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Forms and Fees Subject to Change July 1
CURRENT FEE SCHEDULEFEMA's Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps
VIEW HERE
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Forms and Fees Subject to Change July 1CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE
FEMA's Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate MapsVIEW HERE
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Resource Protection Areas (Chesapeake Bay Program)
What is a Resource Protection Area (RPA)?
A Resource Protection Area (RPA) is a regulated buffer of naturally occurring vegetation that extends 100 feet landward from the edge of a perennial waterbody or contiguous wetlands. RPAs were established to safeguard water quality and protect shoreline stability across Virginia and Prince William County. (Add photos / infographics)
Contact Environmental Management
5 County Complex Ct
Woodbridge
(703) 792-7070
8am-4pm
- What is not permitted with an RPA?
The following activities are not permitted within the RPA:
- New development
- Additions to existing structures
- Parking lots
- Concrete pads
- Secondary structures such as sheds, gazebos, garages, etc.
- Retaining walls
- Permanent fire pits
- Clear-cutting trees or other vegetation
- Filling, grading, or dumping dirt
- Establishing grass lawns
- What should I do if I have disturbed my RPA?
Reach out to Environmental Management for information on what you need to do. For most cases, a replanting must be done of native, habitat appropriate plants to replicate what was lost. Overall, try to return the area to how it was before disturbance.
- What can I do to increase the quality of the RPA?
Plant a variety of native plants which fill all forest layers. Where possible, plant species that are pollinator friendly and a food source for multiple native species.
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Filtering pollutants before they reach waterbodies
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Reducing erosion and stabilizing shorelines
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Preserving natural habitat for plants and wildlife
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Protecting drinking water quality for communities
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Below are some of the indicators that a property may be located within an RPA:
- stream, body of water, or wetland located on the property
- large portions of forested or wooded areas on the property
- nearby a protected area, such as parks or wildlife refuges
County Mapper can be used as a tool to help determine if a property may be located within the RPA.
https://gisweb.pwcva.gov/webapps/countymapper/
To view whether a property may be located within a Resource Protection Area (RPA) using County Mapper, select the Binoculars icon and choose Address. Enter the property address and click Submit. Once the property appears on the map, select the Layers button in the upper left corner. Expand the Environment category and check the box next to Resource Protection Area Overlay. If the property is located within an area identified by County Mapper's predictive modeling, the RPA will appear as a green overlay on the map. If no green overlay appears, the property is not identified as being within the mapped RPA.
**Please note that the RPA layer is based on predictive modeling and not all RPAs have been field verified or surveyed. County Mapper should be used as a screening tool and not as the sole source for determining the presence or extent of an RPA.**
Upon receiving approval from the County, the following can be constructed within the RPA:
- - Water dependent facilities such as docks, piers, and public beaches
- - Rebuilding existing structures to original footprint
- - Water wells, boardwalks, trails, pathways, and public utility structures
- - Selective removal of trees for reasonable sight lines, vistas or walkways (using natural materials)
- - Removing dead, dying or noxious vegetation
*Specific requirements related to permitted activities are set forth in the Prince William County Design and Construction Standards Manual Section 740.05.
Please contact the Environmental Management Division of Public Works before starting any work within a possible RPA.
Why Do RPAs Exist?
- In 1988, Virginia enacted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act to combat declining water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
- In 1990, Prince William County adopted local ordinances requiring the protection and maintenance of RPAs along streams, rivers, reservoirs, and wetlands.
What Does a Healthy RPA Look Like?
A fully functional RPA includes:
- Tree canopy
- Sub-canopy layer
- Shrubs
- Herbaceous groundcover
- Natural forest floor conditions
These layers work together to filter runoff, slow erosion, and support ecological health.
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