Virginia Code Title 25.1. Eminent Domain § 25.1-305. Authorized condemnor to make payment into court or file certificate of deposit before entering upon land

A. Before entering upon or taking possession of property, the authorized condemnor shall either:

B. The amount to be paid into the court as provided in subdivision A 1 or represented by a certificate of deposit as provided in subdivision A 2 shall be the amount that the authorized condemnor estimates to be the fair value of the land taken, or interest therein sought, and damage done, which estimate shall be based on a bona fide appraisal if required by § 25.1-417; however, such estimate shall not be less than the current assessed value of the land for real estate tax purposes, unless the property has physically changed in a material and substantial way since the current assessment date such that the real estate tax assessment no longer represents a fair valuation of the property, when the entire parcel for which the assessment has been made is to be acquired.

C. If the condemning authority makes a payment into court as provided in subdivision A 1, it shall also record a certificate of take as provided in § 25.1-307.

D. Payment against a certificate of deposit, when ordered by the court named therein, shall be paid by the authorized condemnor.

E. Nothing in this section shall make evidence of tax assessments admissible as proof of value in an eminent domain proceeding.