Any disturbance of primary sand dunes, beaches, or tidal wetlands in Virginia Beach requires a joint permit from the City's Wetlands Board and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission under Va. Code Section 28.2-1100.
Virginia Beach administers the Coastal Primary Sand Dune Zoning Ordinance and Wetlands Zoning Ordinance jointly with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Property owners proposing to build, regrade, plant, or remove vegetation seaward of the dune line, or within tidal wetlands along the Lynnhaven River, Back Bay, or Atlantic shoreline, must apply for a Joint Permit Application processed through VMRC, the Army Corps, and the City Wetlands Board. The Board meets monthly and applies criteria from Va. Code Title 28.2 Chapter 13. Living shoreline projects often qualify for expedited general permits.
Class 1 misdemeanor up to $25,000 per day plus mandatory restoration. Civil penalties under Va. Code Section 28.2-1320 can reach $25,000 per violation per day.
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach regulates floodplain development under Appendix K (Floodplain Ordinance) of the City Code. The city participates in the NFIP Community Rating ...
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach is a major coastal city subject to the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and the city's own coastal m...
See how Virginia Beach's coastal zone permits rules stack up against other locations.
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