Environmental Rules in Stafford County, VA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Stafford County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Stafford County requires a stormwater management plan for regulated land-disturbing activity, applying the technical criteria across an entire common plan of development rather than lot by lot. The plan must cover surface runoff and converted groundwater flows and be approved by the VESMP authority before construction.
Stafford County Stormwater Management Plan Rules
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 11-6.5
(a)A stormwater management plan shall be developed and submitted to VESMP authority. The stormwater management plan shall be implemented as approved or modified by VESMP authority and shall be developed in accordance with the following:(1)A stormwater management plan for a land-disturbing activity shall apply the stormwater management technical criteria set forth in this article and Article 4 (...
Erosion Control
Stafford County requires a land-disturbance permit from the VESMP authority before any land-disturbing activity begins. The permit will not issue until an erosion and sediment control plan is approved and administrative fees are paid, with the responsible land disturber's DEQ certification on file.
Stafford County Erosion & Sediment Control Permit
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 11-6.2
(a)Except as provided herein, no person may engage in any land-disturbing activity until a land-disturbance permit has been issued by the VESMP authority in accordance with the provisions of this article and the regulations.(b)Administrative fees pursuant to the county's adopted fee schedule shall be paid at the time of application for land-disturbance permit and VESMP permits. No land-disturba...
Flood Zones
Stafford County's Flood Hazard Overlay District bars new fill, construction or other development within a mapped floodway unless an engineer proves it will not raise flood levels during the base flood. The rule applies to every parcel FEMA maps as a special flood hazard area, county-wide.
Stafford County Floodway Development Limits
Significant RestrictionsStafford County Code § 28-57(c), (q)(1)a
(c)Applicability. These provisions shall apply to all privately and publicly owned lands within the jurisdiction of the county and identified as areas of special flood hazard identified by the county or shown on the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) or included in the flood insurance study (FIS) that are provided to the county by FEMA. ... (1)The floodway district is in an AE Zone and is delineat...
Boat Dock Permits
Stafford County lets waterfront owners build a noncommercial pier, boathouse, catwalk or boat shelter in wetlands without a county permit if it rests on pilings that let the tide flow through, under County Code § 27-3. Any other wetlands work needs a written permit from the Wetlands Board or the Virginia Marine Resources Commission under § 27-4.
Stafford County Wetlands Boat Dock Permits
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code §§ 27-3, 27-4
(1)The construction and maintenance of noncommercial catwalks, piers, boathouses, boat shelters, fences, duckblinds, wildlife management shelters, footbridges, observation decks, and shelters and other similar structures, provided that such structures are so constructed on pilings as to permit the reasonably unobstructed flow of the tide and preserve the natural contour of the wetlands ... (a)A...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Stafford County will not issue a building permit unless the lowest floor sits at least one foot above the calculated 100-year flood elevation. A licensed engineer or land surveyor must first calculate the effect of a 100-year storm on the proposed building.
Stafford County Flood Elevation Building Rule
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 11-14
(a)In building construction projects, erosion and sediment control devices shall be installed before footings may be approved. Erosion and sediment control devices shall be maintained in working order throughout construction.(b)No building permit for construction shall be issued until all roads and subdivision streets accessing the proposed building site have been graded and covered with base s...
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