{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-400.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-400.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-400.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-400.html"}],"law_id":55834,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55834,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-400","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1996, c. 773, \u00a7 10.1-559.1; 2000, c. 973; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Agricultural activity” means any activity used in the production of food and fiber, including farming, feedlots, grazing livestock, poultry raising, dairy farming, and aquaculture activities.\n\t\t“Agricultural stewardship plan” or “plan” means a site-specific plan for an agricultural activity to manage, through use of stewardship measures, one or more of the following: soil, water, plants, plant nutrients, pest controls, wastes, and animals.\n\t\t“Board” means the Soil and Water Conservation Board.\n\t\t“Complaint” means an allegation made by any person to the Commissioner that an owner’s or operator’s agricultural activity is creating or, if not changed, will create pollution and that states the location and nature of such agricultural activity.\n\t\t“District” or “soil and water conservation district” means a political subdivision of the Commonwealth organized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 (\u00a7 10.1-500 et seq.) of Title 10.1.\n\t\t“Informal fact-finding conference” means an informal fact-finding conference conducted in accordance with \u00a7 2.2-4019.\n\t\t“Operator” means any person who exercises managerial control over any agricultural activity.\n\t\t“Owner” means any person who owns land where an agricultural activity occurs.\n\t\t“Pollution” means any alteration of the physical, chemical, or biological properties of any state waters resulting from sedimentation, nutrients, or toxins.\n\t\t“State waters” means all water, on the surface or in the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures” or “measures” means measures for controlling the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution that reflect the pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control methods, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures” or “measures” includes: (i) agricultural water quality protection management measures described in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Manual; and (ii) agricultural water quality protection management measures contained in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":204529,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Agricultural activity” means any activity used in the production of food and fiber, including farming, feedlots, grazing livestock, poultry raising, dairy farming, and aquaculture activities.\n\t\t“Agricultural stewardship plan” or “plan” means a site-specific plan for an agricultural activity to manage, through use of stewardship measures, one or more of the following: soil, water, plants, plant nutrients, pest controls, wastes, and animals.\n\t\t“Board” means the Soil and Water Conservation Board.\n\t\t“Complaint” means an allegation made by any person to the Commissioner that an owner’s or operator’s agricultural activity is creating or, if not changed, will create pollution and that states the location and nature of such agricultural activity.\n\t\t“District” or “soil and water conservation district” means a political subdivision of the Commonwealth organized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 (\u00a7 10.1-500 et seq.) of Title 10.1.\n\t\t“Informal fact-finding conference” means an informal fact-finding conference conducted in accordance with \u00a7 2.2-4019.\n\t\t“Operator” means any person who exercises managerial control over any agricultural activity.\n\t\t“Owner” means any person who owns land where an agricultural activity occurs.\n\t\t“Pollution” means any alteration of the physical, chemical, or biological properties of any state waters resulting from sedimentation, nutrients, or toxins.\n\t\t“State waters” means all water, on the surface or in the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures” or “measures” means measures for controlling the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution that reflect the pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution control methods, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures” or “measures” includes: (i) agricultural water quality protection management measures described in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Manual; and (ii) agricultural water quality protection management measures contained in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14458,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agricultural Stewardship","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13126,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:12","permalink":{"id":194143,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14458,"identifier":"4","token":"3.2\/I\/4","url":"\/3.2\/I\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13126,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions; Protection and Promotion of Agriculture","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:19","permalink":{"id":193941,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13126,"identifier":"I","token":"3.2\/I","url":"\/3.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55834,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-400","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/3.2-400\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-400","metadata":false},{"id":70105,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-401","catch_line":"Exclusions from chapter","url":"\/3.2-401\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-401","metadata":false},{"id":63587,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-402","catch_line":"Complaint; investigation; agricultural stewardship plan","url":"\/3.2-402\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-402","metadata":false},{"id":72474,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-403","catch_line":"Issuance of corrective orders","url":"\/3.2-403\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-403","metadata":false},{"id":72580,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-404","catch_line":"Right of entry; court enforcement","url":"\/3.2-404\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-404","metadata":false},{"id":85440,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-405","catch_line":"Appeal","url":"\/3.2-405\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-405","metadata":false},{"id":73080,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-406","catch_line":"Penalties; injunctions; enforcement actions","url":"\/3.2-406\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-406","metadata":false},{"id":84425,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-407","catch_line":"Liens","url":"\/3.2-407\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-407","metadata":false},{"id":73832,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-408","catch_line":"Guidelines to be published by Commissioner; report","url":"\/3.2-408\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-408","metadata":false},{"id":76857,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-409","catch_line":"Ordinances","url":"\/3.2-409\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-409","metadata":false},{"id":56797,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-410","catch_line":"Construction of chapter","url":"\/3.2-410\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-410","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":70105,"structure_id":14458,"section_number":"3.2-401","catch_line":"Exclusions from chapter","url":"\/3.2-401\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-401","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-400\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 773<\/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 2000, chapter 973<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":76236,"section_number":"10.1-104.7","catch_line":"Resource management plans; effect of implementation; exclusions","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-104.7\/"},{"id":71820,"section_number":"10.1-104.8","catch_line":"Resource management plans; criteria","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-104.8\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55023,"section_number":"10.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-500\/"},{"id":85983,"section_number":"2.2-4019","catch_line":"Informal fact finding proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4019\/"}],"permalink":{"id":194145,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55834,"identifier":"3.2-400","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-400","url":"\/3.2-400\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-400\/","token":"3.2\/I\/4\/3.2-400","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-400","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Agricultural activity<\/span>” means any activity used in the production of food and fiber, including farming, feedlots, grazing livestock, poultry raising, dairy farming, and aquaculture activities.\n\t\t“Agricultural stewardship plan<\/span>” or “plan” means a site-specific plan for an agricultural activity<\/span> to manage, through use of stewardship measures<\/span>, one or more of the following: soil, water, plants, plant nutrients, pest controls, wastes, and animals.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Soil and Water Conservation Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Complaint<\/span>” means an allegation<\/span> made by any person to the Commissioner<\/span> that an owner<\/span>’s or operator<\/span>’s agricultural activity<\/span> is creating or, if not changed, will create pollution<\/span> and that states the location and nature of such agricultural activity<\/span>.\n\t\t“District” or “soil and water conservation district<\/span>” means a political subdivision of the Commonwealth organized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 (\u00a7 10.1-500<\/a> et seq.) of Title 10.1.\n\t\t“Informal fact<\/span>-finding<\/span> conference<\/span>” means an informal fact<\/span>-finding<\/span> conference<\/span> conducted in accordance with \u00a7 2.2-4019<\/a>.\n\t\t“Operator<\/span>” means any person who exercises managerial control over any agricultural activity<\/span>.\n\t\t“Owner<\/span>” means any person who owns land where an agricultural activity<\/span> occurs.\n\t\t“Pollution<\/span>” means any alteration of the physical, chemical, or biological properties of any state waters<\/span> resulting from sedimentation, nutrients, or toxins.\n\t\t“State waters<\/span>” means all water, on the surface or in the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction<\/span>.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures<\/span>” or “measures” means measures for controlling the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and classes of nonpoint sources of pollution<\/span> that reflect the pollutant reduction achievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution<\/span> control methods, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or other alternatives.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures<\/span>” or “measures” includes: (i) agricultural water quality protection management measures described in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Manual; and (ii) agricultural water quality protection management measures contained in the U.S. Department<\/span> of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 3.2-400)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Agricultural activity” means any activity used in the production\nof food and fiber, including farming, feedlots, grazing livestock, poultry\nraising, dairy farming, and aquaculture activities.\n\t\t“Agricultural stewardship plan” or “plan” means a\nsite-specific plan for an agricultural activity to manage, through use of\nstewardship measures, one or more of the following: soil, water, plants, plant\nnutrients, pest controls, wastes, and animals.\n\t\t“Board” means the Soil and Water Conservation Board.\n\t\t“Complaint” means an allegation made by any person to the\nCommissioner that an owner’s or operator’s agricultural activity is\ncreating or, if not changed, will create pollution and that states the location\nand nature of such agricultural activity.\n\t\t“District” or “soil and water conservation district”\nmeans a political subdivision of the Commonwealth organized in accordance with\nthe provisions of Chapter 5 (\u00a7 10.1-500 et seq.) of Title 10.1.\n\t\t“Informal fact-finding conference” means an informal fact-finding\nconference conducted in accordance with \u00a7 2.2-4019.\n\t\t“Operator” means any person who exercises managerial control over\nany agricultural activity.\n\t\t“Owner” means any person who owns land where an agricultural\nactivity occurs.\n\t\t“Pollution” means any alteration of the physical, chemical, or\nbiological properties of any state waters resulting from sedimentation,\nnutrients, or toxins.\n\t\t“State waters” means all water, on the surface or in the ground,\nwholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its\njurisdiction.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures” or “measures” means measures\nfor controlling the addition of pollutants from existing and new categories and\nclasses of nonpoint sources of pollution that reflect the pollutant reduction\nachievable through the application of the best available nonpoint pollution\ncontrol methods, technologies, processes, siting criteria, operating methods, or\nother alternatives.\n\t\t“Stewardship measures” or “measures” includes: (i)\nagricultural water quality protection management measures described in the\nVirginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Manual; and (ii) agricultural\nwater quality protection management measures contained in the U.S. Department of\nAgriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office\nTechnical Guide.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, c. 773, \u00a7 10.1-559.1; 2000, c. 973; 2008, c. 860.","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}}