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Virginia Beach, VA Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
City Code § 37-20
Who must fix it
Property owner, upon notice
Enforcement
Water service shut off until repaired
Enforcing agency
Department of Public Utilities

Summary

Virginia Beach property owners must repair leaking pipes, hydrants, meters, or fixtures immediately after notice from the Department of Public Utilities, or the city will shut off water service until repairs are made.

No person shall permit the water to run from any hydrant, meter, cock or fixture without proper care to prevent waste. If any pipe, hydrant, meter, cock or other fixture is found leaking, the owner of the premises shall have the necessary repairs made immediately upon notice from the department of public utilities so to do, and failure to repair shall require the discontinuance of the water supply until repairs are made.

Source: Virginia Beach Public UtilitiesView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

City Code § 37-20 bars letting water run to waste from any hydrant, meter, cock, or fixture, and requires the property owner to make necessary repairs immediately once the Department of Public Utilities gives notice that a pipe, hydrant, meter, cock, or fixture is leaking. The section carries no separate dollar fine: the enforcement mechanism is a utility shutoff: failure to repair after notice requires discontinuance of the water supply to that premises until the repairs are completed. Restoration follows once Public Utilities confirms the leak is fixed.

Violations & Fines

Ignoring a leak-repair notice from Public Utilities leads to discontinued water service until repairs are completed and verified, not a fine, a shutoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I report a water leak to in Virginia Beach?
The Department of Public Utilities. Under City Code § 37-20 they issue the repair notice and can discontinue service if the leak isn't fixed.
What happens if I don't fix a leaking pipe after notice?
The city discontinues your water supply until the leak is repaired, § 37-20 doesn't set a separate dollar fine, the shutoff is the penalty.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Virginia Beach

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All Virginia Beach rules

Compare Virginia Beach to another location·View the Virginia water use rules overview

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