Va. Code » Title 8.01. Civil Remedies and Procedure » Chapter 3. Actions » Article 3. Injury to Person or Property
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-43 (2026)

Action against parent for damage to public property by minor

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The Commonwealth, acting through the officers having charge of the public property involved, or the governing body of a county, city, town, or other political subdivision, or a school board may institute an action and recover from the parents or either of them of any minor living with such parents or either of them for damages suffered by reason of the willful or malicious destruction of, or damage to, public property by such minor. No more than $2,500 may be recovered from such parents or either of them as a result of any incident or occurrence on which such action is based.

Code 1950, § 8-654.1; 1960, c. 132; 1972, c. 825; 1977, c. 617; 1983, c. 330; 1987, c. 193; 1994, cc. 508, 552; 1996, c. 698.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1982–2020 · leading case: Alana v. Rose, No. 7:18-cv-00420 (W.D. Va. Aug. 11, 2020).
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Alana v. Rose, No. 7:18-cv-00420 (W.D. Va. Aug. 11, 2020). · cites it 2× “Section 1983 actions based on events in Virginia must be filed within two years of the date of accrual, see Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-43 (A). Therefore, the court dismissed Alana’s claims as time barred.”
Via v. O'Donnell, 27 Va. Cir. 433 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 1982). “Once an action is defined as being a claim for personal injuries, then such action is governed by the two-year statute, unless the opening clause of § 8.01-43(A), “Unless otherwise provided by statute,” has any relevant meaning.”
Bell v. Hudgins, 1 Va. Cir. 340 (Virginia Beach Cir. Ct. 1983). · cites it 3× “The provision imposing liability on a parent for damage to private property by a minor child does say that it is ", . . in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other law imposing upon a parent liability for the acts of his minor child.”
Wolf v. Groh, 5 Va. Cir. 217 (Va. Cir. Ct. 1984). · cites it 2× “Accordingly, it makes little difference whether Section 8.01-43(B) or its predecessor § 8-24 of the Code of Virginia is used.”
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-43(A): 1 case
Via v. O'Donnell, 27 Va. Cir. 433 (Roanoke County Cir. Ct. 1982). “Once an action is defined as being a claim for personal injuries, then such action is governed by the two-year statute, unless the opening clause of § 8.01-43(A), “Unless otherwise provided by statute,” has any relevant meaning.”
Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-43(B): 1 case
Wolf v. Groh, 5 Va. Cir. 217 (Va. Cir. Ct. 1984). “Accordingly, it makes little difference whether Section 8.01-43(B) or its predecessor § 8-24 of the Code of Virginia is used.”
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