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How Do I Apply For A Wetlands Permit

When are permits required?   |   What type of permits may be needed?  |  How do I apply for a wetlands permit?  
Sources for additional information about permitting  |  Glossary of terms

 

To find out if you need a permit for your planned project, you must first file a Joint Permit Application with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division.  This will begin the review process notifying the Corps of Engineers, the Fairfax County Wetlands Board, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality of the planned activity on your property.

If you have questions about your proposed project in relationship to the Wetlands Board’s jurisdiction – that area within mean low water and an elevation above mean low water equal to 1½ times the mean tide range – or if you have any questions about filing a wetlands permit application, contact:

Fairfax County Wetland Board Staff
Department of Planning and Zoning, Planning Division
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 730
Fairfax, VA  22035-5504
Phone: 703-324-1380

The Wetlands Zoning Ordinance is Chapter 116 of the County Code.  If you want to read the ordinance, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government ; choose County Code, Chapter 116, to view the ordinance.

Tidal wetlands are valuable natural resources which help to prevent flooding, improve water quality and to provide habitat.  Consequently, the Wetlands Board requires mitigation or compensation for wetlands impacts.  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/environment/wetlands/mitigation_compensation_policy_adopted.pdf

In addition, the Wetlands Board has adopted a policy which encourages vegetative shoreline stabilizations.  The Wetlands Board’s “Living Shoreline” Stabilization Policy can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/environment/finallivingshoreline.pdf .

The Wetlands Board requires that you provide a completed Supplementary Information Form with a wetlands permit request. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/environment/wetlands/supplementary_information_form.pdf

Sources for additional information about permitting

For more information about activities conducted in waters and wetlands of the U.S.:

United States Army Corps of Engineers
Northern Virginia Field Office
18139 Triangle Shopping Plaza, Suite #213
Dumfries, VA  22026
Phone: 703-221-6967
http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/

For questions about activities conducted below mean low water:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Habitat Management
P.O. Box 756
2600 Washington Avenue
Newport News, VA  23607-0756
Phone: 757-247-2200
www.mrc.state.va.us/ 

Sample drawings (not to scale) for a shoreline permit
Upper drawing:  plan view; lower drawing:  cross-section view

 

Below is a checklist of necessary information which must be included in your drawings for the application to be considered complete:

Plan View Drawing (to a measurable scale)

• North arrow
• Name of waterway
• Existing structures
• Benchmarks showing distance to fixed reference points
• Mean low water and mean high water lines (tidal)
• Ordinary high water line (nontidal)
• Location of vegetated wetlands at the project site
• Shoreline, property lines, and location of adjacent property owners
• Ebb and flood (tidal) or direction of the flow (nontidal)
• Channelward encroachment relative to mean high/mean low water lines
• Connection with existing bulkhead or riprap structure (if applicable)
• Proposed backfill
• Length of revetment

Cross-section Drawing (to a measurable scale)

• Proposedbackfill
• Mean low water and mean high water levels (tidal)
• Ordinary high water (nontidal)
• Existing contours of the shoreline and/or bank
• Dimensions of proposed revetment
• Filter cloth
• Buried toe or riprap apron
• Proposed grading of existing bank relative to mean high water
• Vicinity map – The name of the map from which the vicinity map was taken and the exact location of the project site must be included (U.S.G.S. quad sheet, street map or county map is preferred).

Answer the following questions regarding the application.

1.      What will be the average amount of fill material (placed below the plane of mean high water) per linear foot of shoreline? 

_____cubic yards per foot             OR              _____tons per foot

2.      What type of material will be used for construction of the riprap revetment (example: quarry stone, cinder block, etc.)

3.      Estimate what the average weight of the core material (bottom layers) will be:   ____ pounds per stone.  Estimate what the average weight of the armour material (2 top layers) will be:   ____ pounds per stone. 

4.      If backfill will be placed landward of the revetment, then describe the composition of the material to be used (Example:  80%  sand, 15% clay, 5% silt)._________________________________

5.      What is the source of the backfill material?___________________________

6.      Will any portion of the project be placed on wetlands or subaqueous lands? ____Yes ____No

If yes, indicate the square footage and the type of area to be affected. 

	Tidal	Non-tidal
Vegetated wetlands	Sq. ft.	Sq. ft.
Non-vegetated wetlands	Sq. ft.	--------
Subaqueous land	Sq. ft.	Sq. ft.