Prior to the adoption of an ordinance petitioning the court for city status, the town council shall petition the court to order a referendum held within the town on the question of seeking city status. The provisions of § 24.2-684 shall govern the order for a referendum. The question on the ballot shall be:

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Terms Used In Virginia Code 15.2-3801

  • City: means an independent incorporated community which became a city as provided by law before noon on July 1, 1971, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city as provided by law. See Virginia Code 1-208
  • Council: means the governing body of a city or town. See Virginia Code 15.2-102
  • Town: means any existing town or an incorporated community within one or more counties which became a town before noon, July one, nineteen hundred seventy-one, as provided by law or which has within defined boundaries a population of 1,000 or more and which has become a town as provided by law. See Virginia Code 15.2-102

“Shall the Town of ____________________ seek to become a city?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No.”

If a majority of the electorate voting in the referendum vote “No,” the town council shall not proceed in seeking city status. If a majority of the electorate voting in such referendum vote “Yes,” the town council shall proceed as provided in § 15.2-3800.

1979, c. 85, § 15.1-982.2; 1982, c. 181; 1997, c. 587.