The County of Augusta invites residents and community members to celebrate the opening of the new Augusta County Courthouse at 100 Dick Huff Lane in Verona. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, beginning at 4 p.m. Following the ceremony, the community is invited to tour designated public areas of the facility until 7 p.m.

The opening of the courthouse marks a historic milestone for Augusta County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. With the relocation of the courthouse from the City of Staunton to Verona, the county seat will officially move into Augusta County for the first time in its 288-year history. Changing the county seat is a rare event in Virginia.

The project also marks the completion of the final phase of the Augusta County Government Center Master Plan, originally developed in 1988, that planned for the projected growth of core government services. The master plan provided guidance for the relocation of agencies and departments, that had been scattered throughout Staunton, to Verona where they could operate in close proximity to one another.

“Today’s courthouse was built with tomorrow in mind,” said Augusta County Board of Supervisors Chair, Jeff Slaven. “The courthouse marks a defining moment in our county’s history, bringing together law enforcement, government, and judicial services in one centralized location. This will serve the county well for generations to come.”

The offices at the Government Center will close early at 3:30 p.m. on June 3 to allow county employees to attend the ceremony and to relieve any traffic conditions due to the event's anticipated attendance.

Augusta County courts will begin operations in the new courthouse on Monday, June 15. To accommodate the transition, court facilities in downtown Staunton and Verona will be closed June 8 through June 12.

At approximately 124,000 square feet, the courthouse is among the largest capital projects ever undertaken by Augusta County. The facility will house all three Augusta County courts and court clerk offices — the Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — along with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Victim Witness Advocacy program, Court Service Unit, and magistrate’s office.

Careful fiscal planning and cost management throughout the project helped reduce the overall financial impact of the new courthouse. Construction costs are projected to come in below the original estimate of $80 million. Augusta County implemented long-term financial planning strategies that ultimately reduced borrowing needs to $67 million. Additional savings were achieved through initiatives such as direct purchasing agreements for critical materials and services, which generated more than $500,000 in further cost reductions.

For more information about the courthouse and the history of the project, visit www.AugustaCountyVA.gov/courthouse.