{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/62.1-44.15_72.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/62.1-44.15_72.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/62.1-44.15_72.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/62.1-44.15_72.html"}],"law_id":86461,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86461,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:72","catch_line":"Board to develop criteria","history":"1988, cc. 608, 891, \u00a7 10.1-2107; 2012, cc. 785, 819; 2013, cc. 756, 793; 2014, c. 151; 2015, c. 674; 2020, c. 1207; 2022, c. 486.","full_text":"A\n\nIn order to implement the provisions of this article and to assist counties, cities, and towns in regulating the use and development of land and in protecting the quality of state waters, the Board shall promulgate regulations that establish criteria for use by local governments to determine the ecological and geographic extent of Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. The Board shall also promulgate regulations that establish criteria for use by local governments in granting, denying, or modifying requests to rezone, subdivide, or use and develop land in these areas.B\n\nIn developing and amending the criteria, the Board shall consider all factors relevant to the protection of water quality from significant degradation as a result of the use and development of land. The criteria shall incorporate measures such as performance standards, best management practices, and various planning and zoning concepts to protect the quality of state waters while allowing use and development of land consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The criteria adopted by the Board, operating in conjunction with other state water quality programs, shall encourage and promote (i) protection of existing high quality state waters and restoration of all other state waters to a condition or quality that will permit all reasonable public uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish, that might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (ii) safeguarding of the clean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution; (iii) prevention of any increase in pollution; (iv) reduction of existing pollution; (v) preservation of mature trees or planting of trees as a water quality protection tool and as a means of providing other natural resource benefits; (vi) coastal resilience and adaptation to sea-level rise and climate change; and (vii) promotion of water resource conservation in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.C\n\nPrior to the development or amendment of criteria, the Board shall give due consideration to, among other things, the economic and social costs and benefits that can reasonably be expected to obtain as a result of the adoption or amendment of the criteria.D\n\nIn developing such criteria the Board may consult with and obtain the comments of any federal, state, regional, or local agency that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to the use and development of land or the protection of water. The Board shall give due consideration to the comments submitted by such federal, state, regional, or local agencies.E\n\nIn developing such criteria, the Board shall provide that any locality in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area that allows the owner of an onsite sewage treatment system not requiring a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to submit documentation in lieu of proof of septic tank pump-out shall require such owner to have such documentation certified by an operator or onsite soil evaluator licensed or certified under Chapter 23 (&#xA7; 54.1-2300 et seq.) of Title 54.1 as being qualified to operate, maintain, or design onsite sewage systems.F\n\nIn developing such criteria, the Board shall not require the designation of a Resource Protection Area (RPA) as defined according to the criteria developed by the Board, adjacent to a daylighted stream. However, a locality that elects not to designate an RPA adjacent to a daylighted stream shall use a water quality impact assessment to ensure that proposed development on properties adjacent to the daylighted stream does not result in the degradation of the stream. The water quality impact assessment shall (i) be consistent with the Board&#8217;s criteria for water quality assessments in RPAs, (ii) identify the impacts of the proposed development on water quality, and (iii) determine specific measures for the mitigation of those impacts. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that practices on properties adjacent to daylighted streams are effective in retarding runoff, preventing erosion, and filtering nonpoint source pollution. The specific content for the water quality impact assessment shall be established and implemented by any locality that chooses not to designate an RPA adjacent to a daylighted stream. Nothing in this subsection shall limit a locality&#8217;s authority to include a daylighted stream within the extent of an RPA.G\n\nEffective July 1, 2014, requirements promulgated under this article directly related to compliance with the erosion and sediment control and stormwater management provisions of this chapter and regulated under the authority of those provisions shall cease to have effect.H\n\nEffective July 1, 2023, requirements promulgated under this article directly related to compliance with onsite sewage system pump-outs shall be managed and enforced by the Department of Health in Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties, and the incorporated towns within those counties.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309684,"text":"In order to implement the provisions of this article and to assist counties, cities, and towns in regulating the use and development of land and in protecting the quality of state waters, the Board shall promulgate regulations that establish criteria for use by local governments to determine the ecological and geographic extent of Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. The Board shall also promulgate regulations that establish criteria for use by local governments in granting, denying, or modifying requests to rezone, subdivide, or use and develop land in these areas.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":309685,"text":"In developing and amending the criteria, the Board shall consider all factors relevant to the protection of water quality from significant degradation as a result of the use and development of land. The criteria shall incorporate measures such as performance standards, best management practices, and various planning and zoning concepts to protect the quality of state waters while allowing use and development of land consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The criteria adopted by the Board, operating in conjunction with other state water quality programs, shall encourage and promote (i) protection of existing high quality state waters and restoration of all other state waters to a condition or quality that will permit all reasonable public uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish, that might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (ii) safeguarding of the clean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution; (iii) prevention of any increase in pollution; (iv) reduction of existing pollution; (v) preservation of mature trees or planting of trees as a water quality protection tool and as a means of providing other natural resource benefits; (vi) coastal resilience and adaptation to sea-level rise and climate change; and (vii) promotion of water resource conservation in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":309686,"text":"Prior to the development or amendment of criteria, the Board shall give due consideration to, among other things, the economic and social costs and benefits that can reasonably be expected to obtain as a result of the adoption or amendment of the criteria.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":309687,"text":"In developing such criteria the Board may consult with and obtain the comments of any federal, state, regional, or local agency that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to the use and development of land or the protection of water. The Board shall give due consideration to the comments submitted by such federal, state, regional, or local agencies.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":309688,"text":"In developing such criteria, the Board shall provide that any locality in a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area that allows the owner of an onsite sewage treatment system not requiring a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to submit documentation in lieu of proof of septic tank pump-out shall require such owner to have such documentation certified by an operator or onsite soil evaluator licensed or certified under Chapter 23 (&#xA7; 54.1-2300 et seq.) of Title 54.1 as being qualified to operate, maintain, or design onsite sewage systems.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":309689,"text":"In developing such criteria, the Board shall not require the designation of a Resource Protection Area (RPA) as defined according to the criteria developed by the Board, adjacent to a daylighted stream. However, a locality that elects not to designate an RPA adjacent to a daylighted stream shall use a water quality impact assessment to ensure that proposed development on properties adjacent to the daylighted stream does not result in the degradation of the stream. The water quality impact assessment shall (i) be consistent with the Board&#8217;s criteria for water quality assessments in RPAs, (ii) identify the impacts of the proposed development on water quality, and (iii) determine specific measures for the mitigation of those impacts. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that practices on properties adjacent to daylighted streams are effective in retarding runoff, preventing erosion, and filtering nonpoint source pollution. The specific content for the water quality impact assessment shall be established and implemented by any locality that chooses not to designate an RPA adjacent to a daylighted stream. Nothing in this subsection shall limit a locality&#8217;s authority to include a daylighted stream within the extent of an RPA.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":309690,"text":"Effective July 1, 2014, requirements promulgated under this article directly related to compliance with the erosion and sediment control and stormwater management provisions of this chapter and regulated under the authority of those provisions shall cease to have effect.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":309691,"text":"Effective July 1, 2023, requirements promulgated under this article directly related to compliance with onsite sewage system pump-outs shall be managed and enforced by the Department of Health in Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties, and the incorporated towns within those counties.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15151,"edition_id":1,"name":"Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act","identifier":"2.5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13014,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:33","permalink":{"id":269705,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15151,"identifier":"2.5","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5","url":"\/62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13014,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Water Control Law","identifier":"3.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12909,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","permalink":{"id":269169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13014,"identifier":"3.1","token":"62.1\/3.1","url":"\/62.1\/3.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12909,"edition_id":1,"name":"Waters of the State, Ports and Harbors","identifier":"62.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","permalink":{"id":268199,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12909,"identifier":"62.1","token":"62.1","url":"\/62.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":72347,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:67","catch_line":"Cooperative state-local program","url":"\/62.1-44.15_67\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_67","metadata":false},{"id":65612,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:68","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/62.1-44.15_68\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_68","metadata":false},{"id":81171,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:69","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Board","url":"\/62.1-44.15_69\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_69","metadata":false},{"id":84551,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:70","catch_line":"Exclusive authority of Board to institute legal actions","url":"\/62.1-44.15_70\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_70","metadata":false},{"id":57714,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:71","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/62.1-44.15_71\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_71","metadata":false},{"id":86461,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:72","catch_line":"Board to develop criteria","url":"\/62.1-44.15_72\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_72","metadata":false},{"id":84298,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:73","catch_line":"Local government authority","url":"\/62.1-44.15_73\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_73","metadata":false},{"id":80080,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:74","catch_line":"Local governments to designate Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas; incorporate into local plans and ordinances; impose civil penalties","url":"\/62.1-44.15_74\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_74","metadata":false},{"id":85698,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:75","catch_line":"Local governments outside of Tidewater Virginia may adopt provisions","url":"\/62.1-44.15_75\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_75","metadata":false},{"id":71293,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:76","catch_line":"Local government requirements for water quality protection","url":"\/62.1-44.15_76\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_76","metadata":false},{"id":72759,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:77","catch_line":"Effect on other governmental authority","url":"\/62.1-44.15_77\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_77","metadata":false},{"id":65494,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:78","catch_line":"State agency consistency","url":"\/62.1-44.15_78\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_78","metadata":false},{"id":82932,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:79","catch_line":"Vested rights protected","url":"\/62.1-44.15_79\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_79","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57714,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:71","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/62.1-44.15_71\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_71","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84298,"structure_id":15151,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:73","catch_line":"Local government authority","url":"\/62.1-44.15_73\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_73","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/62.1-44.15:72\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 608 and 891 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 1988 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 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 2012, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0785\">785<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0819\">819<\/a>; in 2013, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?131+ful+CHAP0756\">756<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?131+ful+CHAP0793\">793<\/a>; in 2014, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0151\">151<\/a>; in 2015, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0674\">674<\/a>; in 2020, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP1207\">1207<\/a>; in 2022, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?221+ful+CHAP0486\">486<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":65612,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:68","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15_68\/"},{"id":85698,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:75","catch_line":"Local governments outside of Tidewater Virginia may adopt provisions","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15_75\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82563,"section_number":"54.1-2300","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2300\/"}],"permalink":{"id":269727,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86461,"identifier":"62.1-44.15:72","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_72","url":"\/62.1-44.15_72\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/62.1-44.15_72\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.5\/62.1-44.15_72","dublin_core":{"Title":"Board to develop criteria","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 62.1-44.15:72","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> In <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to implement the provisions of this article and to assist counties, cities, and towns in regulating the use and development of land and in protecting the quality of <span class=\"dictionary\">state waters<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall promulgate <span class=\"dictionary\">regulations<\/span> that establish <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> for use by local governments to determine the ecological and geographic extent of <span class=\"dictionary\">Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas<\/span>. The <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall also promulgate <span class=\"dictionary\">regulations<\/span> that establish <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> for use by local governments in granting, denying, or modifying requests to rezone, subdivide, or use and develop land in these areas. <a id=\"paragraph-309684\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> In developing and amending the <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall consider all factors relevant to the protection of water quality from significant degradation as a result of the use and development of land. The <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> shall incorporate measures such as performance <span class=\"dictionary\">standards<\/span>, best management practices, and various planning and zoning concepts to protect the quality of <span class=\"dictionary\">state waters<\/span> while allowing use and development of land consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> adopted by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span>, operating in conjunction with other state water quality programs, shall encourage and promote (i) protection of existing high quality <span class=\"dictionary\">state waters<\/span> and restoration of all other <span class=\"dictionary\">state waters<\/span> to a condition or quality that will permit all reasonable public uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish, that might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (ii) safeguarding of the clean waters of the Commonwealth from <span class=\"dictionary\">pollution<\/span>; (iii) prevention of any increase in <span class=\"dictionary\">pollution<\/span>; (iv) reduction of existing <span class=\"dictionary\">pollution<\/span>; (v) preservation of mature trees or planting of trees as a water quality protection tool and as a means of providing other natural resource benefits; (vi) coastal resilience and adaptation to sea-level rise and climate change; and (vii) promotion of water resource conservation in <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth. <a id=\"paragraph-309685\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Prior to the development or amendment of <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall give due consideration to, among other things, the economic and social costs and benefits that can reasonably be expected to obtain as a result of the adoption or amendment of the <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-309686\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> In developing such <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> may consult with and obtain the comments of any federal, state, regional, or local agency that has <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span> or special expertise with respect to the use and development of land or the protection of water. The <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall give due consideration to the comments submitted by such federal, state, regional, or local agencies. <a id=\"paragraph-309687\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> In developing such <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall provide that any locality in a <span class=\"dictionary\">Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area<\/span> that allows the <span class=\"dictionary\">owner<\/span> of an onsite <span class=\"dictionary\">sewage<\/span> treatment system not requiring a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to submit documentation in lieu of proof of septic tank pump-out shall require such <span class=\"dictionary\">owner<\/span> to have such documentation certified by an operator or onsite soil evaluator licensed or certified under Chapter 23 (&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Definitions\" href=\"\/54.1-2300\/\">54.1-2300<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1 as being qualified to operate, maintain, or design onsite <span class=\"dictionary\">sewage<\/span> systems. <a id=\"paragraph-309688\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"F\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">F.<\/span> In developing such <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> shall not require the designation of a Resource Protection Area (RPA) as defined according to the <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> developed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span>, adjacent to a <span class=\"dictionary\">daylighted stream<\/span>. However, a locality that elects not to designate an RPA adjacent to a <span class=\"dictionary\">daylighted stream<\/span> shall use a water quality impact assessment to ensure that proposed development on properties adjacent to the <span class=\"dictionary\">daylighted stream<\/span> does not result in the degradation of the stream. The water quality impact assessment shall (i) be consistent with the <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span>&#8217;s <span class=\"dictionary\">criteria<\/span> for water quality assessments in RPAs, (ii) identify the impacts of the proposed development on water quality, and (iii) determine specific measures for the mitigation of those impacts. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that practices on properties adjacent to <span class=\"dictionary\">daylighted streams<\/span> are effective in retarding runoff, preventing erosion, and filtering nonpoint source <span class=\"dictionary\">pollution<\/span>. The specific content for the water quality impact assessment shall be established and implemented by any locality that chooses not to designate an RPA adjacent to a <span class=\"dictionary\">daylighted stream<\/span>. Nothing in this subsection shall limit a locality&#8217;s authority to include a <span class=\"dictionary\">daylighted stream<\/span> within the extent of an RPA. <a id=\"paragraph-309689\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#F\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"G\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">G.<\/span> Effective July 1, 2014, requirements promulgated under this article directly related to compliance with the erosion and sediment control and stormwater management provisions of this chapter and regulated under the authority of those provisions shall cease to have effect. <a id=\"paragraph-309690\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#G\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"H\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">H.<\/span> Effective July 1, 2023, requirements promulgated under this article directly related to compliance with onsite <span class=\"dictionary\">sewage<\/span> system pump-outs shall be managed and enforced by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Health in Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties, and the incorporated towns within those counties. <a id=\"paragraph-309691\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/62.1-44.15_72\/#H\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBOARD TO DEVELOP CRITERIA (\u00a7 62.1-44.15:72)\n\nA. In order to implement the provisions of this article and to assist counties,\ncities, and towns in regulating the use and development of land and in\nprotecting the quality of state waters, the Board shall promulgate regulations\nthat establish criteria for use by local governments to determine the ecological\nand geographic extent of Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. The Board shall also\npromulgate regulations that establish criteria for use by local governments in\ngranting, denying, or modifying requests to rezone, subdivide, or use and\ndevelop land in these areas.\n\nB. In developing and amending the criteria, the Board shall consider all factors\nrelevant to the protection of water quality from significant degradation as a\nresult of the use and development of land. The criteria shall incorporate\nmeasures such as performance standards, best management practices, and various\nplanning and zoning concepts to protect the quality of state waters while\nallowing use and development of land consistent with the provisions of this\nchapter. The criteria adopted by the Board, operating in conjunction with other\nstate water quality programs, shall encourage and promote (i) protection of\nexisting high quality state waters and restoration of all other state waters to\na condition or quality that will permit all reasonable public uses and will\nsupport the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including game fish,\nthat might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (ii) safeguarding of the\nclean waters of the Commonwealth from pollution; (iii) prevention of any\nincrease in pollution; (iv) reduction of existing pollution; (v) preservation of\nmature trees or planting of trees as a water quality protection tool and as a\nmeans of providing other natural resource benefits; (vi) coastal resilience and\nadaptation to sea-level rise and climate change; and (vii) promotion of water\nresource conservation in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of\nthe present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.\n\nC. Prior to the development or amendment of criteria, the Board shall give due\nconsideration to, among other things, the economic and social costs and benefits\nthat can reasonably be expected to obtain as a result of the adoption or\namendment of the criteria.\n\nD. In developing such criteria the Board may consult with and obtain the\ncomments of any federal, state, regional, or local agency that has jurisdiction\nby law or special expertise with respect to the use and development of land or\nthe protection of water. The Board shall give due consideration to the comments\nsubmitted by such federal, state, regional, or local agencies.\n\nE. In developing such criteria, the Board shall provide that any locality in a\nChesapeake Bay Preservation Area that allows the owner of an onsite sewage\ntreatment system not requiring a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System\npermit to submit documentation in lieu of proof of septic tank pump-out shall\nrequire such owner to have such documentation certified by an operator or onsite\nsoil evaluator licensed or certified under Chapter 23 (&#xA7; 54.1-2300 et seq.)\nof Title 54.1 as being qualified to operate, maintain, or design onsite sewage\nsystems.\n\nF. In developing such criteria, the Board shall not require the designation of a\nResource Protection Area (RPA) as defined according to the criteria developed by\nthe Board, adjacent to a daylighted stream. However, a locality that elects not\nto designate an RPA adjacent to a daylighted stream shall use a water quality\nimpact assessment to ensure that proposed development on properties adjacent to\nthe daylighted stream does not result in the degradation of the stream. The\nwater quality impact assessment shall (i) be consistent with the Board&#8217;s\ncriteria for water quality assessments in RPAs, (ii) identify the impacts of the\nproposed development on water quality, and (iii) determine specific measures for\nthe mitigation of those impacts. The objective of this assessment is to ensure\nthat practices on properties adjacent to daylighted streams are effective in\nretarding runoff, preventing erosion, and filtering nonpoint source pollution.\nThe specific content for the water quality impact assessment shall be\nestablished and implemented by any locality that chooses not to designate an RPA\nadjacent to a daylighted stream. Nothing in this subsection shall limit a\nlocality&#8217;s authority to include a daylighted stream within the extent of\nan RPA.\n\nG. Effective July 1, 2014, requirements promulgated under this article directly\nrelated to compliance with the erosion and sediment control and stormwater\nmanagement provisions of this chapter and regulated under the authority of those\nprovisions shall cease to have effect.\n\nH. Effective July 1, 2023, requirements promulgated under this article directly\nrelated to compliance with onsite sewage system pump-outs shall be managed and\nenforced by the Department of Health in Accomack, Essex, Gloucester, King and\nQueen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland,\nRichmond, and Westmoreland Counties, and the incorporated towns within those\ncounties.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, cc. 608, 891, \u00a7 10.1-2107; 2012, cc. 785, 819; 2013, cc. 756,\n793; 2014, c. 151; 2015, c. 674; 2020, c. 1207; 2022, c. 486.","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}}