§ 8.01-300.How process served on municipal and county governments and on quasi-governmental entities.

Ordinary corporations are served under § 8.01-299, but Section 8.01-300 carves out a separate path for government defendants. If the case is against a city or town, process goes to its city or town attorney where that position exists, or otherwise to its mayor, manager, or trustee. If the case is against a county, process goes to its county attorney where that position exists, or otherwise to its attorney for the Commonwealth.

For any other political subdivision or public governmental entity that can be sued separately from the Commonwealth, process may go to the director, commissioner, chief administrative officer, attorney, or any member of the governing body. And when the suit concerns a county supervisor, officer, employee, or agent sued over official actions, process must go both to that individual and to the county attorney, or to the clerk of the county board if the county has no county attorney.

Across every one of these categories, the section allows service by leaving a copy with the person in charge of the designated officer's office, so a plaintiff does not need to track down the official in person to complete valid service.