{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/28.2-1210.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/28.2-1210.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/28.2-1210.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/28.2-1210.html"}],"law_id":82862,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82862,"structure_id":13906,"section_number":"28.2-1210","catch_line":"Removal of obstructions or hazardous property from state waters; penalty","history":"1974, c. 602, \u00a7 62.1-194.1:1; 1992, c. 836; 1997, c. 258; 1999, c. 544.","full_text":"A\n\nWhenever any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead, structure, or vessel is found in or upon the bays, oceans, rivers, streams or creeks of the Commonwealth in a state of abandonment, in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of such waterway, the Commission may ascertain the owner of the property and require him to repair or remove the property from the waters of the Commonwealth. If the identity or location of the owner remains unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search and the posting of proper notice at the last known address of the owner, if known, the Commission may have the property removed from the waterways of the Commonwealth after giving notice by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where such property is located.B\n\nIt is unlawful for any person who owns a vessel to allow such vessel, for more than one week after delivery of notification by the Commission or a law-enforcement official in person or by United States Postal Service certified mail, return receipt requested, to be in a state of abandonment and in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of a waterway. Upon the occurrence of a natural disaster or other act of God, the Commission or law-enforcement official shall not issue a notification until sixty days following such occurrence. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":297020,"text":"Whenever any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead, structure, or vessel is found in or upon the bays, oceans, rivers, streams or creeks of the Commonwealth in a state of abandonment, in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of such waterway, the Commission may ascertain the owner of the property and require him to repair or remove the property from the waters of the Commonwealth. If the identity or location of the owner remains unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search and the posting of proper notice at the last known address of the owner, if known, the Commission may have the property removed from the waterways of the Commonwealth after giving notice by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where such property is located.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":297021,"text":"It is unlawful for any person who owns a vessel to allow such vessel, for more than one week after delivery of notification by the Commission or a law-enforcement official in person or by United States Postal Service certified mail, return receipt requested, to be in a state of abandonment and in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of a waterway. Upon the occurrence of a natural disaster or other act of God, the Commission or law-enforcement official shall not issue a notification until sixty days following such occurrence. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13906,"edition_id":1,"name":"Enforcement and Penalties","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13214,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:15","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:15","permalink":{"id":191977,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13906,"identifier":"2","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2","url":"\/28.2\/III\/12\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13214,"edition_id":1,"name":"Submerged Lands","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13040,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:27","permalink":{"id":191917,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13214,"identifier":"12","token":"28.2\/III\/12","url":"\/28.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13040,"edition_id":1,"name":"Habitat","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12813,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:10","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:10","permalink":{"id":191915,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13040,"identifier":"III","token":"28.2\/III","url":"\/28.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12813,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters","identifier":"28.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190589,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12813,"identifier":"28.2","token":"28.2","url":"\/28.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":82862,"structure_id":13906,"section_number":"28.2-1210","catch_line":"Removal of obstructions or hazardous property from state waters; penalty","url":"\/28.2-1210\/","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1210","metadata":false},{"id":77441,"structure_id":13906,"section_number":"28.2-1211","catch_line":"Injunction against violation of \u00a7 28.2-1203","url":"\/28.2-1211\/","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1211","metadata":false},{"id":74510,"structure_id":13906,"section_number":"28.2-1212","catch_line":"Monitoring, inspections, compliance and restoration","url":"\/28.2-1212\/","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1212","metadata":false},{"id":54947,"structure_id":13906,"section_number":"28.2-1213","catch_line":"Penalties","url":"\/28.2-1213\/","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1213","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":77441,"structure_id":13906,"section_number":"28.2-1211","catch_line":"Injunction against violation of \u00a7 28.2-1203","url":"\/28.2-1211\/","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1211","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-1210\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 602 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. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1992, chapter 836; in 1997, chapter 258<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 544<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":72222,"section_number":"28.2-1204.2","catch_line":"Marine Habitat and Waterways Improvement Fund established","order_by":null,"url":"\/28.2-1204.2\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":191979,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82862,"identifier":"28.2-1210","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1210","url":"\/28.2-1210\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-1210\/","token":"28.2\/III\/12\/2\/28.2-1210","dublin_core":{"Title":"Removal of obstructions or hazardous property from state waters; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-1210","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Whenever any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead, structure, or vessel is found in or upon the bays, oceans, rivers, streams or creeks of the Commonwealth in a state of abandonment, in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of such waterway, the Commission<\/span> may ascertain the owner of the property and require him to repair or remove the property from the waters of the Commonwealth. If the identity or location of the owner remains unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search and the posting of proper notice at the last known address of the owner, if known, the Commission<\/span> may have the property removed from the waterways of the Commonwealth after giving notice by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where such property is located. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person who owns a vessel to allow such vessel, for more than one week after delivery of notification by the Commission<\/span> or a law<\/span>-enforcement official in person or by United States Postal Service certified mail, return receipt requested, to be in a state of abandonment and in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of a waterway. Upon the occurrence of a natural disaster or other act of God, the Commission<\/span> or law<\/span>-enforcement official shall not issue<\/span> a notification until sixty days following such occurrence. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS OR HAZARDOUS PROPERTY FROM STATE WATERS; PENALTY (\u00a7\n28.2-1210)\n\nA. Whenever any wharf, pier, piling, bulkhead, structure, or vessel is found in\nor upon the bays, oceans, rivers, streams or creeks of the Commonwealth in a\nstate of abandonment, in danger of sinking, or in such disrepair as to\nconstitute a hazard or obstruction to the use of such waterway, the Commission\nmay ascertain the owner of the property and require him to repair or remove the\nproperty from the waters of the Commonwealth. If the identity or location of the\nowner remains unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search and the\nposting of proper notice at the last known address of the owner, if known, the\nCommission may have the property removed from the waterways of the Commonwealth\nafter giving notice by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in\nthe area where such property is located.\n\nB. It is unlawful for any person who owns a vessel to allow such vessel, for\nmore than one week after delivery of notification by the Commission or a\nlaw-enforcement official in person or by United States Postal Service certified\nmail, return receipt requested, to be in a state of abandonment and in danger of\nsinking, or in such disrepair as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the\nuse of a waterway. Upon the occurrence of a natural disaster or other act of\nGod, the Commission or law-enforcement official shall not issue a notification\nuntil sixty days following such occurrence. Any person who violates this\nsubsection is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 602, \u00a7 62.1-194.1:1; 1992, c. 836; 1997, c. 258; 1999, c.\n544.","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}}