Virginia Law

Article 12. Administrative and Judicial Review.

Any person aggrieved by any assessment under this chapter may apply for relief to the board of assessors, or if none, to the board of equalization created under Article 14 (§ 58.1-3370 et seq.) of this chapter or may directly apply for relief to the appropriate circuit court of the county or city in those localities where application to the aforenamed board is not a prerequisite to the jurisdiction of the court.

1984, c. 675; 1985, c. 64.

The value of real estate as ascertained at a general reassessment and the ascertained value of new grants which may hereafter be entered and assessed shall only be changed to allow the addition of the value of improvements, or a total or partial deduction of the value of such improvements or an addition to or total or partial deduction from the value of the real estate caused by any easement affecting the real estate, except so far as the same are directed to be corrected by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the local board of equalization in the exercise of powers expressly conferred by law. Routine maintenance shall not be considered as improvements.

Code 1950, § 58-763; 1968, c. 593; 1983, c. 161; 1984, c. 675.

If land lying in one county or city be erroneously assessed in another, the commissioner on whose book it is erroneously assessed shall certify the owner's name and the quantity, description and value of the land to the proper commissioner, who shall enter the same on his book, and the commissioner on whose book it was erroneously entered shall strike the same therefrom upon being informed of the entry thereof by the proper commissioner.

Code 1950, § 58-814; 1984, c. 675.

No assessment of any real estate, whether heretofore or hereafter made, shall be held to be invalid because of any error, omission or irregularity by the commissioner of the revenue or other assessing officer in charging such real estate on the land book unless it be shown by the person or persons contesting any such assessment that such error, omission or irregularity has operated to the prejudice of his or their rights.

Code 1950, § 58-815; 1984, c. 675.

In the case of any real estate upon which any easement has been acquired for the installation of public service, highway or street facilities, and which has not been reassessed by the commissioner of the revenue on request of the landowner as provided in § 58.1-3351, the owner thereof may apply for relief to the circuit court of such county or any city court of record wherein such property is located. If the governing body of any county is of the opinion that any real estate therein is assessed at less than its fair market value, it shall direct the attorney for the Commonwealth to apply to the circuit court of such county to have the assessment corrected. Proceedings upon any such application shall be as provided in §§ 58.1-3984 to 58.1-3989 and the court shall enter such order with respect to the assessment as is just and proper.

Code 1950, § 58-764; 1968, c. 593; 1976, c. 717; 1984, c. 675.

In the event any deduction has been made from the value of real estate for any public service corporation easement under either § 58.1-3351 or § 58.1-3354, the commissioner of revenue or director of finance shall, on request, send the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Taxation, and the public service corporation owning said easement the amount of the deduction so made.

Code 1950, § 58-764.1; 1968, c. 593; 1977, c. 49; 1983, c. 570; 1984, c. 675.