Virginia Administrative Code

A. As provided in § 2.2-4007 of the Code of Virginia, any person may petition the agency to consider a regulatory action. B. A petition shall include but is not limited to the following information: 1. The petitioner's name and contact information; 2. The substance and purpose of…

A. The agency may appoint a regulatory advisory panel (RAP) to provide professional specialization or technical assistance when the agency determines that such expertise is necessary to address a specific regulatory issue or action or when individuals indicate an interest in work…

A. The agency may appoint a negotiated rulemaking panel (NRP) if a regulatory action is expected to be controversial. B. An NRP that has been appointed by the agency may be dissolved by the agency when: 1. There is no longer controversy associated with the development of the regu…

Notice of any open meeting, including meetings of a RAP or NRP, shall be posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and Commonwealth Calendar at least seven working days prior to the date of the meeting. The exception to this requirement is any meeting held in accordance with § …

Under the authority of § 58.1-3229 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, the State Forester adopts these Standards for Classification of Real Estate As Devoted to Forest Use under the Special Assessment for Land Preservation to: 1. Encourage the proper use of real estate in order to a…

A. The area must be a minimum of 20 acres and must meet the following standards to qualify for forestry use. B. Productive forest land. The real estate sought to be qualified shall be devoted to forest use that has existent on it, and well distributed, commercially valuable trees…

A. To qualify for forest use, the owner shall certify that the real estate is being used in a planned program of timber management and soil conservation practices which are intended to: 1. Enhance the growth of commercially desirable species through generally accepted silvicultur…

Section 58.1-3240 of the Code of Virginia, authorizes a local assessing officer to request an opinion from the State Forester determining whether a particular property meets the criteria for forest use. The request should be in writing describing the situation in question. Maps, …

A. Section 46.2-100 of the Code of Virginia provides definitions for the following terms and phrases used in this chapter: "Bicycle" "Electric personal assistive mobility device" "Electric power-assisted bicycle" "Motor vehicle" B. The following words and terms when used in this …

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

No person may maintain a camp, either temporary or permanent, in any forest except under a Conditional Activity Permit and at such places and for such periods as may be designated by the State Forests Superintendent.Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

No person shall bring into or have in any forest any explosive or explosive substance, as defined by § 59.1-137 of the Code of Virginia. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful carrying of firearms and firearms ammunition. No person shall discharge any firear…

No person shall kindle, build, maintain, or use a fire in any forest other than in places provided or designated for such purposes by a Conditional Activity Permit. Any fire shall be continuously under the care and direction of a competent person 16 years of age or older from the…

No person shall smoke in any structure or place in any forest where smoking is prohibited. Smoking may be forbidden by the department or its authorized agent in any part of any forest when it is deemed the fire hazard makes such action advisable. Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of…

In the interpretation of Virginia State Forests Regulations, their provisions shall be construed as follows: 1. Any terms in the singular shall include the plural; 2. Any term in the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter; 3. Any requirements or prohibition of any ac…

A. No person within the confines of any forest shall hunt, trap, shoot, injure, kill, or molest in any way any bird or animal. No person shall possess any bird or animal, dead or alive, within the forest except any bird or animal designated as a game bird or animal by the Virgini…

(Repealed.)

Use of boats on ponds, lakes, or streams within forest areas assigned to the administration of the department, in addition to other regulations of other state agencies, must comply with the rules and regulations of the department and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources,…

No person shall cause or permit any animal in that person's custody, except a dog restrained by a leash or harness, to enter any forest. Any animal found at large may be seized and disposed of as provided by the law or ordinance covering disposal of stray animals on highways or p…

Sports activities, contests, and group events in any forest require an Organized Event Permit issued by the State Forests Superintendent.Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

A. No person shall operate a motorized vehicle anywhere in any forest, except on a road or parking area designated by signs or maps indicating that the road or parking area is open to motorized vehicle traffic. B. Driving a motorized vehicle on a gated road is prohibited, except …

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

The State Forests Superintendent may at any time close to public use any forest road, trail, or area.Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

All Virginia State Forests Regulations shall be effective within and upon all state forests, lands, buildings, roads, sites, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, beaches, trails, food patches, and recreational areas in the Commonwealth that are under the jurisdiction of the department …

No person shall engage in any commercial activity on state forest lands or in state forest structures unless an agreement or permit is made and approved by the department. Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

No person shall (i) erect or post a sign, notice, or advertisement of any nature or (ii) make noise for the purpose of attracting attention to any exhibition of any kind at any place within any state forest. The State Forests Superintendent may authorize exceptions for temporary …

No person shall in any forest erect any structure, stand, or platform, hold any meeting, or exhibition, perform any ceremony, make any speech, or address except by permit from the Forest Superintendent. Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

No person shall solicit gifts or contributions within any forest for any purpose without written permission by the State Forests Superintendent.Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

No person shall voluntarily land or unlawfully operate within or upon any forest any airplane, remote control model, aircraft, helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle, drone, balloon, parachute, or other apparatus for aviation except by written permission of the State Forests Superin…

Forest products and agricultural crops may be sold from state forest lands under conditions determined by the department and in accordance with law. Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

A. The department may issue a permit for activities otherwise prohibited in this chapter. 1. Use permits: A Virginia State Forest Use Permit is required for certain activities allowed by the department and authorized by law. The department may charge a fee for the Virginia State …

A. No person shall use, ride, or drive a horse except to, from, or along designated multi-use trails or roads designated for equestrian use, including across bridges, culverts, and designated fords or crossings, if available. B. Each equestrian user shall remove from designated p…

State forests are open to public use during daylight hours only, unless the forest user is permitted or engaged in lawful hunting activities as defined by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and for other uses as permitted by the State Forests Superintendent.Statutory A…

No person shall engage in rock climbing, cliff climbing, or rappelling within the boundaries of a state forest, except at designated areas and only after obtaining a Conditional Activity Permit. Statutory Authority§ 10.1-1101 of the Code of Virginia.

It shall be unlawful to target shoot on any state forest. Target shooting is defined as the discharge of a firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 of the Code of Virginia, a muzzleloader as defined in 4VAC15-50-71, or archery equipment as defined in 4VAC15-40-20 for purposes other t…

A. No person shall remove, destroy, deface, cut down, scar, mutilate, injure, take, or gather in any manner any tree, flower, artifact, fern, shrub, rock, or other plant or mineral in any forest, except for botanical or mineral rock collection and then only with approval of the S…

A. No person shall injure, deface, disturb, destroy, or disfigure any part of any forest or any building, structure, sign, equipment, road, trail, field, parking area, or other property found in the forest. B. The department may bill any damage to state forest buildings or struct…

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)