<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77192</law_id><section_number>28.2-1205</section_number><catch_line>Permits for the use of state-owned bottomlands</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>28.2-1203</reference><reference>28.2-1207</reference><reference>28.2-603.1</reference><reference>28.2-607</reference><reference>28.2-613</reference><reference>62.1-44.15:5.01</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="28.2">Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Habitat</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Submerged Lands</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Ownership and Uses of Submerged Lands</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> When determining whether to grant or deny any permit for the use of state-owned bottomlands, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall be guided in its <span class="dictionary">deliberations</span> by the provisions of Article XI, Section I of the Constitution of Virginia. In addition to other factors, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall also consider the public and private benefits of the proposed project and shall exercise its authority under this section consistent with the public trust doctrine as defined by the <span class="dictionary">common law</span> of the Commonwealth adopted pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="The common law" href="/1-200/">1-200</a> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to protect and safeguard the public right to the use and enjoyment of the subaqueous lands of the Commonwealth held in trust by it for the benefit of the people as conferred by the public trust doctrine and the Constitution of Virginia. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall also consider the project&#x2019;s effect on the following: <a id="paragraph-276909" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Other reasonable and permissible uses of state waters and state-owned bottomlands; <a id="paragraph-276910" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Marine and <span class="dictionary">fisheries</span> resources of the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-276911" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Tidal wetlands, except when this has or will be determined under the provisions of Chapter 13 of this title; <a id="paragraph-276912" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Adjacent or nearby properties; <a id="paragraph-276913" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Water quality; and <a id="paragraph-276914" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). <a id="paragraph-276915" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall consult with other state agencies, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the State Water Control Board, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the State Corporation <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, whenever the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x2019;s decision on a permit application relates to or affects the particular concerns or activities of those agencies. <a id="paragraph-276916" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> No permit for a marina or boatyard for commercial use shall be granted until the owner or other applicant presents to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> a plan for sewage treatment or disposal facilities that has been approved by the State Department of Health. <a id="paragraph-276917" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A permit is required and shall be issued by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> for placement of any private pier measuring 100 or more feet in length from the mean low-water mark, which is used for noncommercial purposes by an owner of the riparian land in the waters opposite the land, and that traverses commercially productive leased oyster or clam grounds, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rights of riparian owners to build bulkhead or wharf" href="/28.2-630/">28.2-630</a>, provided that the pier does not extend beyond the navigation line established by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The permit may reasonably prescribe the design and location of the pier for the sole purpose of minimizing the adverse impact on such oyster or clam grounds or the harvesting or propagation of oysters or clams therefrom. The permit shall contain no other conditions or requirements. Unless information or circumstances materially alter the conditions under which the permit would be issued, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall act within 90 days of receipt of a complete joint permit application to approve or deny the application. If the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> fails to act within that time, the application shall be deemed approved and the applicant shall be notified of the deemed approval. <a id="paragraph-276918" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> All permits issued by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> for the use of state-owned bottomlands pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority of Commission over submerged lands" href="/28.2-1204/">28.2-1204</a>, or to recover underwater historic property shall be in writing and specify the conditions and terms that the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> determines are appropriate, and royalties unless prohibited under other provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-276919" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Any person aggrieved by a decision of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> under this section is entitled to judicial review in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). However, any decision made by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> hereunder consistent with the public trust doctrine as defined by the <span class="dictionary">common law</span> of the Commonwealth adopted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="The common law" href="/1-200/">1-200</a> shall not be deemed to have been made pursuant to the police power. No person shall reapply for the same or substantially similar use of the bottomlands within 12 months of the denial of a permit by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to deprive a riparian landowner of such rights as he may have under <span class="dictionary">common law</span>. <a id="paragraph-276920" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1205/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 62-2.1; 1960, c. 600; 1962, c. 637; 1966, c. 641; 1968, c. 659, &#xA7; 62.1-3; 1970, c. 621; 1972, c. 866; 1973, cc. 23, 361; 1974, cc. 92, 385; 1975, c. 431; 1976, c. 579; 1980, c. 253; 1982, c. 102; 1988, c. 868; 1992, c. 836; 1996, c. 228; 1999, c. 741; 2000, c. 167; 2001, c. 72; 2004, cc. 405, 899, 1018; 2005, c. 839.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
