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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>356500</law_id><section_number>28.2-1317</section_number><catch_line>Monitoring, inspections, compliance, and restoration</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="70" identifier="28.2">Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Habitat</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="13">Wetlands</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="4" identifier="4">Enforcement and Penalties</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">board</span> chairman may require a permittee to implement monitoring and reporting procedures they believe are reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the permit and this chapter. <a id="paragraph-1327288" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1317/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">board</span> chairman may require such on-site inspections as he believes are reasonably necessary to determine whether the measures required by the permit are being properly performed, or whether the provisions of this chapter are being violated. Prior to conducting any inspection, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">board</span> chairman shall provide notice to the resident owner, occupier, or operator, who shall be given an opportunity to accompany the site inspector. If it is determined that there is a failure to comply with the permit, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">board</span> chairman shall serve notice upon the permittee at the address specified in his permit application or by delivery at the site of the permitted activities to the person supervising those activities and designated in the permit to receive the notice. The notice shall describe the measures needed for compliance and the time within which these measures shall be completed. Failure of the person to comply within the specified period is a violation of this section. <a id="paragraph-1327289" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1317/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon receipt of a sworn complaint of a substantial violation of this chapter from the designated enforcement <span class="dictionary">officer</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">board</span> chairman may, in conjunction with or subsequent to a notice to comply as specified in subsection B of this section, <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> requiring all or part of the activities on the site to be stopped until the specified corrective measures have been taken. In the case of an activity not authorized under this chapter or where the alleged permit noncompliance is causing, or is in imminent danger of causing, significant harm to the <span class="dictionary">wetlands</span> protected by this chapter, the <span class="dictionary">order</span> may be issued without regard to whether the person has been issued a notice to comply pursuant to subsection B of this section. Otherwise, the <span class="dictionary">order</span> may be issued only after the permittee has failed to comply with the notice to comply. The <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall be served in the same manner as a notice to comply, and shall remain in effect for a period of seven days from the date of service pending application by the enforcing authority, permittee, resident owner, occupier, or operator for appropriate relief to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> where the violation was alleged to have occurred. Upon completion of corrective action, the <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall immediately be lifted. Nothing in this section shall prevent the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">board</span> chairman from taking any other action specified in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Investigations and prosecutions" href="/28.2-1316/">28.2-1316</a>. <a id="paragraph-1327290" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1317/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Upon receipt of a sworn complaint of a substantial violation of this chapter from a designated enforcement <span class="dictionary">officer</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or a <span class="dictionary">wetlands board</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the affected site be restored to predevelopment conditions if the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or board finds that restoration is necessary to recover lost resources or to prevent further damage to resources. The <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall specify the restoration necessary and establish a reasonable time for its completion. The <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall be issued only after a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> with at least thirty days&#x2019; notice to the affected person of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>&#x2019;s time, place, and purpose, and shall become effective immediately upon issuance by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or board. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or board shall require any scientific monitoring plan they believe necessary to ensure the successful reestablishment of wetlands protected by this chapter and may require that a prepaid <span class="dictionary">contract</span> acceptable to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or board be in effect for the purpose of carrying out the scientific monitoring plan. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or board may also require a reasonable <span class="dictionary">bond</span> or letter of credit in an amount and with <span class="dictionary">surety</span> and conditions satisfactory to it securing to the Commonwealth compliance with the conditions set forth in the restoration <span class="dictionary">order</span>. The appropriate <span class="dictionary">court</span>, upon <span class="dictionary">petition</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or board, may enforce any such restoration <span class="dictionary">order</span> by <span class="dictionary">injunction</span>, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy. Failure to complete the required restoration is a violation of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-1327291" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1317/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The duties of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or the board chairman under this section may be delegated to their respective designees; however, these designees shall not be designated enforcement <span class="dictionary">officers</span>. <a id="paragraph-1327292" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1317/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1987, c. 436, &#xA7; 62.1-13.16:1; 1990, c. 811; 1992, c. 836.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
