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Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-250 (2026)

How far jurisdiction of corporate authorities extends

✓ current as of May 2026
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A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article and except as provided in subsection B hereof, the jurisdiction of the corporate authorities of each town or city, in criminal cases involving offenses against the Commonwealth, shall extend within the Commonwealth one mile beyond the corporate limits of such town or city; except that such jurisdiction of the corporate authorities of towns situated in counties having a density of population in excess of 300 inhabitants per square mile, or in counties adjacent to cities having a population of 170,000 or more, shall extend for 300 yards beyond the corporate limits of such town or, in the case of the criminal jurisdiction of an adjacent county, for 300 yards within such town.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the jurisdiction of the authorities of Chesterfield County and Henrico County, in criminal cases involving offenses against the Commonwealth, shall extend one mile beyond the limits of such county into the City of Richmond.

Code 1950, § 15.1-141; 1962, c. 623; 1975, c. 495; 1978, c. 379; 1998, c. 428; 2007, c. 813.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 23 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1986–2025 · leading case: Gerald, T. v. Commonwealth, 813 S.E.2d 722 (Va. 2018).
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Gerald, T. v. Commonwealth, 813 S.E.2d 722 (Va. 2018). · cites it 4× “1 (extending territorial jurisdiction of Lynchburg Circuit Court as specified); Code § 19.2-250(A) (providing, with some exceptions, for "jurisdiction of the corporate authorities" of towns or cities extending one mile beyond corporate limits); Code § 19.”
Quindell Montrae Kirby v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 762 S.E.2d 414 (Va. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 33× “2-250(B) states that in criminal cases “the jurisdiction of the authorities of Chesterfield County ... shall extend one mile beyond the limits of such county into the City of Richmond.”
Rowe v. Com., 675 S.E.2d 161 (Va. 2009). · cites it 4× “Although Code § 19.2-250 does limit the geographic boundaries of localities to one mile beyond their respective corporate limits, as Rowe contends, the Agreement, signed by both Virginia Beach (which employed Officer Fair) and Chesapeake (where the encounter took place), gives…”
Hudson v. Commonwealth, 585 S.E.2d 583 (Va. 2003). · cites it 10× “2(B) because Officer Wills lacked authority to detain him under Code § 19.2-250 or as a private citizen. Hudson’s final assignment of error is that the Commonwealth failed to meet its burden of proof as to the unavailability of a blood test.”
Najee Finique Hairston v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 797 S.E.2d 794 (Va. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “See Code § 19.2-250(A). 4 . The appellant’s assignment of error challenges only the validity of the initial seizure and does not independently contest what happened afterward.”
Hoambrecker v. City of Lynchburg, 412 S.E.2d 729 (Va. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 6× “158, 160 (1936); see also Code § 19.2-250. 1 Code § 19.2-250 does not extend the effect of city ordinances beyond city limits; rather, it confers on city police officers the authority to enforce the statutes of the Commonwealth or law of the jurisdiction involved.”
Shannon Michael Breitbach v. Commonwealth of VA, 546 S.E.2d 764 (Va. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 6× “ANALYSIS Code § 19.2-250 provides that, in criminal cases involving offenses against the Commonwealth, the jurisdiction of a city or town “shall extend within the Commonwealth one mile beyond the corporate limits of such town or city.”
Robertson v. Rogers, 346 S.E.2d 41 (Va. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 9× “Appellant’s residence was in neighboring Pittsylvania County, but was located within the one mile statutory jurisdictional limits of the City of Danville provided for in Code § 19.2-250. 1 2 Pursuant to the warrant, members of the Virginia State Police and the Danville Police…”
Boatwright v. Commonwealth, 647 S.E.2d 515 (Va. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 8× “The trial court denied the motion, holding that the officer’s jurisdiction extended up to one mile beyond the corporate limits of the city, pursuant to Code § 19.2-250. 2 The trial court subsequently tried and convicted Boatwright of driving while intoxicated.”
Neiss v. Commonwealth, 433 S.E.2d 262 (Va. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “Code § 19.2-250. 2 Code § 19.2-77 provides: Whenever a person in the custody of an officer shall escape or whenever a person shall flee from an officer attempting to arrest him, such officer, with or without a warrant, may *810 pursue such person anywhere in the Commonwealth…”
Quindell Montrae Kirby v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 32× “2-250(B) states that in criminal cases “the jurisdiction of the authorities of Chesterfield County . .”
Joseph Michael Bista v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 19× “2-244(A) provides, “Except as otherwise provided by law, the prosecution of a criminal case shall be had in the county or city in which the offense was committed.”
Show all 23 citing cases →
— Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-250(A) — 12 cases
Gerald, T. v. Commonwealth, 813 S.E.2d 722 (Va. 2018). “1 (extending territorial jurisdiction of Lynchburg Circuit Court as specified); Code § 19.2-250(A) (providing, with some exceptions, for "jurisdiction of the corporate authorities" of towns or cities extending one mile beyond corporate limits); Code § 19.”
Najee Finique Hairston v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 797 S.E.2d 794 (Va. Ct. App. 2017). “See Code § 19.2-250(A). 4 . The appellant’s assignment of error challenges only the validity of the initial seizure and does not independently contest what happened afterward.”
Rowe v. Com., 675 S.E.2d 161 (Va. 2009). “Although Code § 19.2-250 does limit the geographic boundaries of localities to one mile beyond their respective corporate limits, as Rowe contends, the Agreement, signed by both Virginia Beach (which employed Officer Fair) and Chesapeake (where the encounter took place), gives…”
Quindell Montrae Kirby v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 762 S.E.2d 414 (Va. Ct. App. 2014). “2-250(B) states that in criminal cases “the jurisdiction of the authorities of Chesterfield County ... shall extend one mile beyond the limits of such county into the City of Richmond.”
Hudson v. Commonwealth, 585 S.E.2d 583 (Va. 2003). “2(B) because Officer Wills lacked authority to detain him under Code § 19.2-250 or as a private citizen. Hudson’s final assignment of error is that the Commonwealth failed to meet its burden of proof as to the unavailability of a blood test.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-250(B) — 4 cases
Gerald, T. v. Commonwealth, 813 S.E.2d 722 (Va. 2018). “1 (extending territorial jurisdiction of Lynchburg Circuit Court as specified); Code § 19.2-250(A) (providing, with some exceptions, for "jurisdiction of the corporate authorities" of towns or cities extending one mile beyond corporate limits); Code § 19.”
Quindell Montrae Kirby v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 762 S.E.2d 414 (Va. Ct. App. 2014). “2-250(B) states that in criminal cases “the jurisdiction of the authorities of Chesterfield County ... shall extend one mile beyond the limits of such county into the City of Richmond.”
Quindell Montrae Kirby v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2014). “2-250(B) states that in criminal cases “the jurisdiction of the authorities of Chesterfield County . .”
Goodall v. Unknown (E.D. Va. 2022).
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