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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>348347</law_id><section_number>15.2-3902</section_number><catch_line>Moratorium on annexation suits pending transition to city</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="3" identifier="III">Boundary Adjustments and Changes of Status of Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="10" identifier="39">Transition of Counties to Cities</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any annexation suit filed against a <span class="dictionary">county</span> on or after the day the <span class="dictionary">county</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for <span class="dictionary">city</span> status is filed in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall be stayed pending the special <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">order</span> denying eligibility for <span class="dictionary">city</span> status or the election ordered on the proposed <span class="dictionary">city</span> charter, whichever occurs. If the <span class="dictionary">voters</span> approve the <span class="dictionary">city</span> charter, all annexation suits stayed pending the outcome of the election shall be dismissed. If the <span class="dictionary">voters</span> disapprove the <span class="dictionary">city</span> charter, all pending <span class="dictionary">stays</span> shall be dissolved.</p></section></text><history>1979, c. 85, &#xA7; 15.1-977.2:1; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
