Virginia Code Title 15.2. Counties, Cities and Towns § 15.2-2413.12. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

“Activities” means any programs or services provided for (i) the purposes of recruiting businesses to relocate in the business improvement and recruitment district and (ii) conferring specific benefits upon the businesses that are located in the business improvement and recruitment district and to which a fee is charged.

“Benefited business” means a business located within a business improvement and recruitment district that benefits, directly or indirectly, by business improvement and recruitment district activities provided by such business improvement and recruitment district. “Benefited business” includes one or more types of businesses, one or more segments of businesses, or businesses within one or more industries, as set forth in a business improvement and recruitment district plan.

“Benefit zone” means an apportioned area designated within a business improvement and recruitment district in which businesses pay a fee based upon the degree of benefit derived from activities to be provided.

“Business” means a business of any kind located in a business improvement and recruitment district.

“Business fee” means any fee charged to a benefited business pursuant to this article.

“Business improvement and recruitment district” means a district established by a locality under the provisions of this article within a Main Street District.

“Business improvement and recruitment district plan” means a proposal for a business improvement and recruitment district under the provisions of this article.

“Business owner” means any person recognized by a locality as the owner of a business subject to a business fee. A business may appoint an authorized agent to act as its representative for the purposes of this article. Such agent shall be considered the business owner for the purposes of any signature required under this article or for any other purpose authorized by the business owner. A locality shall have no obligation to obtain other information as to the ownership of businesses, and its determination of ownership shall be final and conclusive for the purposes of this article.

“Capital improvement” means an improvement to tangible personal property with an estimated useful life of five years or more.

“Fee” means a fee charged by a locality in accordance with a business improvement and recruitment district plan.

“Lead locality” means the locality in which the business improvement and recruitment district plan is filed for the establishment of a business improvement and recruitment district where such district includes more than one locality.

“Locality” means any county, city, or town in the Commonwealth.

“Main Street District” means a physical setting that includes a commercial area focusing on economic development through locally owned businesses and structures that would benefit from rehabilitation.

“Majority share of benefited businesses” means one or more benefited businesses within a business improvement and recruitment district or proposed business improvement and recruitment district that cumulatively comprise a simple majority.