The Virginia Beach City Council is the 11-member elected body that governs Virginia’s most populous city under a council-manager form of government. Ten members represent individual geographic districts, and the mayor is elected citywide. Together they set the local tax rate, adopt the annual budget, pass city ordinances, and hire the top administrators who run daily operations. Formal meetings happen twice a month at City Hall, and residents can speak, apply to advisory boards, or run for a seat themselves.
Who Sits on the Council
All 11 members serve staggered four-year terms, so roughly half the seats are on the ballot every two years. That staggering keeps some institutional knowledge on the dais even when several new members arrive at once. Under the city charter, candidates have to be qualified voters and residents of Virginia Beach.1Virginia Code Commission. Charter – Virginia Beach
The mayor presides over meetings and acts as the ceremonial head of city government, and is the only member elected at-large by every voter in Virginia Beach. The vice mayor is not chosen by the public. At the first meeting of each new term after a general election, the council picks one of its own members as vice mayor by majority vote, and that person fills in when the mayor is absent.1Virginia Code Commission. Charter – Virginia Beach
Council members earn $28,000 a year. The mayor earns $30,000. Those figures have been flat for years.
The 10-1 District System
Virginia Beach uses what is called a 10-1 system: ten members each represent a single geographic district numbered 1 through 10, and the mayor runs citywide. Each district member has to live within the boundaries of the district they represent.2City of Virginia Beach. Local Election Districts
This is a recent structure. For decades, the city used an at-large system in which all council members ran citywide even though seven had to live in designated neighborhoods. In 2021, a federal court found that arrangement violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Black, Latino, and Asian American residents. The court ordered single-member districts, and the first elections under the 10-1 system took place in 2022. A charter amendment adopted on March 9, 2026, made the change permanent.
What the Council Does
The council’s authority flows from the Commonwealth of Virginia through the city charter. In everyday terms, that authority shows up in three places: money, rules, and hiring.
Budget and Tax Rate
The council adopts the city’s annual operating budget, which for fiscal year 2026–27 totals roughly $2.9 billion covering both city operations and public schools. It also sets the local real estate tax rate, currently $0.97 per $100 of assessed value.3City of Virginia Beach. Real Estate Assessors Annual Report Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Any change to that rate lands on every homeowner and commercial property owner in the city, which is why budget season draws the biggest public turnout at council meetings.
Local Ordinances
The council passes ordinances covering land use, zoning, public conduct, animal control, noise, and many other subjects. Violating a city ordinance can carry real penalties, up to Class 1 misdemeanor consequences for the most serious local violations.
Key Appointments
The charter gives the council direct hiring authority over three positions. The city manager is the chief executive responsible for daily operations and is chosen on administrative qualifications alone. The city attorney provides legal counsel and must be licensed to practice law in Virginia. The city clerk keeps official records and serves as clerk of the council. All three serve at the pleasure of the council and can be removed at any time without cause. The charter also requires the council to arrange an independent financial audit each year, done either by the state auditor of public accounts or by an outside accounting firm the council selects.1Virginia Code Commission. Charter – Virginia Beach
Ethics Rules Members Follow
Council members fall under the Virginia State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act. Any officer with a personal financial interest in a matter before the council must disqualify themselves: no voting, no advocacy on the issue, no attendance at any closed meeting where the matter is discussed. The conflict has to be disclosed on the public record.4Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 2.2-3112 – Prohibited Conduct Concerning Personal Interest in a Transaction The Virginia Beach Code of Ethics adds a specific requirement to publicly disclose any personal interest in land that is the subject of a zoning case before the Planning Commission or City Council.
Elections and Running for a Seat
Council elections fall in even-numbered years. In the 2026 cycle, the primary is scheduled for August 4 and the general election for November 3.5Virginia Department of Elections. Upcoming Elections
Key 2026 dates:
- Primary voter registration deadline: July 24, 2026
- Primary early in-person voting: June 19 through August 1, 2026
- Primary absentee ballot application deadline: 5:00 p.m., July 24, 2026
- General election voter registration deadline: October 23, 2026
- General election early in-person voting: September 18 through October 31, 2026
- General election absentee ballot application deadline: 5:00 p.m., October 23, 2026
Anyone who wants to run must file a Certificate of Candidate Qualification with the local registrar and complete a Statement of Economic Interest along with the campaign finance documents required by state law.6Virginia Department of Elections. Becoming a Candidate Virginia is one of the few states with no dollar limits on campaign contributions, so individuals, corporations, unions, and political committees can all give unlimited amounts. All Virginia Beach candidates file campaign finance reports electronically with the State Board of Elections.
How To Participate
The council holds formal sessions in the City Council Chamber at City Hall on the first and third Tuesday of each month, starting at 6:00 p.m. Informal work sessions come before the formal meetings, with start times set by the agenda.7City of Virginia Beach. City Council
Speaking at a Meeting
To address the council about an item already on the agenda, call the City Clerk’s Office at 757-385-4303 before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting to register.8City of Virginia Beach. Appearing Before City Council For a topic that is not on the agenda, submit the request in writing to the Office of the City Clerk at 2401 Courthouse Drive, City Hall Building 1, Room 281.9City of Virginia Beach. City Council Members and Meetings Speakers are called to the podium in the order they registered and generally get three minutes. During public hearings on specific ordinances or land-use changes, the council hears testimony before voting, and the presiding officer can limit repetitive comments to keep the meeting moving.
Serving on an Advisory Board
The council oversees roughly 60 advisory boards and commissions covering everything from parks and recreation to human rights. To apply, submit a Talent Bank Application to the City Clerk or contact your district council member to express interest. When a vacancy opens, it is listed in the formal session agenda. Council members review applications and make nominations during a closed session, then finalize appointments at the next formal meeting.10City of Virginia Beach. Appointive Agencies These boards shape policy recommendations well before any council vote, which makes them one of the more direct ways for a resident to influence what the council eventually decides.