in existence for a period of 10 years from the effective date of any annexation <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered, or from the date of any decision of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> affirming such an <span class="dictionary">order</span>. Vacancies occurring in the <span class="dictionary">court</span> during such 10-year period shall be filled as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Vacancies on court occurring during trial" href="/15.2-3004/">15.2-3004</a>.</p><p>The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may be reconvened at any time during the 10-year period on its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, or on <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of the <span class="dictionary">county</span>, or of the <span class="dictionary">city</span> or <span class="dictionary">town</span>, or on <span class="dictionary">petition</span> of not less than 50 registered <span class="dictionary">voters</span> or property owners in the area annexed; however, if the area annexed contains fewer than 100 registered <span class="dictionary">voters</span> or property owners, a majority of such registered <span class="dictionary">voters</span> or property owners may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the reconvening of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>.</p><p>The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall have power and it shall be its duty, at any time during such period, to enforce the performance of the terms and conditions under which annexation was granted, and to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> appropriate process to compel such performance. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion, award attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> and other reasonable costs to the <span class="dictionary">party</span> or parties on whose <span class="dictionary">motion</span> the <span class="dictionary">court</span> is reconvened.</p><p>Any such action of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall be subject to review by the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> in the same manner as is provided with respect to the original decision of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 15-152.17; 1952, c. 328; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-1047; 1979, c. 85; 1997, c. 587; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
