§ 9803.Place of trial of actions and proceedings against villages.

CPLR 9803 is a one-sentence venue rule. It covers all actions and proceedings against a village or against any of its officers or boards, and it places the trial of that action or proceeding in the county in which the village sits. Unlike CPLR 9801 and 9802, which speak only of 'actions,' this section reaches 'proceedings' as well, broadening its coverage beyond ordinary civil lawsuits.

Tying venue to the village's own county keeps litigation against local government close to the community with the most direct connection to the dispute, the village's records, officials, and the events giving rise to the claim are all likely to be there. New York generally lets a plaintiff choose among venues tied to the parties' residence or the events at issue; for a defendant that is itself a unit of local government, CPLR 9803 removes that choice and sets venue by geography instead.

As written, the section states the place of trial without carving out exceptions, so it stands as the default venue rule whenever a village or one of its officers or boards is sued.