Environmental Rules in Hampton, VA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Hampton, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Hampton, Virginia runs its own Virginia Stormwater Management Program under City Code § 33.3-6, adopted under the state Erosion and Stormwater Management Act, with the Public Works Director as administrator and permits required for most land-disturbing activity.
Hampton Stormwater Management Program Rules
Some RestrictionsHampton City Code § 33.3-6
Pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 62.1-44.15:27, the city hereby establishes a Virginia stormwater management program for land-disturbing activities and adopts the applicable regulations that specify standards and specifications for VESMPs promulgated by the State Board for the purposes set out in section 33.3-3 of this article. The city hereby designates the Public Works Director or their design...
Erosion Control
Hampton requires a land-disturbing permit before grading, clearing or construction disturbs 10,000 square feet of land (2,500 in Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas), administered under the city's Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program.
Hampton Erosion and Sediment Control Permit
Some RestrictionsHampton City Code § 33.3-44
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any land-disturbing activity, not exempt pursuant to section 33.3-42 without first obtaining a land-disturbing permit from the department in accordance with the provisions of this article. No permit to begin any work that requires a permit covered by this article shall be issued and upon completion of the construction, no certificate of occupancy...
Flood Zones
Any use, structure, or land disturbance inside a Hampton special flood hazard area needs a zoning, land-disturbance, or building permit under the city's Flood Zone Overlay.
Hampton Floodplain Development Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsHampton Zoning Ordinance § 9-34(1)(a)
All uses, activities, and development occurring within any special flood hazard area and other flood areas, including placement of manufactured homes, shall be undertaken only upon the issuance of a zoning permit, land disturbance permit, or building permit when such a permit is required. Such development shall be undertaken only in strict compliance with the provisions of this article, all oth...
Boat Dock Permits
In Hampton, Virginia's mapped Chesapeake Bay RPA buffer, a pier, dock, or other water-dependent facility may encroach on the 100-foot buffer only if it meets four criteria in Zoning Ordinance § 9-14; anything else needs a Board of Zoning Appeals exception.
Hampton Waterfront Dock & Pier Rules
Some RestrictionsHampton Zoning Ordinance § 9-14
(2)Permitted encroachments in the RPA. Land development, redevelopment, and land disturbing may be allowed in the RPA only if it is one or more of the following permitted encroachments. If all applicable requirements set forth in this subsection are not satisfied, an exception request in accordance with subsection 9-19(1) shall be required. Such permitted encroachments include:(a)A water-depend...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New or substantially improved buildings in a Hampton special flood hazard area must be elevated three feet above the base flood elevation, not just up to it.
Hampton Flood Zone Freeboard Requirement
Some RestrictionsHampton Zoning Ordinance § 9-34(2)(a)-(b)
(a)The freeboard shall be three (3) feet. The freeboard, in addition to the base flood elevation, shall constitute the design flood elevation.(b)New construction and substantial improvements shall be built according to this ordinance and the VA USBC, and anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure.