Applications for Wetlands and Coastal Primary Sand Dune projects can be obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers. Both Wetlands and Coastal Primary Sand Dune applications require a legal advertisement posted in a local newspaper, notification of adjacent property owners, and signs advertising the public hearing. The Planning & Community Development Department prepares the legal advertisements. The legal advertisement fee is $120.
Click here to view the City's instructions on how to fill out the Joint Permit Application submittal.
To view Wetlands or Coastal Primary Sand Dune and Beach regulations, please visit
Article 14 (Wetlands Zoning Ordinance) or
Article 16 (Coastal Primary Sand Dune Zoning Ordinance) of Appendix A (Zoning Ordinance) of the
Virginia Beach City Code.
Application Filing Deadline
The Deadline for filing an application to be heard by the Wetlands Board is the 1st day of each month for the following month’s hearing.
Wetlands Board Meeting Times
- The formal hearing is held the third Monday of every month, at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, Municipal Center, Building 1, 2nd Floor.
- Citizens are invited to observe the informal briefing, which is held the third Monday of every month at 8:30 a.m. in the City Manager's Conference Room, Room 234, Municipal Center, Building 1.
Review Fees
Effective July 1, 2018 review fees will increase and will include the Public Notifcation Fee.
- Waterfront construction and dredging projects $100 - increases to $230
- Projects that impact wetlands $300 - increases to $450
- Coastal Primary Sand Dune projects $300 - increases to $450
- Sand Management Applications $100 - increases to $230
- Public Notification $120*
*
The costs of the public notice sign(s), legal advertisements in the Virginia-Pilot/Beacon, and the postage for mailing of requirement notices to property owners adjacent to the subject site is required in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most recently notification fees were variable and based on the number of signs required, number of adjacent property owners and the amount of text in the legal notice and could not be assessed and paid until after the application fee was paid. Effective October 1, 2017, a flat fee for the Wetlands Board public notice will be implemented and will be paid at the same time as the Board application fee.
Please transmit your payment by using a cover letter that references the applicant's name, address, and phone number. All checks and money orders are to be made payable to: Treasurer, City of Virginia Beach and sent directly to the Planning & Community Development Department, Attention: Wetlands/Waterfront, 2405 Courthouse Drive, Room 191, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456. Credit card payments are accepted in-person at the Planning & Community Development Department, 2405 Courthouse Drive, Room 191, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456.