<asp:CheckBoxList RepeatDirection="Horizontal" RepeatLayout="Table" RepeatColumns="3" ID="ckBoxListReasons" runat="server">
    <asp:ListItem Text="Preliminary Construction" Value="prelim_construction" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Final Construction" Value="final_construction" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Construction Alteration" Value="construction_alteration" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Remodel" Value="remodel" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Color" Value="color" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Brick" Value="brick" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Exterior Lighting" Value="exterior_lighting" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Deck/Patio/Flatwork" Value="deck_patio_flatwork" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Fence/Screening" Value="fence_screening" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Landscape - Front" Value="landscape_front" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Landscape - Side/Rear" Value="landscape_side_rear" />
    <asp:ListItem Text="Other" Value="other" />
</asp:CheckBoxList>

<asp:CheckBoxList ID="chkModuleList"runat="server" >
</asp:CheckBoxList>

<asp:CustomValidator runat="server" ID="cvmodulelist"
  ClientValidationFunction="ValidateModuleList"
  ErrorMessage="Please Select Atleast one Module" ></asp:CustomValidator>

// javascript to add to your aspx page
function ValidateModuleList(source, args)
{
  var chkListModules= document.getElementById ('<%= chkModuleList.ClientID %>');
  var chkListinputs = chkListModules.getElementsByTagName("input");
  for (var i=0;i<chkListinputs .length;i++)
  {
    if (chkListinputs [i].checked)
    {
      args.IsValid = true;
      return;
    }
  }
  args.IsValid = false;
}

function ValidateCheckBoxList(sender, args) {
    args.IsValid = false;

    $("#" + sender.id).parent().find("table[id$="+sender.ControlId+"]").find(":checkbox").each(function () {
        if ($(this).attr("checked")) {
        args.IsValid = true;
        return;
        }
    });
}

<asp:CheckBoxList runat="server"
          Id="cblOptions"
          DataTextField="Text"
          DataValueField="Id" />

<xx:CustomValidator Display="Dynamic"
              runat="server"
              ID="cblOptionsValidator"
              ControlId="cblOptions"
              ClientValidationFunction="ValidateCheckBoxList"
              ErrorMessage="One selection required." />

public class CustomValidator : System.Web.UI.WebControls.CustomValidator
{
    public string ControlId { get; set; }

    protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
    {
        if (Enabled)
            Page.ClientScript.RegisterExpandoAttribute(ClientID, "ControlId", ControlId);

        base.OnLoad(e);
    }
}

Dim bolSelectionMade As Boolean = False
For Each item As ListItem in ckBoxListReasons.Items
 If item.Selected = True Then
  bolSelectionMade = True
 End If
Next