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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

NEW! Water Quality Ordinance Provision Search Tool.

Click here to skip instructions and go straight to the ordinance search tool.

All 84 local governments subject to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act are required to have ordinance provisions addressing land development in Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas that minimizes impervious cover, minimizes land disturbance and preserves indigenous vegetation. DCR Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance staff members are reviewing local ordinances to identify specific provisions that address these issues and other provisions that protect water quality. To facilitate this effort, the staff is using two checklists that contain example ordinance provisions that address minimization of impervious cover, minimization of land disturbance and maintenance of indigenous vegetation.

The ordinance search tool below provides a listing of all ordinance provisions reviewed to-date in conjunction with the Phase III Advisory Reviews of local ordinances. Questions 1 through 70 correspond to the questions on the Checklist for Advisory Review of Local Ordinances. Questions SPP1 through SPP6 correspond to the Site Plan and Plat Consistency Review Checklist questions. Click here for details regarding Phase III advisory reviews and the checklists. This database will be updated periodically as DCR completes more reviews of local ordinances.

How to use the interface

  1. Check the box next to the question of interest. Move your cursor over a question to see the entire question. Select as many questions as you like. Note that several questions are multi-part (e.g. #3, #11, #13). It may help to review the checklist before getting started.
  2. Next is a list of localities sorted by Cities, Counties and Towns. Select the localities of interest. Hint: Click the box next to Counties, Cities and Towns to select all.
  3. Click Search. A list of ordinance citations loads. Note that these are only citations, not links.
  4. Click Search Again for a new search.

The interface does not provide links to local government ordinances. However, many of these ordinances can be fourn through the Municipal Code Corporation (Municode). (Instructions for its use are provided at the site.)

  • Questions
  • Question 0.0
    • Question 0.0
    Open space definition
  • Question 1.0
    • Question 1.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document that requires a certain portion or percentage of undisturbed open space as part of zoning district requirements?
  • Question 2.0
    • Question 2.0
    Is there a cluster ordinance, other ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows flexibility for development intensity or density (through cluster developments, height flexibility, density bonus, etc.) in exchange for increased resource protection (open space, preservation of natural, undisturbed buffers, etc.)?
  • Question 3.0
    • Question 3.0
    Do open space or other requirements within an ordinance, or other adopted document, protect land, other than RPAs?
  • Question 3.1
    • Question 3.1
    Wetlands
  • Question 3.2
    • Question 3.2
    Steep Slopes
  • Question 3.3
    • Question 3.3
    Intermittent Streams
  • Question 3.4
    • Question 3.4
    Highly Erodible Soils
  • Question 3.5
    • Question 3.5
    Floodplains
  • Question 4.0
    • Question 4.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires that all clearing and grading plans or equivalent (including individual lots) specify limits of clearing and restricts clearing to the minimum necessary for the construction of the project?
  • Question 5.0
    • Question 5.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that authorizes staff to establish limits on clearing and grading?
  • Question 6.0
    • Question 6.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that includes a definition of "construction footprint" and limits clearing and grading to the construction footprint?
  • Question 7.0
    • Question 7.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document that requires the RPA be physically marked on-site prior to any clearing and/or grading and throughout the development process?
  • Question 8.0
    • Question 8.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document that requires the limits of clearing and grading to be physically marked on-site?
  • Question 9.0
    • Question 9.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires documentation of the condition of the RPA to be provided before and after development?
  • Question 10.0
    • Question 10.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that prohibits clearing and grading on sensitive lands (i.e. steep slopes, highly erodible soils, etc.) in addition to required RPA features?
  • Question 11.0
    • Question 11.0
    Is there an ordinance provision that designates other sensitive lands, such as steep slopes, highly erodible soils, non-RPA nontidal wetlands, etc. as RPA features?
  • Question 11.1
    • Question 11.1
    Wetlands
  • Question 11.2
    • Question 11.2
    Steep Slopes
  • Question 11.3
    • Question 11.3
    Intermittent Streams
  • Question 11.4
    • Question 11.4
    Highly Erodible Soils
  • Question 11.5
    • Question 11.5
    Floodplains
  • Question 11.6
    • Question 11.6
    Other Lands
  • Question 12.0
    • Question 12.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires approval of utility installation plans, including temporary construction areas, prior to land disturbance?
  • Question 13.0
    • Question 13.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires a replanting plan, other than stabilization required for erosion and sediment control, when vegetation is removed for temporary construction easements?
  • Question 14.0
    • Question 14.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or requires the placement of public utilities within the right-of-way for public or private roads or alleys, when present?
  • Question 15.0
    • Question 15.0
    Does the locality provide incentives for retaining natural, undisturbed open space on a site? These incentives may include intensity or density bonuses, stormwater credit, etc.
  • Question 15.1
    • Question 15.1
    Wetlands
  • Question 15.2
    • Question 15.2
    Intermittent Streams
  • Question 15.3
    • Question 15.3
    Steep Slopes
  • Question 15.4
    • Question 15.4
    Highly Erodible Soils
  • Question 15.5
    • Question 15.5
    Floodplains
  • Question 15.6
    • Question 15.6
    Other Lands
  • Question 16.0
    • Question 16.0
    Do local ordinance provisions, or other adopted documents, allow flexibility in practices to enable the implementation of LID practices that limit land disturbance?
  • Question 17.0
    • Question 17.0
    Are there ordinance provisions or other adopted documents that require the incorporation of existing drainage ways and the integration of natural drainage patterns into site drainage plans?
  • Question 18.0
    • Question 18.0
    Are there other ordinance provisions, or other specific standards in other adopted documents that limit land disturbance?
  • Question 19.0
    • Question 19.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires conservation areas or corridors (i.e. greenways, green infrastructure corridors, green belts, etc.)?
  • Question 20.0
    • Question 20.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires riparian vegetated buffers adjacent to non-perennial water bodies or wetlands not required to be included as RPAs?
  • Question 20.1
    • Question 20.1
    Wetlands
  • Question 20.2
    • Question 20.2
    Intermittent Streams
  • Question 20.3
    • Question 20.3
    Floodplains
  • Question 20.4
    • Question 20.4
    Other Lands
  • Question 21.0
    • Question 21.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires the permanent marking of the RPA boundaries and if so, to which zoning districts does this apply to?
  • Question 22.0
    • Question 22.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires a portion of open space, other than RPAs, to be left in a natural, vegetated condition?
  • Question 23.0
    • Question 23.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires a building setback from the RPA boundary?
  • Question 24.0
    • Question 24.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires a building setback from other sensitive lands such as intermittent streams and non-RPA non-tidal wetlands?
  • Question 25.0
    • Question 25.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires the preservation of indigenous vegetation on sensitive lands other than required RPA land types?
  • Question 25.1
    • Question 25.1
    Steep Slopes
  • Question 25.2
    • Question 25.2
    Highly Erodible Soils
  • Question 25.3
    • Question 25.3
    Floodplains
  • Question 25.4
    • Question 25.4
    Wetlands
  • Question 26.0
    • Question 26.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that limits removal of indigenous vegetation for temporary construction easements for utilities?
  • Question 27.0
    • Question 27.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that limits removal of indigenous vegetation for maintenance of utility easements?
  • Question 28.0
    • Question 28.0
    Does the locality have a tree protection ordinance that protects existing trees (if permitted by state law)?
  • Question 29.0
    • Question 29.0
    Are there ordinance provisions, or other adopted documents, that include more specific tree preservation requirements for the preservation of stands of trees or contiguous wooded areas?
  • Question 30.0
    • Question 30.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that awards credit for maintaining indigenous vegetation when meeting landscaping requirements?
  • Question 31.0
    • Question 31.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires vegetated buffers adjacent to non-RPA wetlands, streams or other water bodies to be left undisturbed?
  • Question 32.0
    • Question 32.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that includes clear language to protect woody vegetation outside of the construction footprint on individual lots or development sites?
  • Question 33.0
    • Question 33.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires a landscape maintenance agreement or similar mechanism to protect indigenous vegetation to be preserved on site throughout the construction process?
  • Question 34.0
    • Question 34.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires the preservation of indigenous vegetation in open space as a component of cluster development?
  • Question 35.0
    • Question 35.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires a natural resources (or environmental) assessment as the initial part of the plan of development review process (i.e. pre-submission/pre-application requirement for site plans, preliminary subdivision plats, etc.) and uses this information in the review of proposed projects to limit the impacts on natural resources?
  • Question 36.0
    • Question 36.0
    Are there other ordinance provisions, or other specific standards in other adopted documents that preserve indigenous vegetation?
  • Question 37.0
    • Question 37.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that sets maximum parking space requirements for some or all zoning districts?
  • Question 38.0
    • Question 38.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or requires the use of alternative pervious surfaces for required parking and/or overflow parking areas?
  • Question 39.0
    • Question 39.0
    Are there ordinance provisions, or other adopted documents, that allows for shared and off-site parking in certain zoning districts, such as commercial and office districts?
  • Question 40.0
    • Question 40.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or requires a percentage of parking spaces for compact cars or motorcycles?
  • Question 41.0
    • Question 41.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that provides incentives for structural parking versus surface parking?
  • Question 42.0
    • Question 42.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that limits the width of travel lanes in parking areas according to the chart provided in Item 42 of the Checklist for Advisory Review of Local Ordinances?
  • Question 43.0
    • Question 43.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows single travel aisles versus double aisles in parking areas?
  • Question 44.0
    • Question 44.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that limits the size of parking stalls to 9? by 18?, for all passenger vehicle parking stalls (non-parallel parking) except handicapped stalls?
  • Question 45.0
    • Question 45.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows on-street parking to count towards required minimum parking spaces?
  • Question 46.0
    • Question 46.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that sets parking space minimums for commercial and office uses to 4 spaces or less per 1,000 net square feet?
  • Question 47.0
    • Question 47.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that sets parking space minimums for churches, schools, theaters, etc. to 1 for every 4 fixed seats or less, or 10 spaces or less per 1,000 net square feet?
  • Question 48.0
    • Question 48.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that sets maximum impervious coverage or lot coverage for lots and/or parcels based on zoning districts?
  • Question 49.0
    • Question 49.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or encourages increased building height, floor area ratio, density, etc. to limit impervious coverage?
  • Question 50.0
    • Question 50.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or encourages the use of vegetated bio-retention facilities to meet parking lot landscaping requirements?
  • Question 51.0
    • Question 51.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or promotes LID practices (e.g. green roof, bio-retention, etc.) for new development projects?
  • Question 52.0
    • Question 52.0
    Are there ordinance provisions that promote infill or redevelopment through techniques such as tax and other local incentives, or through other methods?
  • Question 53.0
    • Question 53.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows or promotes LID practices (e.g. green roof, bio-retention, etc.) in redevelopment projects in urban areas?
  • Question 54.0
    • Question 54.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document that reduces impervious cover on redevelopment projects?
  • Question 55.0
    • Question 55.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that establishes a maximum radii of cul-de-sacs that does not exceed VDOT?s minimum standards?
  • Question 56.0
    • Question 56.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that permits the pavement width of private roads to be narrower than VDOT standards?
  • Question 57.0
    • Question 57.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that limits turn lanes, road widths and other pavement requirements to the minimum VDOT standards?
  • Question 58.0
    • Question 58.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that allows permeable surfaces for required emergency vehicle access lanes (aside from the main roads)?
  • Question 59.0
    • Question 59.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that permits shared driveways?
  • Question 60.0
    • Question 60.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that limits sidewalks and other pedestrian pathways to the minimum VDOT standards or other minimum required standards?
  • Question 61.0
    • Question 61.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that provides for the use of alternative permeable materials for sidewalks and/or driveways?
  • Question 62.0
    • Question 62.0
    Are there other ordinance provisions, or other specific standards in other adopted documents that limit impervious cover?
  • Question 63.0
    • Question 63.0
    Does the locally designated CBPA, or implementation of all performance criteria, cover more than 50 percent of the locality?s total land area or greater than 50 percent of the total land area in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
  • Question 64.0
    • Question 64.0
    Does the locally designated CBPA, or implementation of all performance criteria, include all land area within a locality or all land area within the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
  • Question 65.0
    • Question 65.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that provides incentives or requires low impact development (LID) techniques during the plan review process or mandated when technically feasible?
  • Question 66.0
    • Question 66.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that requires conservation design to be undertaken before land disturbance is approved?
  • Question 67.0
    • Question 67.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that permits the Purchase or Transfer of Development Rights?
  • Question 68.0
    • Question 68.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that provides incentives for or requires the use of vegetated BMPs or additional vegetation as part of traditional BMPs to enhance their pollutant removal function?
  • Question 69.0
    • Question 69.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that include other standards that provide for general water quality protection or improvement?
  • Question 70.0
    • Question 70.0
    Is there an ordinance provision, or other adopted document, that includes standards to promote the re-vegetation of cleared areas for the purpose of general water quality protection or improvement?
  • SPPC1
    • SPPC1
    Do local land development ordinances require the depiction of Resource Protection Area (RPA) and Resource Management Area (RMA) boundaries on submitted plats and site plans? (9 VAC 10-20-191 A 4 i)
  • SPPC2
    • SPPC2
    Do local land development ordinances require a notation on plats of the requirement to retain an undisturbed and vegetated 100-foot wide buffer area? (9 VAC 10-20-191 A 4 i)
  • SPPC3
    • SPPC3
    For areas that require on-site (including remotely located) sewage treatment systems, do local land development ordinances require plats to have a notation regarding the requirement for pump-out for on-site sewage treatment systems? (9 VAC 10-20-191 A 4 ii)
  • SPPC4
    • SPPC4
    For areas that require on-site (including remotely located) sewage treatment systems, do local land development ordinances require plats to have a notation regarding the requirement for 100% reserve drainfield sites for on-site sewage treatment systems? (9 VAC 10-20-191 A 4 ii)
  • SPPC5
    • SPPC5
    Do local land development ordinances require a notation on plats that specifies permitted development in the RPA is limited to water dependent facilities or redevelopment in Resource Protection Areas, including the 100-foot wide vegetated buffer? (9 VAC 10-20-191 A 4 iii)
  • SPPC6
    • SPPC6
    Does the local government require, within the plan of development review process, the delineation of the buildable areas on each lot, based on the performance criteria, local front and side yard setbacks, and any other relevant easements or limitations regarding lot coverage? (9 VAC 10-20-191 A 5)


  • Cities
  • Alexandria
  • Chesapeake
  • Colonial Heights
  • Fredericksburg
  • Hopewell
  • Norfolk
  • Poquoson
  • Portsmouth
  • Richmond
  • Suffolk
  • Virginia Beach
  • Williamsburg


  • Counties
  • Accomack
  • Caroline
  • Charles City
  • Gloucester
  • Hanover
  • Henrico
  • Isle of Wight
  • James City
  • King George
  • King William
  • Lancaster
  • Middlesex
  • New Kent
  • Northampton
  • Northumberland
  • Richmond
  • Spotsylvania
  • Stafford
  • York


  • Towns
  • Ashland
  • Belle Haven
  • Bloxom
  • Bowling Green
  • Cape Charles
  • Cheriton
  • Colonial Beach
  • Eastville
  • Exmore
  • Hallwood
  • Melfa
  • Nassawadox
  • Occoquan
  • Onancock
  • Onley
  • Painter
  • Parksley
  • Saxis
  • Smithfield
  • Tangier
  • Urbanna
  • Vienna
  • Windsor


Department of Conservation and Recreation
Stormwater Management
203 Governor Street, Suite 206
Richmond, VA 23219-2094
(804) 786-2064
jackie.miller@dcr.virginia.gov

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Last Modified: Friday, 16 November 2012, 04:20:28 PM

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