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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>356503</law_id><section_number>28.2-1320</section_number><catch_line>Penalties</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> Without limiting the remedies which may be obtained under this chapter, any person who violates any provision of this chapter or who violates or fails, neglects, or refuses to obey any <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or <span class="dictionary">wetlands board</span> notice, <span class="dictionary">order</span>, rule, regulation, or permit condition authorized by this chapter shall, upon such <span class="dictionary">finding</span> by an appropriate <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, be assessed a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $25,000 for each day of violation. Such civil penalties may, at the discretion of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> assessing them, be directed to be paid into the treasury of the <span class="dictionary">county, city, or town</span> in which the violation occurred for the purpose of abating environmental damage to or restoring wetlands therein, in such a manner as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, by <span class="dictionary">order</span>, direct, except that where the violator is the <span class="dictionary">county, city, or town</span> itself, or its agent, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall direct the <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> to be paid into the state treasury. <a id="paragraph-1327295" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1320/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Without limiting the remedies which may be obtained under this chapter, and with the consent of any person who has violated any provision of this chapter or who has violated or failed, neglected, or refused to obey any <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or <span class="dictionary">wetlands board</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span>, rule, regulation, or permit condition authorized by this chapter, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or <span class="dictionary">wetlands board</span> may provide, in an <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or <span class="dictionary">wetlands board</span> against such person, for the one-time payment of civil charges for each violation in specific sums, not to exceed $10,000 for each violation. Civil charges shall be in lieu of any appropriate civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> which could be imposed under subsection A of this section. Civil charges may be in addition to the cost of any restoration ordered by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or a <span class="dictionary">wetlands board</span>. <a id="paragraph-1327296" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-1320/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 811, &#xA7; 62.1-13.18:2; 1992, c. 836.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
