CHAP. 157.—An ACT to provide for designation by cities and towns of
segregation districts for residence of white and colored persons; for
the adoption of this act by such cities and towns, and for penalties
for the violation of its terms.

Approved March 12, 1912.

Whereas, the preservation of the public morals, public health
and public order, in the cities and towns of this commonwealth
is endangered by the residence of white and colored people in
close proximity to one another; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
in the cities and towns of this commonwealth where this act
shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of section
eleven hereof, the entire area within the respective corporate
limits thereof shall, by ordinance, adopted by the council of each
such city or town, be divided into districts, the boundaries where-
of shall be plainly designated in such ordinance and which shall
be known as “segregation districts.”

2. That no such district shall comprise less than the entire
property fronting on any street or alley, and lying between any
two adjacent streets or alleys, or between any street and an
alley next adjacent thereto.

3. That the council of each such city or town shall provide
for, and have prepared, within six months after such council
shall have adopted the provisions of this act, a map showing the
boundaries of all such segregation districts, and showing the
number of white persons and colored persons residing within
such segregation district, on a date to be designated in such ordi-
nance of adoption, but which shall be within sixty days of the
passage of such ordinance; and such map shall designate as 2
white district each district wherein there are, on the date sc
designated, more residents of the white race than there are resi-
dents of the colored race, and shall designate as a colored dis-
irict each district so defined, in which there are on the said date
as many or more residents of the colored race, as there are
residents of the white race.

4. That after twelve months from the passage of the ordi-
nances adopting the provisions of this act, it shall be unlawful
for any colored person, not then residing in a district so defined
and designated as a white district, or who is not a member of
a family then therein residing, to move into and occupy Aas a resi-
dence any building or portion thereof in such white district, and
it shall be unlawful, after the expiration of said period of twelve
months from the passage of the ordinance adopting the provi-
sions of this act, for any white person not then residing in a dis-
trict so defined and designated as a colored district, or who is
not a member of a family then therein residing, to move into
and occupy as a residence any building, or portion thereof, in
such colored district.

5. That any person occupying any room as a sleeping place
in any district, whether as a dependent, boarder or lodger,
shall be classed as a resident of such district, unless it appear
that such occupation was merely transitory and that such person
had another fixed place of abode.

6. That the said map shall be certified by the clerk of the
council of such city or town, and shall be at all times kept open
to inspection by the public in the office of such clerk, and that
any person considering that such map has not been prepared
in accordance with the provisions of this act, and who is in any
wise prejudiced thereby, shall, within sixty days from the coms
pletion thereof, or within eight months from the adoption of the
provisions of this act by such city or town, notify the clerk of
said council in writing of the particulars of the error claimed
to have occurred in the preparation of such map, and such per-
son may thereafter within thirty days after giving such notice
move the corporation court of such city, or if there be no such
court, the circuit court of the county wherein such city or town
is situate, or the judge of such court in vacation, to correct the
error complained of, and the said court or the judge thereof in
vacation, shall investigate the facts in the premises, and order
such corrections of such map as may be necessary to make the
same conform to the provisions of this act.

7. That the map so prepared and certified and corrected shall
be prima facie evidence of the boundaries and racial designation
of such districts.

8. That any person who, after the expiration of twelve months
from the passage of the ordinance of adoption, shall reside in
any such district, contrary to the provisions of this act, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall
be fined for the first week of such prohibited residence not less
than five nor more than fifty dollars, and for each succeeding
day of such residence the sum of two dollars.

9. That nothing herein contained shall preclude persons of
either race employed as servants by persons of the other race
from residing upon the premises of which such employer is the
owner or occupier.

10. That nothing herein contained shall be construed or ope-
rate to prevent any person who, on the date which this act shall
be adopted in any city or town, shall have acquired a legal right
to occupy as a resident any building, or portion thereof in any
such district, in such city or town, whether by devise, purchase,
lease, or other contract, and who shall not, on the date which
this act shall be so adopted have actually moved into such prem-
ises from thereafter moving into and occupying the same.

11. This act shall apply only to the cities or towns which by
a recorded vote of a majority of the members elected to the
council thereof, or if there be two branches of such council by
a recorded vote of a majority of the members elected to each
branch thereof, shall adopt the provisions of this act, and in
all respects comply with the requirements hereof.