Environmental Rules in Spotsylvania County, VA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
No one may start a land-disturbing activity in Spotsylvania County without an approved erosion and stormwater management (ESM) plan and a Land-Disturbance Permit under Sec. 8-3.1(A), and violators face a civil penalty of up to $32,500 per violation under Sec. 8-5.6(B)(3), with each day counted separately.
Spotsylvania County Stormwater Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code §§ 8-3.1(A), 8-5.6(B)(3)
A person shall not conduct any land-disturbing activity in the County until:1.An application has been submitted to the County that includes a permit registration statement, if required, and an ESM Plan or an executed agreement in lieu of a ESM plan;2.The County has issued its Land Disturbance Permit; ... 4.The owner, unless the owner is a state agency or federal entity, has submitted a performa...
Erosion Control
Any land-disturbing activity of 2,500 square feet or more in Spotsylvania County must follow an approved erosion and sediment control (ESC) plan under Sec. 8-2.2(A) and Sec. 8-4.1(B), and the county can shut down noncompliant work with a stop-work order under Sec. 8-5.6(A)(2).
Spotsylvania County Erosion & Sediment Control
Significant RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code §§ 8-2.2(A), 8-4.1(B), 8-5.6(A)(1)(b)
Land-disturbing activity that disturbs 2,500 square feet or more and is in an area of the County designated as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area is subject to criteria defined in 9VAC25-875-540, et seq. and 9VAC25-875-570, et seq. unless the grandfathering provisions of 9VAC25-875-670, et seq apply, as determined in accordance with 9VAC25-875-480 and 9VAC25-875-490. ... Erosion and Sediment Co...
Flood Zones
Spotsylvania County regulates development in flood-prone land through its Floodplain Overlay District, which covers every privately and publicly owned parcel identified as a special flood hazard area on FEMA's flood insurance rate map. No land may be developed and no structure relocated, reconstructed, enlarged, or altered there without complying with the division, and violators face zoning penalties under Sec. 23-7.2.3.
Spotsylvania County Floodplain Overlay District
Significant RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code §§ 23-7.2.2, 23-7.2.3
These provisions shall apply to all privately-owned and publicly-owned lands within the jurisdiction of the County of Spotsylvania and identified as areas of special flood hazard as shown on the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) or included in the flood insurance study (FIS) that are provided to the County by FEMA. ... (a)No land shall hereafter be developed and no structure shall be located, rel...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Spotsylvania County requires new construction and substantial improvements in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas to elevate the lowest floor, including any basement, to at least eighteen inches above the base flood elevation. The eighteen-inch freeboard applies to residential and nonresidential structures alike under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 23-7.2.12(D).
Spotsylvania Base Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code § 23-7.2.12(D)
Freeboard means a factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management. ... D.Elevation and Construction Standards. ... 1.Residential. New construction or substantial improvement of any principal residential structure (including manufactured homes) in Zones A1-30, AE, AH, and A with detailed base flood elevations shall have the lowest floor, inclu...
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