Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Chesterfield County. There is no ordinance banning rain barrels or cisterns for residential lawn and garden use; the county promotes them as a water-wise conservation practice.
Virginia broadly permits capturing rainwater, and Chesterfield County has no rule prohibiting residential rain barrels or cisterns. The county's water-wise landscape guidance encourages collecting roof runoff for irrigation to reduce potable-water demand and stormwater pollution. Larger harvesting systems that connect to plumbing or are used for indoor/potable purposes must meet the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and plumbing requirements, and any system tied to the public water system needs backflow protection. Rain barrels used purely for outdoor irrigation generally need no permit. Homeowners should still keep collected water covered to limit mosquito breeding.
No penalty for ordinary residential rain barrels. Plumbed or potable harvesting systems installed without required building/plumbing permits or backflow prevention can be cited under the building code.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chesterfield County, VA
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Chesterfield County, VA
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Chesterfield County, VA
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Chesterfield County, VA
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Chesterfield County, VA
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Chesterfield County, VA
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See how Chesterfield County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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