2023 Official Opinions
Official opinions will be posted as they are issued, generally within 24 to 48 hours. Please check this page at regular intervals to determine whether additional opinions have been issued.
January
|
Opinion # |
Requestor |
Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22-036 | Kemper M. Beasley III, Esquire, Attorney for Cumberland County | In defined circumstances, the offering of short-term rental accommodations on a farm or ranch falls within the definition of “agritourism activity” for purposes of § 15.2-2288.6, such that a locality is prohibited from regulating such use of the property through its zoning ordinances. |
| 22-041 | The Honorable James A. “Jay” Leftwich, Member, House of Delegates | Slotting fees paid by a soft-drink producer to a retailer to directly or indirectly influence the retailer violate federal “tied house” laws when they directly affect the shelf space of the producer’s alcoholic or “hard” soda to the exclusion, in whole or in part, of competitors; however, whether any particular payment of slotting fees would constitute a violation is a factual determination beyond the scope of an opinion of this Office. |
| 22-048 | The Honorable Donald L. Smith, Sheriff, Augusta County | Answer to an inquiry regarding the scope of a sheriff’s authority under current law with respect to the custody of individuals subject to involuntary commitment orders. |
| 22-061 | The Honorable Chan R. Bryant, Sheriff, Albemarle County | Answers to inquiries regarding the scope of a sheriff’s authority under current law with respect to the custody of individuals subject to temporary detention orders. |
| 22-046 | The Honorable James A. “Jay” Leftwich, Member, House of Delegates | Because Virginia law currently limits local authority to regulate the use of privately-owned drones to the regulation of takeoffs and landings of such aircraft on property owned by political subdivisions, a locality may not adopt zoning regulations that prohibit the takeoff and landing of privately-owned drones on private property, nor subject the activity to conditional or special use permit requirements. |