*TITLE 36. HOUSING; CHAPTER 1. HOUSING AUTHORITIES LAW

§ 36-4. Creation of redevelopment and housing authorities.

In each city and in each county there is hereby created a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, with such public and corporate powers as are set forth in this chapter, to be known respectively as the "................. (insert name of city or county) Redevelopment and Housing Authority" (hereinafter referred to as "authority" or "housing authority"); provided, however, that any authority not now activated shall not transact any business or exercise its powers hereunder until or unless the qualified voters of such city or county as the case may be shall by a majority vote of such qualified voters voting in an election held as provided in § 36-4.1, have indicated a need for an authority to function in such city or county. The election to determine whether or not there is such need for an authority to function (a) may be called by the governing body by resolution or (b) shall be called by the governing body upon the filing of a petition signed by 100 freeholders of the city or county, as the case may be, asserting that there is need for an authority to function in such city or county and requesting the governing body to call such election.

The governing body may by resolution call for an election to determine whether there is need for an authority in the city or county, as the case may be, if it believes (a) that insanitary or unsafe inhabited dwelling accommodations exist in such city or county or (b) that there is a shortage of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations in such city or county available to persons of low income at rentals they can afford or (c) that there is a blighted or deteriorated area which needs redeveloping. In determining whether dwelling accommodations are unsafe or insanitary or whether an area is blighted or deteriorated the governing body may take into consideration the degree of overcrowding, the percentage of land coverage, the light, air, space and access available to the inhabitants of such dwelling accommodations, the size and arrangement of the rooms, the sanitary facilities, and the extent to which conditions exist in such buildings which endanger life or property by fire or other causes.

In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or relating to any contract of the authority, the authority shall be conclusively deemed to have become established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers hereunder if the qualified voters of the county or city have indicated in an election held pursuant to § 36-4.1, that there is need for the authority.

*Note: This statutory text is given for illustrative purposes only. It may represent only that portion of the statute that FOIA mentions. There may have been legislative changes to the statute as well. Check the most recent, official version of the Virginia Code before relying on any provision seen here.