Virginia Law

Subdivided Land Sales Act

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Agent" means any person who represents or acts for or on behalf of a developer in the disposition of any lot in a subdivision, but does not include an attorney whose representation of another person consists solely of rendering legal services.

"Blanket encumbrance" means a trust, deed, mortgage, judgment, or any other lien or encumbrance, securing or evidencing the payment of money and affecting the land comprising the subdivision to be offered and sold or leased or affecting more than 10 lots or parcels of such lands, or an agreement affecting more than 10 lots or parcels of such lands by which the developer holds such subdivision under option, contract, sale, or trust agreement. "Blanket encumbrance" does not include mechanics' liens, taxes, or assessments levied by a public authority, or easements granted to public utilities or governmental agencies for the purpose of bringing services to the lot or parcel within the subdivision.

"Developer" means any person who offers, directly or indirectly, for disposition, any lot in a subdivision, but does not include a trustee under a deed of trust securing an indebtedness or other obligation who sells lots within such subdivision under foreclosure proceedings, provided that the purpose in so doing is not to evade the provisions of this chapter.

"Disposition" or "sale" means any lease, assignment, or exchange, or any interest in any lot that is a part of or included in a subdivision.

"Land sales installment contract" means any installment contract for the sale or disposition of land by which the purchaser does not receive a deed conveying the property purchased until some or all installment payments have been made as called for in the contract and record title to such property remains in another pending full performance of the contract.

"Lot" means any unit, parcel, division, piece of land, or interest in land except utility easements if such interest carries with it the exclusive right to use a specific portion of property.

"Offer" means any inducement, solicitation, media advertisement, or attempt performed by or on behalf of a developer that has as its objective the disposition of a lot in a subdivision.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, government or governmental agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, unincorporated association, two or more of any of the foregoing having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

"Purchaser" means a person who acquires or attempts to acquire any lot in a subdivision.

"Subdivision" means:

1. Any subdivision of land into 100 or more lots, whether contiguous or not, where any such lots are, from July 1, 1978, sold or disposed of by land sales installment contracts and pursuant to a common promotional plan, where lot purchasers within such subdivision have use of and access to the facilities and amenities within such subdivision for which the lot owners are assessed on a regular or special basis for the use and enjoyment of such lot; and

2. Any existing subdivision of land of 30 or more lots in which the developer has concluded its sales effort for a period of six consecutive months and has transferred to the association described in subdivision A 1 of § 55.1-2305 all the title, control, and maintenance responsibilities of the common areas and common facilities.

1978, c. 510, § 55-337; 1980, c. 546; 1996, c. 372; 2019, c. 712.

Unless the method of disposition is adopted for the purposes of evasion of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:

1. The sale of a subdivision to a single purchaser for his own account in a single or isolated transaction;

2. The disposition of lots in a subdivision if each lot in the subdivision is at least five acres in size;

3. The disposition of a lot on which there is a residential, commercial, or industrial building, or as to a lot upon which there is a legal obligation on the part of the seller to construct such a building within a period of two years from the date of disposition;

4. The disposition of land pursuant to court order, provided that the court reviews and approves the disposition on an individual basis;

5. The disposition of cemetery lots;

6. Offers or dispositions of evidence of indebtedness secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real estate;

7. Offers or dispositions of securities or units of interest issued by a real estate investment trust regulated under any state or federal statute;

8. Offers or dispositions of any interest in real estate, oil, gas, or other minerals or any royalty interest in such real estate, oil, gas, or other minerals if the offers or dispositions of such interests are regulated as securities by the United States or by the Commonwealth;

9. The disposition of a lot to any person whose purpose in acquiring the land is to engage in the business of constructing residential, commercial, or industrial buildings on such land;

10. The lease of a lot where the right to possession or the rental term does not exceed one year in the aggregate and where the conditions of the lease do not obligate the lessee to renew;

11. The sale or lease of condominium units registered pursuant to the Virginia Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.); or

12. The disposition of real estate that is zoned or otherwise designated by the appropriate governmental authority for, or restricted by a valid recorded declaration of covenants to, commercial or industrial use.

1978, c. 510, § 55-338; 1980, c. 546; 2019, c. 712.

It is unlawful for the developer to transfer fee simple ownership of a lot or parcel within a subdivision to a purchaser by any other means than by a general or special warranty deed or other deed complying with Chapter 3 (§ 55.1-300 et seq.).

1978, c. 510, § 55-341; 2019, c. 712.

A. It is unlawful for any developer or agent to sell or lease a lot in a subdivision that is subject to a blanket encumbrance unless the blanket encumbrance or effective supplemental agreement contains a release provision permitting legal title to individual lots or other interest contracted for to be obtained free and clear of the blanket encumbrance. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit either the conditions upon which such release may be premise or the modification or amendment of such release provision as to (i) any purchaser other than a purchaser under an installment sales contract or (ii) any purchaser under an installment sales contract that is executed subsequent to the recordation of the amendment or modification.

B. Unless blanket encumbrance release provisions provide that the lien of the blanket encumbrance is subordinate to the rights of persons purchasing from the developer or agent and that those purchasers have the unconditional right to obtain legal title or other interest contracted for free and clear of the blanket encumbrance upon compliance with the terms and conditions of the purchase or lease, it is unlawful for a developer or agent to sell or lease lots except in compliance with one of the following conditions:

1. Any earnest money deposit or advance or other payment made by the purchaser on account of the purchase of a lot is placed in an escrow account that is a trust account maintained in a federally insured depository located in the Commonwealth and that fully protects the interest of the purchaser until:

a. Fee title or other interest contracted for is conveyed to the purchaser free and clear of the blanket encumbrance;

b. Either the developer or purchaser defaults under the contract and a final determination as to the disbursal of sums paid is made by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

c. The developer voluntarily orders the return of the money to the purchaser; or

2. Title to the subdivision is held in trust under a trust agreement until a proper release is obtained and legal title or other interest contracted for is conveyed to the purchaser.

1978, c. 510, § 55-342; 1980, c. 546; 1996, c. 372; 2019, c. 712.

Provided that selling or leasing a lot is not specifically prohibited by recorded covenant, it is unlawful to restrain the owner of a lot in a subdivision from offering such lot for sale or lease or from selling or leasing such lot. Any deed restriction or recorded covenant that creates a right of first refusal in excess of 30 days or creates a sales restraint that denies lot owners the right to post for-sale signs of reasonable size is null and void.

1978, c. 510, § 55-343; 2019, c. 712.

A. The covenants, deed restrictions, articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other instruments for the management, regulation, and control of subdivisions that include facilities or amenities for which the lot owners are assessed on a regular or special basis for the use, enjoyment, and maintenance of such facilities or amenities shall provide for at a minimum:

1. Formation of an association to be composed of lot owners within the subdivision, such formation occurring prior to the sale of the first lot within the subdivision by the developer;

2. A description of the areas or interests to be owned or controlled by the association, including those facilities or amenities for which the lot owners are subject to regular or special assessments;

3. The transfer of title, control, and maintenance responsibilities of common areas and common facilities to the association, which transfer is to take place no later than at such time as the developer transfers legal or equitable ownership of at least 75 percent of the lots within the subdivision to purchasers of such lots or when all of the amenities and facilities are completed, whichever occurs first, but in no event any sooner than two years from the date the developer sells his first lot within the subdivision should the developer elect to retain title to the common areas and common facilities for such period. The transfer of such title, control, and maintenance responsibilities required of the developer shall not exonerate the developer from the responsibility of completion of the common areas and facilities once the transfer takes place.

Nothing in this section shall preclude the developer from transferring the common areas and common facilities for consideration, provided that (i) such consideration does not exceed the lesser of the fair market value of such common areas and common facilities at the time of transfer or the actual cost expended by the developer for such common areas and common facilities and (ii) the developer affirmatively discloses the following information to the purchaser, in writing, at the time the initial contract of purchase is signed:

a. That the common areas and common facilities will be transferred only upon payment of consideration by the association;

b. The terms upon which such transfer will be made; and

c. An estimate of the amount of consideration to be paid by the association.

In the event the developer seeks payment for the areas or facilities transferred, the association shall have the option of deferring such payment, evidence by a deed of trust note covering a period of not less than five years at the legal rate of interest allowed in the Commonwealth and secured by a deed of trust covering the areas or facilities transferred;

4. Procedures for determining and collecting regular assessments to defray expenses attributable to the ownership, use, enjoyment, and operation of common areas and facilities transferred to the association;

5. Procedures for establishing and collecting special assessments for capital improvements or other purposes;

6. Procedures to be employed upon the annexation of additional land to the existing subdivision that shall disclose whether or not per capita assessments on account of such annexation shall be subject to an increase, in the event additional amenities or common facilities are provided lot owners within the subdivision;

7. Such procedures and restrictions, if any, that apply to the voluntary or involuntary resale of a lot within a subdivision by a purchaser or his agent, which shall be established prior to the sale of the first lot by the developer within the subdivision;

8. Monetary penalties or use privilege and voting suspension of members for breaches of the restrictions, bylaws, or other instruments for management and control of the subdivision, or for nonpayment of regular or special assessments, with procedures for hearings for the disciplined members;

9. Creation of a board of directors or other governing body for the association with the members of the board or body to be elected by a vote of members of the association in good standing at an annual meeting or special meeting to be held not later than six months after the transfer of the areas of facilities provided for in subdivision 3;

10. Enumeration of the power of the board of directors or governing body that is consistent with and not otherwise provided by law;

11. The preparation of an annual balance sheet and operating statement for each fiscal year with provision for distribution of a copy of the reports to each member of the association in good standing within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year;

12. Quorum requirements for meetings of members of the association who are in good standing; and

13. Such other provisions as may be required by the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act (§ 13.1-801 et seq.) if the association is a Virginia nonstock corporation.

B. Any developer of a subdivision, successor or otherwise, when such subdivision is subject to the provisions of this chapter, shall be obligated to complete the facilities and amenities as promised and outlined in subsection A by the initial developer of the subdivision subject to the transfer of title, control, and maintenance responsibilities of common areas and common facilities to the lot owners' association. The foregoing shall not be deemed to apply to any purchaser at foreclosure or grantee in a deed in lieu of foreclosure, provided that the purchaser or grantee is a financial institution and the mortgagee, creditor, or beneficiary under the instrument being foreclosed or giving rise to the deed in lieu of foreclosure. For the purposes of this subsection, "financial institution" means a bank, savings institution, real estate investment trust, insurance company, pension or profit sharing trust, or other institution regularly engaged in the business of making real estate loans. For purposes of this subsection, the lot owners' association shall not be deemed a developer if at a meeting of its members in good standing a vote is taken and at least 50 percent of the members vote to be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

C. The association, once formed and in existence, and the title owner of the common areas and common facilities within the subdivision and which has been in existence for a period of at least five years shall have the authority to pass special assessments against and raise the annual assessments of the members of the association and to collect such assessments from such members according to law, if the purpose in so doing is for the maintenance of such common areas and common facilities. The authority granted and conferred upon the association by this subsection exists only where the restrictions and covenants of record do not contain specific language that precludes the adoption of special assessments or increases the annual dues or assessments.

D. The association shall have a lien on every lot within its subdivision for unpaid regular or special assessments levied against such lot in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The lien, once perfected, shall be prior to all other liens and encumbrances except (i) real estate tax liens on such lot, (ii) liens and encumbrances recorded prior to the perfected lien, and (iii) any sums unpaid on any first mortgages or first deeds of trust recorded prior to the perfection of the lien for regular or special assessments and securing institutional lenders. The provisions of this subsection shall not affect the priority of mechanics' and materialmen's liens.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or any other provisions of law requiring documents to be recorded in the miscellaneous lien books or the deed books of the clerk's office of any court, from July 1, 1978, all memoranda of liens arising under this subsection shall, in the discretion of the clerk, be recorded in the miscellaneous lien books or the deed books in such clerk's office. Any memorandum shall be indexed in the general index to deeds, and such general index shall identify the lien as a lien for subdivision regular or special assessments.

The association, in order to perfect the lien given by this subsection, shall file before the expiration of 90 days from the time such regular or special assessment became due and payable in the clerk's office of the county or city in which the subdivision is situated a memorandum, verified by the oath of the president of the association, which shall contain:

1. A description of the subdivision;

2. The name or names of the owners of the lot;

3. The amount of unpaid regular or special assessments currently due or past due applicable to the lot, together with the date when each fell due; and

4. The date of issuance of the memorandum.

The clerk in whose office the memorandum is filed shall record and index such memorandum as provided in this subsection, in the names of the persons identified in such memorandum, as well as in the name of the association. The cost of recording the memorandum shall be taxed against the person found liable for any judgment or order enforcing such lien. It is lawful for the memorandum to be filed as one statement listing the information required in subdivisions 1 through 4 and each of the lot owners whose property within the subdivision is liened. The cost of filing shall be as provided in subdivision A 2 of § 17.1-275.

Any lien perfected pursuant to this section may be enforced by filing a civil action to conduct a judicial foreclosure in the circuit court in the county or city where the lot is located or a nonjudicial foreclosure. No foreclosure of any lien perfected under this section shall be initiated after 120 months from the time when the memorandum of lien was recorded. The filing of a civil action to enforce any such lien by foreclosure through judicial means or issuance of notice of nonjudicial foreclosure shall be regarded as the institution of an action under this subsection. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to extend the time within which any such lien may be perfected. Nothing shall preclude the association from filing a single action listing all unpaid delinquent and enumerated lot owners as defendants and obtaining judgment against those so adjudicated by the court hearing the action. The association may conduct a judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure sale upon a lot against which the association has perfected one or more liens pursuant to this section if the total sums secured are in excess of $5,000, exclusive of attorney fees and costs.

The judgment in an action brought pursuant to this subsection shall include, without limitation, reimbursement for costs and attorney fees, together with the interest at the maximum lawful rate for the sums secured by the lien from the time each sum became due and payable.

When payment or satisfaction is made of a debt secured by the lien perfected by this subsection, the lien shall be released in accordance with the provisions of § 55.1-339. For the purposes of § 55.1-339, the president or secretary of the association is the duly authorized agent of the lien creditor.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the recovery of sums for which this subsection creates a lien.

Any lot owner within the subdivision having executed a contract for the disposition of the lot is entitled, upon request, to a recordable statement setting forth the amount of unpaid regular or special assessments currently levied against that lot. Such request shall be in writing, directed to the president of the association, and delivered to the principal office of the association. Failure of the association to furnish or make available such a statement within five business days from the receipt of such written request shall extinguish the lien created by this subsection as to the lot involved. Payment of a fee not exceeding $15 may be required as a prerequisite to the issuance of such a statement if the bylaws of the association so provide.

E. If, upon July 1, 1978, and a subdivision becoming subject to the terms and requirements outlined in subdivisions A 1 through 8 have not been performed, then the requirements shall have to be fully complied with within a period of 90 days from July 1, 1978, and upon failure to fully perform all of such requirements within the 90-day period the failure so to do shall constitute a violation of this subsection.

F. Each lot owner within a subdivision that falls within the scope of this chapter shall be responsible for his pro rata share of the cost of maintaining the common facilities and common areas owned by the association. For purposes of this subsection, "common facilities and common areas" means only the roads and lakes within the subdivision, and "maintaining" includes any orderly program for the continued upkeep and improvement of such roads and lakes. The association has the responsibility of determining the pro rata share assessed against each lot owner, and such amount assessed shall be in addition to the annual or special assessment otherwise obligated by each member of the association.

G. If a subdivision of land meets the requirement in subdivision 2 of the definition of subdivision as provided in § 55.1-2300, then the property owners' association of the subject subdivision has the powers and duties enumerated in subsections C, D, and F as well as the rights and authority to establish those procedures outlined in subdivisions A 4, 5, and 6 and the penalties in subdivision A 8, and also has the obligations imposed by such subdivisions and those of subdivisions A 9 through 12.

1978, c. 510, § 55-344; 1980, c. 546; 1989, c. 68; 1993, c. 36; 1996, c. 77; 2019, c. 712; 2024, cc. 55, 349.

Any person violating any of the provisions of §§ 55.1-2302 through 55.1-2305 is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. At the discretion of the court, any imprisonment may run concurrently with imprisonment imposed by any court for violation of any law similar to the provisions of this chapter.

1978, c. 510, § 55-347; 1979, c. 243; 1996, c. 372; 2019, c. 712.