{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-176.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-176.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-176.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-176.5.html"}],"law_id":79950,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79950,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.5","catch_line":"Construction permit; local government authority to require analysis of water","history":"1986, c. 401; 1988, c. 441; 1989, cc. 454, 696; 1990, cc. 544, 547, 661; 1993, c. 794; 1995, c. 220; 1996, c. 202; 1999, c. 633; 2003, c. 500; 2009, c. 59; 2014, c. 599; 2022, cc. 225, 226.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person intending to construct a private well shall apply to the Department for and receive a permit before proceeding with construction. The permit application shall include a site plan. No survey plat shall be required. In all cases, it shall be the landowner’s responsibility to ensure that the water well is properly located on the landowner’s property. This permit shall be issued no later than 60 days from application and in accordance with the Board’s regulations. In addition, an inspection shall be made after construction to assure that the construction standards are met.B\n\nThe local governing bodies of the Counties of Albemarle, Bedford, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Goochland, James City, Loudoun, Orange, Powhatan, Prince William, Rappahannock, Stafford, Warren, and York, and the Cities of Chesapeake, Manassas, Manassas Park, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach may by ordinance establish reasonable testing requirements to determine compliance with existing federal or state drinking water quality standards and require that such testing be done prior to the issuance of building permits. Such testing requirements shall apply only to building permit applicants proposing to utilize private ground water wells as their primary potable water source. In developing such an ordinance, the local governing body shall consider (i) the appropriate ground water constituents to be tested using the above standards as guidance, (ii) the reasonable cost of such testing that may be borne by the applicant, and (iii) the availability of certified laboratories to perform such services. However, no such test shall be conducted by Consolidated Laboratories. The applicant shall be notified of the test results with respect to such established standards.C\n\nAny local governing body referenced in subsection B of this section that has adopted a well abandonment ordinance may require property owners to close and cap abandoned or inactive wells pursuant to that ordinance.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":286355,"text":"Any person intending to construct a private well shall apply to the Department for and receive a permit before proceeding with construction. The permit application shall include a site plan. No survey plat shall be required. In all cases, it shall be the landowner’s responsibility to ensure that the water well is properly located on the landowner’s property. This permit shall be issued no later than 60 days from application and in accordance with the Board’s regulations. In addition, an inspection shall be made after construction to assure that the construction standards are met.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":286356,"text":"The local governing bodies of the Counties of Albemarle, Bedford, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Goochland, James City, Loudoun, Orange, Powhatan, Prince William, Rappahannock, Stafford, Warren, and York, and the Cities of Chesapeake, Manassas, Manassas Park, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach may by ordinance establish reasonable testing requirements to determine compliance with existing federal or state drinking water quality standards and require that such testing be done prior to the issuance of building permits. Such testing requirements shall apply only to building permit applicants proposing to utilize private ground water wells as their primary potable water source. In developing such an ordinance, the local governing body shall consider (i) the appropriate ground water constituents to be tested using the above standards as guidance, (ii) the reasonable cost of such testing that may be borne by the applicant, and (iii) the availability of certified laboratories to perform such services. However, no such test shall be conducted by Consolidated Laboratories. The applicant shall be notified of the test results with respect to such established standards.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":286357,"text":"Any local governing body referenced in subsection B of this section that has adopted a well abandonment ordinance may require property owners to close and cap abandoned or inactive wells pursuant to that ordinance.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13221,"edition_id":1,"name":"Private Well Construction","identifier":"2.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12941,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:28","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:28","permalink":{"id":203809,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13221,"identifier":"2.1","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1","url":"\/32.1\/6\/2.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12941,"edition_id":1,"name":"Environmental Health Services","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":203563,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12941,"identifier":"6","token":"32.1\/6","url":"\/32.1\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":69862,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.1","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/32.1-176.1\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.1","metadata":false},{"id":73574,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.2","catch_line":"Findings and policy","url":"\/32.1-176.2\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.2","metadata":false},{"id":71174,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.3","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/32.1-176.3\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.3","metadata":false},{"id":74291,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.4","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Board and Department; regulations; fees","url":"\/32.1-176.4\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.4","metadata":false},{"id":79950,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.5","catch_line":"Construction permit; local government authority to require analysis of water","url":"\/32.1-176.5\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.5","metadata":false},{"id":83042,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.5:1","catch_line":"Department to test for oil contamination; maintain lists of private laboratories","url":"\/32.1-176.5_1\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.5_1","metadata":false},{"id":54228,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.5:2","catch_line":"Prohibition on private well construction","url":"\/32.1-176.5_2\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.5_2","metadata":false},{"id":86340,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.6","catch_line":"Inspection","url":"\/32.1-176.6\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.6","metadata":false},{"id":58056,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.7","catch_line":"Other agencies to cooperate with Department","url":"\/32.1-176.7\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.7","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74291,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.4","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Board and Department; regulations; fees","url":"\/32.1-176.4\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":83042,"structure_id":13221,"section_number":"32.1-176.5:1","catch_line":"Department to test for oil contamination; maintain lists of private laboratories","url":"\/32.1-176.5_1\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.5_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-176.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1986. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 401 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 1986 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 11 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 1988, chapter 441; in 1989, chapters 454 and 696; in 1990, chapters 544, 547, and 661; in 1993, chapter 794; in 1995, chapter 220<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 202<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 633<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 500<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 59<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 599<\/a>; in 2022, chapters 225<\/a> and 226<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":203827,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79950,"identifier":"32.1-176.5","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.5","url":"\/32.1-176.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-176.5\/","token":"32.1\/6\/2.1\/32.1-176.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Construction permit; local government authority to require analysis of water","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-176.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person<\/span> intending to construct a private well<\/span> shall apply to the Department<\/span> for and receive a permit before proceeding with construction. The permit application shall include a site plan<\/span>. No survey plat<\/span> shall be required. In all cases, it shall be the landowner’s responsibility to ensure that the water well is properly located on the landowner’s property. This permit shall be issued no later than 60 days from application and in accordance with the Board<\/span>’s regulations. In addition, an inspection shall be made after construction to assure that the construction standards are met. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The local governing bodies of the Counties of Albemarle, Bedford, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Goochland, James City, Loudoun, Orange, Powhatan, Prince William, Rappahannock, Stafford, Warren, and York, and the Cities of Chesapeake, Manassas, Manassas Park, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach may by ordinance<\/span> establish reasonable testing requirements to determine compliance with existing federal or state drinking water quality standards and require that such testing be done prior to the issuance of building permits. Such testing requirements shall apply only to building permit applicants proposing to utilize private ground water wells as their primary potable water source. In developing such an ordinance<\/span>, the local governing body shall consider (i) the appropriate ground water constituents to be tested using the above standards as guidance, (ii) the reasonable cost of such testing that may be borne by the applicant, and (iii) the availability of certified laboratories to perform such services. However, no such test shall be conducted by Consolidated Laboratories. The applicant shall be notified of the test results with respect to such established standards. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any local governing body referenced in subsection B of this section that has adopted a well abandonment ordinance<\/span> may require property owners to close and cap abandoned or inactive wells pursuant to that ordinance<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTRUCTION PERMIT; LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE ANALYSIS OF WATER (\u00a7\n32.1-176.5)\n\nA. Any person intending to construct a private well shall apply to the\nDepartment for and receive a permit before proceeding with construction. The\npermit application shall include a site plan. No survey plat shall be required.\nIn all cases, it shall be the landowner’s responsibility to ensure that\nthe water well is properly located on the landowner’s property. This\npermit shall be issued no later than 60 days from application and in accordance\nwith the Board’s regulations. In addition, an inspection shall be made\nafter construction to assure that the construction standards are met.\n\nB. The local governing bodies of the Counties of Albemarle, Bedford,\nChesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Goochland, James City,\nLoudoun, Orange, Powhatan, Prince William, Rappahannock, Stafford, Warren, and\nYork, and the Cities of Chesapeake, Manassas, Manassas Park, Suffolk, and\nVirginia Beach may by ordinance establish reasonable testing requirements to\ndetermine compliance with existing federal or state drinking water quality\nstandards and require that such testing be done prior to the issuance of\nbuilding permits. Such testing requirements shall apply only to building permit\napplicants proposing to utilize private ground water wells as their primary\npotable water source. In developing such an ordinance, the local governing body\nshall consider (i) the appropriate ground water constituents to be tested using\nthe above standards as guidance, (ii) the reasonable cost of such testing that\nmay be borne by the applicant, and (iii) the availability of certified\nlaboratories to perform such services. However, no such test shall be conducted\nby Consolidated Laboratories. The applicant shall be notified of the test\nresults with respect to such established standards.\n\nC. Any local governing body referenced in subsection B of this section that has\nadopted a well abandonment ordinance may require property owners to close and\ncap abandoned or inactive wells pursuant to that ordinance.\n\nHISTORY: 1986, c. 401; 1988, c. 441; 1989, cc. 454, 696; 1990, cc. 544, 547,\n661; 1993, c. 794; 1995, c. 220; 1996, c. 202; 1999, c. 633; 2003, c. 500; 2009,\nc. 59; 2014, c. 599; 2022, cc. 225, 226.","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}}