Environmental Codes

Chapter 11: Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) Overlay District – performance standards for development and redevelopment within these designated areas.

*Chapter 14.5-4: Illegal Dumping – unlawful for any person to dump solid waste on any property, in any waters, or in any storm water system unless authorized by a permit; includes general litter or debris ejected from a motor vehicles or watercraft.

*Chapter 14.5-5: Unlawful storage and accumulation of solid waste – unlawful for any person to accumulate, store, leave, place or deposit solid waste on any property within the City, unless authorized by a permit.

*Chapter 14.5-6: Failure to keep property clean & free of accumulation of solid waste – must keep property within the City clean and free of accumulation of solid waste; this code also includes pet waste.

*Chapter 15: Erosion and Sediment (E&S) Control – required to install minimum standards for E&S controls, reflecting the VA E&S Control Handbook; establishes enforcement and inspection authority, and enforcement tools.

Chapter 26: Site Plan Review – requirements for the site plan submittal, site plan contents, erosion and sediment control, CBPA content, environmental site assessment, landscape plan, stormwater management plan, and water quality impact assessment.

Chapter 27: Nuisances –a condition, substance, material or thing which may be annoying, obnoxious, offensive, irritating or detrimental to the health, safety, comfort, and general welfare of the public or the environment.

Chapter 27-9: Duty of owner or occupant of abutting land to remove solid waste and to cut grass, weeds, and other vegetable matter between sidewalk and curb. – property owners must maintain the debris and vegetative matter from their property line up the street, including curb & gutter and ditches.

*Chapter 41.1-4: Pollution of the stormwater system – unlawful to place, deposit, or throw anything other than storm water into the storm water system; the system includes all facilities, structures and natural water courses used for collecting and conveying storm water including streets, curbs and gutters, inlets, conduits, canals, creeks, ditches, etc; unlawful to place anything in the gutter, ditch or storm drain that may impede the flow of water.

*Chapter 41.1-5: Failure to install or maintain storm water best management practice – unlawful to neglect or fail to install or maintain a storm water best management practice as shown on the approved site plans.

Chapter 42-20.2, Fill permit; required when filling or grading areas  - Required to obtain a fill permit (at no cost) when it is necessary to fill a property or raise the revetment except during cases that go through site plan review.

Chapter 42.2: Subdivisions – Definition of a subdivision, Preliminary and final plan approval, design standards and required improvements for subdivisions.

Chapter 45: Trees and Other Vegetation – within the Chesapeake Bay preservation area one must obtain a permit prior to impacting a tree, shrub or other vegetation.

* Class 1 misdemeanor – carries $2500/day fine and/or up to 12 months in jail)