Environmental Rules in Arlington County, VA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Arlington County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Arlington County runs its own Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP) under County Code § 60-4, with the Department of Environmental Services Director as Administrator. Regulated land-disturbing activity needs an approved Stormwater Management Plan meeting state technical criteria before an LDA Permit issues, and permanent facilities must be built, inspected, and maintained under a plan sealed by a Virginia-licensed engineer.
Arlington County Stormwater Management Program
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code §§ 60-4, 60-11(A)(1)
Pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:27 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, Arlington County hereby establishes a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program for land-disturbing activities and adopts the applicable Regulations that specify standards and specifications for VESMPs promulgated by the State Water Control Board for the purposes set out in Section 60-3 of this chapter. The Arlington Coun...
Erosion Control
Any land-disturbing activity of 2,500 square feet or more in Arlington County needs an LDA Permit and an approved Erosion and Sediment Control Plan before work begins. The Department of Environmental Services Director, acting as Administrator under Code Chapter 60, reviews plans, requires a certified Responsible Land Disturber on site, and can fine violators up to $32,500 per day or refer willful violations for criminal prosecution.
Arlington County Erosion & Sediment Control Permit
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code §§ 60-6(A), 60-6(D)(1), 60-9(A)
A. Except as provided herein, no person may engage in any land-disturbing activity, including Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act land-disturbing activities, until the Administrator has issued an LDA Permit. ... D. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the following activities are exempt from the requirement to obtain an LDA Permit, unless otherwise required by federal law: (1) Land...
Flood Zones
Arlington County designates a Floodplain District covering all land subject to the one percent annual chance flood, mapped on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map under County Code § 48-47. The District splits into Floodway, AE, A and AO subdistricts, each with its own development limits, administered by the Floodplain Administrator in the Department of Environmental Services.
Arlington County Floodplain District Zones and Rules
Significant RestrictionsArlington County Code § 48-47
The Floodplain District shall include all areas subject to inundation by the waters of the One Hundred-Year flood. The source of this delineation shall be the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Arlington County, Virginia, as prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), FIRM panels 51013C ...
Boat Dock Permits
Arlington County treats boat docks and marinas as "water-dependent facilities" under its Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance. Building one inside a Resource Protection Area requires Director approval under County Code § 61-7, plus a Water Quality Impact Assessment under § 61-12 showing minimum disturbance, buffer-vegetation improvement, and no conflict with the comprehensive plan before construction can begin.
Arlington County RPA Permit Required for Boat Docks
Significant RestrictionsArlington County Code § 61-7(A), (A)(1)
A. Allowable development in RPAs. Land development in RPAs may be allowed only when permitted by the Director and if it: (i) is water-dependent; or (ii) constitutes redevelopment; or (iii) constitutes new development or redevelopment within a designated intensely developed area; or (iv) is a road or driveway crossing satisfying the conditions set forth in § 61-7.A.3 below; or (v) is a flood con...
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Arlington County caps how long a commercial truck can sit idling. Code § 15-6.I makes it unlawful for an operator to run a commercial motor vehicle's propulsion engine for more than 10 minutes while the vehicle is parked, left unattended or stopped for reasons other than traffic or maintenance.
Arlington County Commercial Vehicle Idling Limit
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 15-6.I
I. It shall be unlawful for any operator to run the propulsion engine of a commercial motor vehicle for more than ten (10) minutes when the vehicle is parked, left unattended, or is stopped for other than traffic or maintenance reasons, except when the propulsion engine provides auxiliary service other than heating or air conditioning.
Flood Elevation Requirements
Arlington County requires new construction and substantially improved residential and non-residential structures in the Special Flood Hazard Area to elevate the lowest floor, including any basement, at least 18 inches above the base flood elevation established by FEMA's Flood Insurance Study, under County Code § 48-51. Non-residential buildings can floodproof instead of elevating, with certification from a registered engineer or architect.
Arlington County's 18-Inch Freeboard Elevation Rule
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 48-51(A)-(B)
A. Residential Construction: New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure in Zones AE, and A with detailed Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to a minimum of eighteen (18) inches above the base flood level. B. Non-Residential Construction: New construction or substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial,...
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