Code Violation Reporting in James City County, VA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated James City County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
How to Report
Anyone can trigger a James City County code investigation by filing a complaint that a property violates chapter 10's maintenance duties, such as accumulated garbage, trash, litter or uncut running bamboo and weeds. Under County Code § 10-5(a), the county administrator or a designee must investigate any such complaint from a responsible person and, if a violation is confirmed, issue a written correction notice.
James City County Code Complaint Process
Some RestrictionsJames City County Code § 10-5(a)
(a)The county administrator or his designee, upon complaint by any responsible person that conditions exist on any real property in violation of section 10-4, shall investigate conditions existing on real property in the county at any time. Upon determination that the owner of any real property in the county stands in violation of his duty as provided in section 10-4, the county administrator o...
Response Times
James City County gives property owners a hard deadline once code enforcement confirms a violation: County Code § 10-5(b) lets the county step in and fix the problem itself if the owner has not complied ten days after the correction notice was served. The county then bills the owner and can record a lien if the cost is not paid.
James City County Code Violation Response Time
Some RestrictionsJames City County Code § 10-5(b)
(b)If ten days after the service of any such notice the directive thereof has not been complied with, the county administrator or his designee shall proceed to have such work done as may be necessary to abate any nuisance or condition which might endanger the health or safety of residents of the county, including cutting any grass, weeds, running bamboo, or other foreign growth which is in viol...
Common Violations
James City County enforces its most-reported trash, litter and overgrowth violations through civil penalties rather than automatic criminal charges: up to $50 for a first offense, up to $200 for a later unrelated one within 12 months, and a $3,000 yearly cap per property ($6,000 for industrial or commercial land). Three unrelated penalties within 24 months turn the next violation into a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Reporting Code Violations in James City County
Some RestrictionsJames City County Code § 10-7
Violations of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty, not to exceed $50 for the first violation, or violations arising from the same set of operative facts. The civil penalty for subsequent violations not arising from the same set of operative facts within 12 months of the first violation shall not exceed $200. Each business day during which the same violation is found to have existed...
All James City County ordinances
See every category we cover for James City County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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