{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-6601.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-6601.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-6601.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-6601.html"}],"law_id":86434,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86434,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6601","catch_line":"Creation; public purpose","history":"2002, c. 766; 2009, c. 429; 2018, c. 326.","full_text":"If any of the governing bodies of the Counties of Essex, Gloucester, King William, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, and the Towns of West Point, Tappahannock and Urbanna by resolution declare that there is a need for a public access authority to be created and an operating agreement is developed for the purpose of establishing or operating a public access authority for any such participating political subdivisions and that they should unite in the formation of an authority to be known as the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (hereinafter the “Authority”), which shall thereupon exist for such participating counties and town and shall exercise its powers and functions as prescribed herein. The region for which such Authority shall exist shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the participating political subdivisions. The Authority shall be charged with the following duties:\n\n1\n\nIdentify land, either owned by the Commonwealth or private holdings that can be secured for use by the general public as a public access site;2\n\nResearch and determine ownership of all identified sites;3\n\nDetermine appropriate public use levels of identified access sites;4\n\nDevelop appropriate mechanisms for transferring title of Commonwealth or private holdings to the Authority;5\n\nDevelop appropriate acquisition and site management plans for public access usage;6\n\nDetermine which holdings should be sold to advance the mission of the Authority;7\n\nReceive and expend public funds and private donations in order to restore or create tidal wetlands within the region for which the Authority exists; provided that any tidal mitigation credits resulting from such restoration or creation projects shall be held by the Authority for the benefit and use of participating political subdivisions and shall not be sold or conveyed to any private party by the Authority or any participating political subdivision;8\n\nReceive and expend public funds and private donations and apply for permits in order to perform dredging projects on waterways and construct facilities and infrastructure within the region for which the Authority exists. Such projects shall enhance recreational or commercial public access; and9\n\nPerform other duties required to fulfill the mission of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority.\n\t\t\tIn any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or relating to any contract of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority, the Authority shall be deemed to have been created as a body corporate and to have been established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a resolution as aforesaid by the participating political subdivisions declaring that there is a need for such Authority. A copy of such resolution duly certified by the clerks of the counties and towns by which it is adopted shall be admissible as evidence in any suit, action, or proceeding. Any political subdivision of the Commonwealth is authorized to join such Authority pursuant to the terms and conditions of this act.\n\t\t\tThe ownership and operation by the Authority of any public access sites and related facilities and the exercise of powers conferred by this act are proper and essential governmental functions and public purposes and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired. The Authority is a regional entity of government by or on behalf of which debt may be contracted by or on behalf of any county or town pursuant to Section 10(a) of Article VII of the Constitution of Virginia.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309568,"text":"If any of the governing bodies of the Counties of Essex, Gloucester, King William, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, and the Towns of West Point, Tappahannock and Urbanna by resolution declare that there is a need for a public access authority to be created and an operating agreement is developed for the purpose of establishing or operating a public access authority for any such participating political subdivisions and that they should unite in the formation of an authority to be known as the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (hereinafter the “Authority”), which shall thereupon exist for such participating counties and town and shall exercise its powers and functions as prescribed herein. The region for which such Authority shall exist shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the participating political subdivisions. The Authority shall be charged with the following duties:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":309569,"text":"Identify land, either owned by the Commonwealth or private holdings that can be secured for use by the general public as a public access site;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":309570,"text":"Research and determine ownership of all identified sites;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":309571,"text":"Determine appropriate public use levels of identified access sites;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":309572,"text":"Develop appropriate mechanisms for transferring title of Commonwealth or private holdings to the Authority;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":309573,"text":"Develop appropriate acquisition and site management plans for public access usage;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":309574,"text":"Determine which holdings should be sold to advance the mission of the Authority;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":309575,"text":"Receive and expend public funds and private donations in order to restore or create tidal wetlands within the region for which the Authority exists; provided that any tidal mitigation credits resulting from such restoration or creation projects shall be held by the Authority for the benefit and use of participating political subdivisions and shall not be sold or conveyed to any private party by the Authority or any participating political subdivision;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":309576,"text":"Receive and expend public funds and private donations and apply for permits in order to perform dredging projects on waterways and construct facilities and infrastructure within the region for which the Authority exists. Such projects shall enhance recreational or commercial public access; and","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":309577,"text":"Perform other duties required to fulfill the mission of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority.\n\t\t\tIn any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or relating to any contract of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority, the Authority shall be deemed to have been created as a body corporate and to have been established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a resolution as aforesaid by the participating political subdivisions declaring that there is a need for such Authority. A copy of such resolution duly certified by the clerks of the counties and towns by which it is adopted shall be admissible as evidence in any suit, action, or proceeding. Any political subdivision of the Commonwealth is authorized to join such Authority pursuant to the terms and conditions of this act.\n\t\t\tThe ownership and operation by the Authority of any public access sites and related facilities and the exercise of powers conferred by this act are proper and essential governmental functions and public purposes and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired. The Authority is a regional entity of government by or on behalf of which debt may be contracted by or on behalf of any county or town pursuant to Section 10(a) of Article VII of the Constitution of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14386,"edition_id":1,"name":"Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority Act","identifier":"66","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12721,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","permalink":{"id":160325,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14386,"identifier":"66","token":"15.2\/IV\/66","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/66\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12721,"edition_id":1,"name":"Other Governmental Entities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":157897,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12721,"identifier":"IV","token":"15.2\/IV","url":"\/15.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55725,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6600","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/15.2-6600\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6600","metadata":false},{"id":86434,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6601","catch_line":"Creation; public purpose","url":"\/15.2-6601\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6601","metadata":false},{"id":84282,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6602","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-6602\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6602","metadata":false},{"id":69645,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6603","catch_line":"Participating political subdivision","url":"\/15.2-6603\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6603","metadata":false},{"id":62055,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6604","catch_line":"Appointment of a board of directors","url":"\/15.2-6604\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6604","metadata":false},{"id":58677,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6605","catch_line":"Organization","url":"\/15.2-6605\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6605","metadata":false},{"id":61988,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6606","catch_line":"Powers","url":"\/15.2-6606\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6606","metadata":false},{"id":80067,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6607","catch_line":"Name of authority","url":"\/15.2-6607\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6607","metadata":false},{"id":61937,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6608","catch_line":"Rules, regulations, and minimum standards","url":"\/15.2-6608\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6608","metadata":false},{"id":83847,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6609","catch_line":"Reports","url":"\/15.2-6609\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6609","metadata":false},{"id":62506,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6610","catch_line":"Procurement","url":"\/15.2-6610\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6610","metadata":false},{"id":59685,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6611","catch_line":"Deposit and investment of funds","url":"\/15.2-6611\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6611","metadata":false},{"id":64694,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6612","catch_line":"Authority to issue bonds","url":"\/15.2-6612\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6612","metadata":false},{"id":75351,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6613","catch_line":"Fees, rents, and charges","url":"\/15.2-6613\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6613","metadata":false},{"id":74880,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6614","catch_line":"Credit of Commonwealth and political subdivisions not pledged","url":"\/15.2-6614\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6614","metadata":false},{"id":82355,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6615","catch_line":"Directors and persons executing bonds not liable thereon","url":"\/15.2-6615\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6615","metadata":false},{"id":63568,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6616","catch_line":"Security for payment of bonds; default","url":"\/15.2-6616\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6616","metadata":false},{"id":70360,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6617","catch_line":"Taxation","url":"\/15.2-6617\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6617","metadata":false},{"id":82429,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6618","catch_line":"Bonds as legal investments","url":"\/15.2-6618\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6618","metadata":false},{"id":79667,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6619","catch_line":"Appropriation by political subdivision","url":"\/15.2-6619\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6619","metadata":false},{"id":56467,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6620","catch_line":"Contracts with political subdivisions","url":"\/15.2-6620\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6620","metadata":false},{"id":57742,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6621","catch_line":"Agreement with Commonwealth and participating political subdivisions","url":"\/15.2-6621\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6621","metadata":false},{"id":62253,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6622","catch_line":"Liberal construction","url":"\/15.2-6622\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6622","metadata":false},{"id":79295,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6623","catch_line":"Application of local ordinances, service charges, and taxes upon leaseholds","url":"\/15.2-6623\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6623","metadata":false},{"id":84950,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6624","catch_line":"Existing contracts, leases, franchises, etc., not impaired","url":"\/15.2-6624\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6624","metadata":false},{"id":69499,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6625","catch_line":"Withdrawal of membership","url":"\/15.2-6625\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6625","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55725,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6600","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/15.2-6600\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6600","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84282,"structure_id":14386,"section_number":"15.2-6602","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/15.2-6602\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6602","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-6601\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 766<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2009, chapter 429<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 326<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":160331,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86434,"identifier":"15.2-6601","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6601","url":"\/15.2-6601\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-6601\/","token":"15.2\/IV\/66\/15.2-6601","dublin_core":{"Title":"Creation; public purpose","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-6601","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If any of the governing bodies of the Counties of Essex, Gloucester, King William, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, and the Towns<\/span> of West Point, Tappahannock and Urbanna by resolution declare that there is a need for a public access authority to be created and an operating agreement is developed for the purpose of establishing or operating a public access authority for any such participating political subdivisions and that they should unite in the formation of an authority to be known as the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (hereinafter the “Authority”), which shall thereupon exist for such participating counties and town<\/span> and shall exercise its powers and functions as prescribed herein. The region for which such Authority shall exist shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the participating political subdivisions. The Authority shall be charged with the following duties:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Identify land, either owned by the Commonwealth or private holdings that can be secured for use by the general public as a public access site; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Research and determine ownership of all identified sites; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Determine appropriate public use levels of identified access sites; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Develop appropriate mechanisms for transferring title of Commonwealth or private holdings to the Authority; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Develop appropriate acquisition and site management plans for public access usage; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Determine which holdings should be sold to advance the mission of the Authority; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Receive and expend public funds and private donations in order<\/span> to restore or create tidal wetlands within the region for which the Authority exists; provided that any tidal mitigation credits resulting from such restoration or creation projects shall be held by the Authority for the benefit and use of participating political subdivisions and shall not be sold or conveyed to any private party<\/span> by the Authority or any participating political subdivision; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Receive and expend public funds and private donations and apply for permits in order<\/span> to perform dredging projects on waterways and construct facilities and infrastructure within the region for which the Authority exists. Such projects shall enhance recreational or commercial public access; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Perform other duties required to fulfill the mission of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority.\n\t\t\tIn any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of or relating to any contract<\/span> of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority, the Authority shall be deemed to have been created as a body corporate and to have been established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a resolution as aforesaid by the participating political subdivisions declaring that there is a need for such Authority. A copy of such resolution duly certified by the clerks of the counties and towns<\/span> by which it is adopted shall be admissible<\/span> as evidence<\/span> in any suit, action, or proceeding. Any political subdivision of the Commonwealth is authorized to join such Authority pursuant to the terms and conditions of this act.\n\t\t\tThe ownership and operation by the Authority of any public access sites and related facilities and the exercise of powers conferred by this act are proper and essential governmental functions and public purposes and matters of public necessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired. The Authority is a regional entity of government by or on behalf of which debt may be contracted by or on behalf of any county<\/span> or town<\/span> pursuant to Section 10(a) of Article VII of the Constitution of Virginia. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCREATION; PUBLIC PURPOSE (\u00a7 15.2-6601)\n\nIf any of the governing bodies of the Counties of Essex, Gloucester, King\nWilliam, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, and the Towns of West Point,\nTappahannock and Urbanna by resolution declare that there is a need for a public\naccess authority to be created and an operating agreement is developed for the\npurpose of establishing or operating a public access authority for any such\nparticipating political subdivisions and that they should unite in the formation\nof an authority to be known as the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access\nAuthority (hereinafter the “Authority”), which shall thereupon exist\nfor such participating counties and town and shall exercise its powers and\nfunctions as prescribed herein. The region for which such Authority shall exist\nshall be coterminous with the boundaries of the participating political\nsubdivisions. The Authority shall be charged with the following duties:\n\n1. Identify land, either owned by the Commonwealth or private holdings that can\nbe secured for use by the general public as a public access site;\n\n2. Research and determine ownership of all identified sites;\n\n3. Determine appropriate public use levels of identified access sites;\n\n4. Develop appropriate mechanisms for transferring title of Commonwealth or\nprivate holdings to the Authority;\n\n5. Develop appropriate acquisition and site management plans for public access\nusage;\n\n6. Determine which holdings should be sold to advance the mission of the\nAuthority;\n\n7. Receive and expend public funds and private donations in order to restore or\ncreate tidal wetlands within the region for which the Authority exists; provided\nthat any tidal mitigation credits resulting from such restoration or creation\nprojects shall be held by the Authority for the benefit and use of participating\npolitical subdivisions and shall not be sold or conveyed to any private party by\nthe Authority or any participating political subdivision;\n\n8. Receive and expend public funds and private donations and apply for permits\nin order to perform dredging projects on waterways and construct facilities and\ninfrastructure within the region for which the Authority exists. Such projects\nshall enhance recreational or commercial public access; and\n\n9. Perform other duties required to fulfill the mission of the Middle Peninsula\nChesapeake Bay Public Access Authority.\n\t\t\tIn any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of\nor relating to any contract of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access\nAuthority, the Authority shall be deemed to have been created as a body\ncorporate and to have been established and authorized to transact business and\nexercise its powers hereunder upon proof of the adoption of a resolution as\naforesaid by the participating political subdivisions declaring that there is a\nneed for such Authority. A copy of such resolution duly certified by the clerks\nof the counties and towns by which it is adopted shall be admissible as evidence\nin any suit, action, or proceeding. Any political subdivision of the\nCommonwealth is authorized to join such Authority pursuant to the terms and\nconditions of this act.\n\t\t\tThe ownership and operation by the Authority of any public access sites and\nrelated facilities and the exercise of powers conferred by this act are proper\nand essential governmental functions and public purposes and matters of public\nnecessity for which public moneys may be spent and private property acquired.\nThe Authority is a regional entity of government by or on behalf of which debt\nmay be contracted by or on behalf of any county or town pursuant to Section\n10(a) of Article VII of the Constitution of Virginia.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, c. 766; 2009, c. 429; 2018, c. 326.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}