The lien given by this chapter on personal property by levy shall, as to property capable of being levied on, be restricted to the bailiwick of the officer into whose hands the execution is placed to be executed, but as to property not capable of being levied on the lien shall extend throughout the limits of the Commonwealth.
§ 8.01-481.Territorial extent of lien.
Chapter 18. Executions and Other Means of Recovery · Article 2. Lien in General · Last amended 1977 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceThe execution lien this chapter creates on leviable personal property stays confined to the bailiwick — the geographic jurisdiction — of the officer holding the writ, but for property that cannot physically be levied on, the same lien extends across the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.
Full Text of § 8.01-481
Plain-English Summary
Section 8.01-481 draws a geographic boundary around the lien created elsewhere in this chapter, and that boundary shifts depending on what kind of property is involved. For property capable of being levied on in the ordinary sense — goods, chattels, cash in hand — the lien is only as wide as the bailiwick of the officer who holds the execution, meaning the county or city where that officer has authority to act.
Property that cannot be levied on in that same physical way gets broader treatment. For that category, the lien reaches throughout the entire Commonwealth rather than stopping at a single officer’s territorial limits. The distinction reflects a practical reality: an officer can only walk into a warehouse or garage within a defined jurisdiction, but interests that are not tied to a physical location do not have the same natural boundary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far does the lien on leviable personal property extend?
It is restricted to the bailiwick of the officer into whose hands the execution is placed to be executed.
What happens to the lien’s reach for property that cannot be levied on?
As to property not capable of being levied on, the lien extends throughout the limits of the Commonwealth.
What does “bailiwick” mean in this context?
It refers to the territorial jurisdiction of the officer holding the execution, such as the county or city where that officer is authorized to act.
Does this section create the lien itself?
No, it defines the territorial extent of the lien given by this chapter on personal property by levy, rather than creating the lien in the first place.
Does the broader statewide reach apply to all personal property?
No, it applies specifically to property not capable of being levied on; leviable property remains limited to the officer’s bailiwick.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-414; 1977, c. 617.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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