Va. Code » Title 8.01. Civil Remedies and Procedure » Chapter 5. Venue
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261 (2026)

Category A or preferred venue

✓ current as of May 2026
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In the actions listed in this section, the forums enumerated shall be deemed preferred places of venue and may be referred to as "Category A" in this title. Venue laid in any other forum shall be subject to objection; however, if more than one preferred place of venue applies, any such place shall be a proper forum. The following forums are designated as places of preferred venue for the action specified:

1. In actions for review of, appeal from, or enforcement of state administrative regulations, decisions, or other orders:

a. If the moving or aggrieved party is other than the Commonwealth or an agency thereof, then the county or city wherein such party:

(1) Resides;

(2) Regularly or systematically conducts affairs or business activity; or

(3) Wherein such party's property affected by the administrative action is located.

b. If the moving or aggrieved party is the Commonwealth or an agency thereof, then the county or city wherein the respondent or a party defendant:

(1) Resides;

(2) Regularly or systematically conducts affairs or business activity; or

(3) Has any property affected by the administrative action.

c. If subdivisions 1 a and 1 b do not apply, then the county or city wherein the alleged violation of the administrative regulation, decision, or other order occurred.

2. Except as provided in subdivision 1 of this section, where the action is against one or more officers of the Commonwealth in an official capacity, the county or city where any such person has his official office.

3. The county or city wherein the subject land, or a part thereof, is situated in the following actions:

a. To recover or partition land;

b. To subject land to a debt;

c. To sell, lease, or encumber the land of persons under disabilities;

d. [Repealed.]

e. To sell wastelands;

f. To establish boundaries;

g. For unlawful entry or detainer;

h. For ejectment; or

i. To remove clouds on title.

4. [Reserved.]

5. In actions for writs of mandamus, prohibition, or certiorari, except such as may be issued by the Supreme Court, the county or city wherein is the record or proceeding to which the writ relates.

6. In actions on bonds required for public contract, the county or city in which the public project, or any part thereof, is situated.

7. In actions to impeach or establish a will, the county or city wherein the will was probated, or, if not probated at the time of the action, where the will may be properly offered for probate.

8., 9. [Repealed.]

10. In actions on any contract between a transportation district and a component government, any county or city any part of which is within such transportation district.

11. In attachments,

a. With reference to the principal defendant and those liable with or to him, venue shall be determined as if the principal defendant were the sole defendant; or

b. In the county or city in which the principal defendant has estate or has debts owing to him.

12. [Repealed.]

13. a. In any action for the collection of state, county, or municipal taxes, any one of the following counties or cities shall be deemed preferred places of venue:

(1) Wherein the taxpayer resides;

(2) Wherein the taxpayer owns real or personal property;

(3) Wherein the taxpayer has a registered office, or regularly or systematically conducts business; or

(4) In case of withdrawal from the Commonwealth by a delinquent taxpayer, wherein venue was proper at the time the taxes in question were assessed or at the time of such withdrawal.

b. In any action for the correction of an erroneous assessment of state taxes and tax refunds, any one of the following counties or cities shall be deemed preferred places of venue:

(1) Wherein the taxpayer resides;

(2) Wherein the taxpayer has a registered office or regularly or systematically conducts business;

(3) Wherein the taxpayer's real or personal property involved in such a proceeding is located; or

(4) The Circuit Court of the City of Richmond.

14. In proceedings by writ of quo warranto:

a. The city or county wherein any of the defendants reside;

b. If the defendant is a corporation, the city or county where its registered office is or where its mayor, rector, president, or other chief officer resides; or

c. If there is no officer or none of the defendants reside in the Commonwealth, venue shall be in the City of Richmond.

15. In proceedings to award an injunction:

a. To any judgment or judicial proceeding of a circuit court, venue shall be in the court in the county or city in which the judgment was rendered or such proceeding is pending;

b. To any judgment or judicial proceeding of a district court, venue shall be in the circuit court of the county or city in which the judgment was rendered or such proceeding is pending; or

c. To any other act or proceeding, venue shall be in the circuit court of the county or city in which the act is to be done, or being done, or is apprehended to be done or the proceeding is pending.

16. [Repealed.]

17. In disbarment or suspension proceedings against any attorney-at-law, in the county or city where the defendant:

a. Resides;

b. Has his principal office or place of practice when the proceeding is commenced;

c. Resided or had such principal office or place of practice when any misconduct complained of occurred; or

d. Has any pending case as to which any misconduct took place.

18. In actions under the Virginia Tort Claims Act, Article 18.1 (§ 8.01-195.1 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of this title:

a. The county or city where the claimant resides;

b. The county or city where the act or omission complained of occurred; or

c. If the claimant resides outside the Commonwealth and the act or omission complained of occurred outside the Commonwealth, the City of Richmond.

19. In suits for annulment, affirmance, or divorce, the county or city in which the parties last cohabited, or at the option of the plaintiff, in the county or city in which the defendant resides, if a resident of this Commonwealth, and in cases in which an order of publication may be issued against the defendant under § 8.01-316, venue may also be in the county or city in which the plaintiff resides.

20. In distress actions, in the county or city when the premises yielding the rent, or some part thereof, may be or where goods liable to distress may be found.

1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 334; 1979, c. 331; 1985, c. 433; 1987, c. 567; 1988, c. 766; 1989, c. 556; 1990, c. 831; 1993, c. 841.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 45 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: Meyer v. Brown, 500 S.E.2d 807 (Va. 1998).
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Meyer v. Brown, 500 S.E.2d 807 (Va. 1998). · cites it 3× “” Code § 8.01-261, enumerating forums deemed “preferred” places of venue, is inapplicable here.”
Residents Involved in Saving the Env't, Inc. v. Commonwealth, 471 S.E.2d 796 (Va. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 5× “the venue for agency or court proceedings shall be as specified in subdivision 1 of § 8.01-261.” 4 Code § 9-6.14:5. *541 Rule 2:15 governs intervention of new parties and provides as follows: A new party may by petition filed by leave of court assert any claim or defense germane…”
RMBS Recovery Holdings, I, LLC v. HSBC Bank USA, N.A., 827 S.E.2d 762 (Va. 2019). · cites it 3× “The parties' choice of forum under a forum selection clause is not mentioned as either a preferred or permissible venue. Code § 8.01-264(A) provides that venue "shall be subject to objection" if laid in "forums other than those designated by this chapter [§§ 8.”
Booth v. Broudy, 369 S.E.2d 165 (Va. 1988). · cites it 5× “The ground assigned by the trial court for denying the defendant’s motion is not listed as a basis for venue in either the preferred venue statute, Code § 8.01-261, or the permissible venue statute, Code § 8.”
MeadWestvaco Corp. v. Bates, 91 Va. Cir. 509 (Chesterfield Cir. Ct. 2013). · cites it 8× “Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261 (15)(c). Bates does not identify the appropriate venue in which this matter should be heard or request that the matter be transferred.”
Taylor v. Commonwealth, 34 Va. Cir. 73 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 1994). · cites it 11× “Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261 (Michie 1993). The claimant has brought the action in Norfolk where she resides and has thus selected a proper preferred place of venue under the statute.”
Brammer v. State High. Comm'r, 2 Va. Cir. 18 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1980). · cites it 5× “Had § 8.01-261 been in effect at the time of the filing of this action, "preferred venue" would have included Roanoke, the situs of the land, and Richmond, the location of the Commissioner’s official office.”
City of Danville v. Virginia State Water Control Bd., 446 S.E.2d 466 (Va. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 7× “Code § 8.01-261 enumerates the forums deemed preferred places of venue.”
Kollman v. Jordan, 60 Va. Cir. 293 (2002). · cites it 4× “Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261 (2002). Therefore, this action is governed by § 8.”
Decker v. Decker, 405 S.E.2d 12 (Va. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 6× “Pursuant to Code § 8.01-261, the proper forum in divorce suits is now “Category A” or preferred venue.”
Argos Utils. Corp. v. Perrin, 83 Va. Cir. 344 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 2011). · cites it 15× “The initial pleading, in any action brought in a general district court, shall inform the defendant of his right to object to venue if the action is brought in any forum other than that specified in §§ 8.01-261, 8.01-262, or § 8.01-263. The information to the defendant shall be…”
Shoemaker v. Commonwealth, 4 Va. Cir. 176 (Frederick Cir. Ct. 1984). · cites it 4× “To accomplish this end venue is divided into "preferred venue," § 8.01-261, and "permissible venue," Section $.”
Show all 45 citing cases →
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(1): 7 cases
Residents Involved in Saving the Env't, Inc. v. Commonwealth, 471 S.E.2d 796 (Va. Ct. App. 1996). “the venue for agency or court proceedings shall be as specified in subdivision 1 of § 8.01-261.” 4 Code § 9-6.14:5. *541 Rule 2:15 governs intervention of new parties and provides as follows: A new party may by petition filed by leave of court assert any claim or defense germane…”
City of Danville v. Virginia State Water Control Bd., 446 S.E.2d 466 (Va. Ct. App. 1994). “Code § 8.01-261 enumerates the forums deemed preferred places of venue.”
Spotsylvania Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Remley, 79 Va. Cir. 338 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 2009).
Susan G. Prior v. Virginia Bd. of Nursing (Va. Ct. App. 2013).
R.I.S.E. v. Commonwealth/D of Environ Qual (Va. Ct. App. 1996).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(1)(a)(1): 2 cases
Joshua Gaines & Makiba Gaines v. Dept. of Hous. & Cmty. (Va. Ct. App. 2020).
Susan G. Prior v. Virginia Bd. of Nursing (Va. Ct. App. 2013).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(1)(a)(3): 1 case
Susan G. Prior v. Virginia Bd. of Nursing (Va. Ct. App. 2013).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(1)(b): 1 case
Susan G. Prior v. Virginia Bd. of Nursing (Va. Ct. App. 2013).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(1)(c): 1 case
Susan G. Prior v. Virginia Bd. of Nursing (Va. Ct. App. 2013).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(11): 1 case
Bernstein Bros. Mgmt. v. Miller, 42 Va. Cir. 114 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 1997).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(15): 2 cases
Argos Utils. Corp. v. Perrin, 83 Va. Cir. 344 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 2011). “The initial pleading, in any action brought in a general district court, shall inform the defendant of his right to object to venue if the action is brought in any forum other than that specified in §§ 8.01-261, 8.01-262, or § 8.01-263. The information to the defendant shall be…”
MeadWestvaco Corp. v. Bates, 91 Va. Cir. 509 (Chesterfield Cir. Ct. 2013). “Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261 (15)(c). Bates does not identify the appropriate venue in which this matter should be heard or request that the matter be transferred.”
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(15)(c): 2 cases
Argos Utils. Corp. v. Perrin, 83 Va. Cir. 344 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 2011). “The initial pleading, in any action brought in a general district court, shall inform the defendant of his right to object to venue if the action is brought in any forum other than that specified in §§ 8.01-261, 8.01-262, or § 8.01-263. The information to the defendant shall be…”
MeadWestvaco Corp. v. Bates, 91 Va. Cir. 509 (Chesterfield Cir. Ct. 2013). “Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261 (15)(c). Bates does not identify the appropriate venue in which this matter should be heard or request that the matter be transferred.”
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(16): 1 case
Downs v. Virginia Emp. Comm'n, 358 S.E.2d 737 (Va. Ct. App. 1987).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(18)(b): 1 case
Brashear v. Howard, 48 Va. Cir. 287 (Charlottesville Cir. Ct. 1999).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(19): 3 cases
Decker v. Decker, 405 S.E.2d 12 (Va. Ct. App. 1991). “Pursuant to Code § 8.01-261, the proper forum in divorce suits is now “Category A” or preferred venue.”
O. Riddick Harrell, Jr. v. Christina H. Harrell (Va. Ct. App. 2005).
Fitzpatrick v. Fitzpatrick, 71 Va. Cir. 219 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2006).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(2): 3 cases
Brammer v. State High. Comm'r, 2 Va. Cir. 18 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1980). “Had § 8.01-261 been in effect at the time of the filing of this action, "preferred venue" would have included Roanoke, the situs of the land, and Richmond, the location of the Commissioner’s official office.”
John W. Daniel & Co. v. Radford Univ., 23 Va. Cir. 114 (1991).
Brashear v. Howard, 48 Va. Cir. 287 (Charlottesville Cir. Ct. 1999).
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-261(3)(b): 1 case
Bank of Hampton Roads v. Power Plant Hotels One, L.L.C., 83 Va. Cir. 387 (Chesapeake Cir. Ct. 2011).
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