CHAPTER 97

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 15.1-51 and 15.1-52 of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to where certain officers shall reside.

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That $§ 15.1-51 and 15.1-52 of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 15.1-51. Every district officer shall, at the time of his election or
appomtment, have resided in the district for which he is elected or ap-
pointed thirty days next preceding his election or appointment, and
residence in any incorporated town within the district shall be regarded
as residence in the district. Every county officer, except deputy clerks of
courts of record, shall, at the time of his election or appointment, have
resided six months next preceding his election or appointment, either in
the county for which he is elected or appointed, or in the city wherein the
courthouse of the county is or in a city wholly within the boundaries of
such county, except that, if no practicing lawyer, who has resided in the
county or in such city for the period aforesaid, offer for election or appoint-
ment, it shall be lawful to elect or appoint as attorney for the Common-
wealth for such county a nonresident, or one who has not resided in the
county, or in such city, for the period above mentioned, and except, further,
that if no qualified surveyor, who has resided in the county the aforesaid
period, offers for appointment, it shall be lawful to appoint, as county
surveyor, a nonresident, or one who has not resided in the county for the
requisite period, if the judge or the court making the appointment certifies
that there is no qualified surveyor, having the requisite qualifications as
to residence, who will serve as such. Every city and town officer except
members of the police and fire departments and town attorney shall, at
the time of his election or appointment, have resided one year next pre-
eeding his election or appointment in such city or town unless otherwise

ifieally provided by charter.

§ 15.1-52. If any officer, required by the preceding section (§ 15.1-51)
to be a resident at the time of his election or appointment of the county,
city, district or town for which he is elected or appointed, or of the city
wherein the courthouse of such county is or in a city wholly within the
boundaries of such county, remove therefrom, except from the county to
such city, or from such city to the county, or in case a nonresident who
has been elected Commonwealth’s attorney remove from the county or
county seat of the county in which he resided when elected, except to the
county in which he is elected, his office shall be deemed vacant.