Spotsylvania County, VA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Chapter 8, the Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance readopted by Ord. No. 8-17 in 2024, implements the state's Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act (VESMA) locally, with the Director of Environmental Codes serving as Program Administrator under Sec. 1. Sec. 1(A) sets the gate before any land-disturbing activity can begin: an applicant must submit a permit registration statement where required, an ESM plan or executed agreement in lieu of one, must have the County issue its Land-Disturbance Permit, must name the responsible land disturber, and, unless the owner is a state or federal entity, must post a performance bond, cash escrow, letter of credit, or comparable security so the county can complete required work at the applicant's expense if the applicant fails to comply after notice.

The stormwater management plan itself, detailed under Sec. 1(A), must show discharge points, predevelopment and post-development drainage areas, the proposed stormwater facilities and how they will be operated and maintained, hydrologic computations, and a site map with contributing drainage areas, floodplains, and proposed grading, and any final design element requiring a Virginia-licensed professional must carry that professional's seal. The County inspects during construction under Sec. 3, generally at least once every two weeks and within 48 hours of a runoff-producing storm, and it must hold a pre-construction meeting first.

Facility owners then carry a long-term maintenance obligation under Sec. 2, including a recorded maintenance agreement and County or licensed-professional inspections at least once every five years.