Frequently Asked Questions

Pursuant to Code of Virginia § 2.2-3707, meeting notices are posted at least three working days prior a meeting, except for special meetings which are noticed as soon as reasonable under the circumstances.  The City of Charlottesville posts its notice of regular public meetings for the calendar year following adoption of the annual meeting calendar in January. 

Proposed agendas and supporting materials (unless exempt) are provided contemporaneously to the public and to the members of the City Council, generally five days before the meeting date or as soon thereafter as possible.

Individuals may create a login and subscribe to receive notification of agenda postings at https://www.charlottesville.gov/1077/Agendas-Minutes. 

Regular appointments and reappointments to City boards and commissions are made on a quarterly basis during the second regular meeting in March, June, September and December.  City Council may choose to make appointments as needed outside of the quarterly schedule.  Only applications for which a vacancy has been advertised will be considered, and members with expiring terms must reapply. 

A list of vacancies can be found on the Boards & Commissions page on the City website. 

Applications for those not appointed will remain on file for consideration for up to 1 year unless withdrawn by the applicant or unless it is determined that the applicant does not meet criteria to qualify.  

You may email council@charlottesville.gov to reach City Council. Several key leaders within city government also receive emails sent to the City Council group email.  All emails sent to City Council are subject to record retention rules of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Individual Council members may be contacted by clicking their photos on the City Council web page or by the email listed on the following attachment: Contact City Council members.

This list is in no way exhaustive, but here is a list of acronyms.

• ACRJA – Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority
• ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act
• BAR – Board of Architectural Review
• BCBA – Building Code Board of Appeals
• CAAA – Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Commission
• CACVB – Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau
• CAHF - Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund
• CAT – Charlottesville Area Transit
• CDBG – Community Development Block Grant
• CDSS – Charlottesville Department of Social Services
• CEDA – Charlottesville Economic Development Authority
• CFD – Charlottesville Fire Department
• CMO – City Manager Office
• COIA – Conflict of Interests Act
• CPD – Charlottesville Police Department
• CPMT– Community Policy and Management Team
• CRHA – Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority
• CSA – Children’s Services Act
• CSCC – Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
• CUP – Conditional Use Permit
• DBA – Downtown Business Association
• DTM - Downtown Mall
• FAMIS - Family Access to Medical Insurance Security
• FAPT – Family Assessment and Planning Team
• FBC – Form Based Code
• FEI – Food Equity Initiative
• FLUM - Future Land Use Map
• FOIA – Freedom of Information Act
• FTE – Full-time Equivalent
• HAC – Housing Advisory Committee
• HOPS - Housing Operations Program Support
• HRC – Historic Resources Committee
• HRC – Human Rights Commission
• JABA – Jefferson Area Board for Aging 
• JAUNT – Jefferson Area United Transportation
• JMRL – Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
• KPA – Key Performance Area
• LEAP – Local Energy Alliance Program
• LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• MACAA – Monticello Area Community Action Agency
• MBA - Minority Business Association
• NDS – Neighborhood Development Services
• PC – Planning Commission
• PCOB – Police Civilian Oversight Board
• PRA – Public Records Act
• PUD – Planned Unit Development
• ROW – Right of Way
• RSWA – Rivanna Solid Waste Authority
• RWSA – Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority
• SADM – Standards and Design Manual
• SAP – Small Area Plan
• SIA – Strategic Investment Area
• SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• SUP – Special Use Permit
• TANF - Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
• TJPDC – Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
• VEEP – Voucher Energy Efficiency Pilot
• VIEW - Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare

Virginia Code §2.2-3115 requires the following local officials to file the State and Local Statement of Economic Interests:

• Members of the local governing body (City Council)
• Executive director and members of Industrial Development Authorities and Economic Development Authorities 
• Persons holding positions of trust appointed or employed by the governing body if the governing body has passed an ordinance requiring them to file
• Members of the governing body of any entity established in a county or city with the power to issue bonds or expend funds in excess of $10,000 in any fiscal year if the governing body of the appointing jurisdiction has required them to submit this form 

Virginia Code §2.2-3115 requires the following local officials to file the Financial Disclosure Statement:

• Members of the governing body of any authority established in any county or city, or part or combination thereof and having the power to issue bonds or expend funds in excess of $10,000 in any fiscal year unless required to file the Statement of Economic Interests by the governing body of the appointing jurisdiction
•  Non-salaried citizen members of local boards, commissions, and councils if the governing body has designated them to file

Virginia Code §2.2-3115 requires the following local officials to file the Real Estate Disclosure:

• Planning commission members
• Members of board of zoning appeals
• Real estate assessors
• County, city, or town managers
• Executive officers
• Non-salaried citizen members of local boards, commissions, and councils if the governing body has designated them to file

The Clerk of Council will mail appointed members the appropriate form upon appointment and State Code §2.2-3115 requires forms to be mailed in January at least 20 days before the February 1 annual filing deadline. 

City Council generally meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. In cases where the regular meeting day falls on a holiday, the meeting is then held on Tuesday. Regular meetings of the Charlottesville City Council shall be conducted on the following days, times, and places during calendar year 2025:

TIME: 
4:00 p.m. work session
5:30 p.m. closed meeting (if called)
6:30 p.m. business meeting upon conclusion of the closed meeting agenda

LOCATION: 
City Hall Council Chamber
605 E. Main Street, 2nd Floor
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Electronic participation/viewing via Zoom, with registration available at: www.charlottesville.gov/zoom

Any regular meeting may be adjourned from day to day, or from time to time, or from place to place, not beyond the day and time fixed by this resolution for the next regular meeting, until the business before this City Council is completed. Notice of any regular meeting continued in this manner shall be reasonable under the circumstances and shall be given as provided in subsection D of Virginia Code Section 2.2-3707.

In the event that the Mayor, or the Vice Mayor if the Mayor is unavailable or otherwise unable to act, finds and declares that weather or other conditions are such that it is hazardous for members to attend a regular meeting, that regular meeting shall be continued to the next business day on which the said hazardous conditions no longer exist. Such finding and declaration shall be communicated to all city councilors and to the press as promptly as possible, along with the date and time on which the continued meeting will commence. All public hearings and other agenda matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting with no further advertisement.

Members of City Council are elected At-large. Each Council member represents all residents of Charlottesville.

You may contact members of City Council by email at council@charlottesville.gov. 

City Council members serve four year terms. At a public meeting Council members vote to select one Councilor to serve as Mayor and one as Vice Mayor for a term of two years. Municipal elections are held in November in odd-numbered years. The terms of Council members are staggered so that three are elected in one year and two are elected two years later.

From the online City calendar, press the button to "View All Events". Once on the Calendar page, choose the "Notify Me " option and select the notifications that you would like to receive. You will need to create a profile and specify how you would like to receive notifications.

The Clerk of Council also publishes the list of regular City Council meeting dates once adopted by City Council in January of each year. 

City Council has specific powers to:

1. Adopt a Budget
2. Borrow Money
3. Collect Revenues
4. Issue Bonds
5. Levy Taxes
6. Make Appropriations
7. Pass Ordinances
8. Provide for Payment of Public Debts

Charlottesville City Council meets in person in Council Chamber on the second floor of City Hall, 605 E. Main Street, for most meetings.

Some special meetings and work sessions take place at CitySpace, 100 5th Street NE or other location as needed.

Meeting notices specify the date, time and location of each meeting.

The City of Charlottesville, VA, has five at-large City Council seats. 

At the first meeting of the calendar year in even years, City Council members select in a public meeting a member to serve as mayor and a member to serve as vice mayor. 

City Council legislative priorities for the 2026 VA General Assembly Session

The City of Charlottesville operates under the Council/Manager form of government. The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, is the Chief Executive Officer for the City. This office is responsible for implementing the policies and directives of the City Council throughout the various City departments and agencies.