The City of Virginia Beach Wetlands Board will hold Public Hearings in person at the City Council Chamber in the OLD City Hall, Building 3, 2403 Courthouse Drive. For a list of additional meeting dates please refer to the Agendas & Minutes tab below.
An informal session will be held at 9:00 a.m. at the same location. During the informal session, Staff briefs the Board on agenda items. All interested persons are invited to attend. There is no opportunity for citizenry to speak at the briefing session; however, the public is invited to speak at the 10:00 a.m. formal Wetlands Board Public Hearing that follows.
For information or to examine copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, amendments and/or resolutions are on file and may be examined by appointment in the Planning Department at 2875 Sabre St, Suite 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 or online at www.vbgov.com/wetlands. For information call 757-385-4621. Staff Reports will be available on the webpage 5 days prior to the meeting.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for this meeting due to a disability, please call the Department of Planning & Community Development at (757) 385-4621. If you are hearing impaired, you can contact Virginia Relay at 711 for TDD service.
Current
Operations for Office Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Department of Planning &
Community Development is now open to the public. Staff is now working in the office and are able to assist you in the Department lobby area.
Staff continues to
encourage future applicants to continue to complete their Joint Permit Applications
(JPA) online, and submit their JPA to the Virginia Marine Resource Commission
(VMRC) at jpa.permits@mrc.virginia.gov.
Those without access to the internet may drop off Joint Permit Applications at
2875 Sabre Street, Suite 500, and our staff will forward your application to
the Marine Resource Commission for you. Place the entire submittal
package including application, plans, disclosure statement and processing fees
(fees in a sealed envelope, checks payable to Treasurer, City of Virginia
Beach) in the City Treasurer’s Drop Box located outside of the building in
front of the lobby. Address the envelope to Ms. Shannon Heederik, Department
of Planning & Community Development. Links to the Joint Permit
Applications and a schedule of processing fees are noted on the Wetlands Board
web-page at https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/planning/boards-commissions-committees/Pages/Wetlands-Board.aspx.
Applicants will be notified by phone or email if additional information is
necessary to continue processing of all applications, regardless of submittal
method.
For more information, please contact the
Waterfront Operations Staff at (757) 385-8246
, or waterfront@vbgov.com.
Wetlands Board General Information
The Wetlands Board is composed of seven members, appointed by the City Council, who are responsible for reviewing requests for permits for the use, alteration, or development of Tidal-Wetlands, Coastal Primary Sand Dunes, and beaches.
The Board's wetlands jurisdiction for non-vegetated wetlands (sand flat, mud flat, etc.) lies between mean low water and mean high water. Vegetated wetlands jurisdiction is from mean low water to an elevation one and one-half times the mean tide range. The mean tide range is approximately two feet for rivers and bay areas and three and one-half feet for ocean areas. Upland of that elevation, the Board does not have jurisdiction. However, a waterfront construction permit from the Waterfront Operations Bureau may still be required. If you have questions, contact a Waterfront Inspector at (757) 385-8246.
The Board also reviews violations of the regulations and has the option to assess civil charges and/or order restoration of the site.