REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO CITY-OWNED LAKES AND ADJOINING LAND

Norfolk City Code ch. 46.1, art. V

in effect

Norfolk City Code § 46.1-47 Compliance with state fishing and boating laws.

Sec. 46.1-47. - Compliance with state fishing and boating laws. Any person fishing in any of the reservoirs owned by the city shall comply with the regulations set by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as well as the following City of Norfolk regulations. (Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03)

Norfolk City Code § 46.1-48 Permit required for boating on city-owned lakes.

Sec. 46.1-48. - Permit required for boating on city-owned lakes. (a) No person shall be extended the privilege of boating, including canoeing on any of the city-owned reservoirs, unless a boating permit is obtained for the boat or canoe and the following fees are paid therefor: (1) Annual permits for privately owned boats beginning January 1, shall be issued for the period January 1 to December 31 of each year at the following charges: Nonresidents .....$40.00 Norfolk residents .....20.00 Sixty-two (62) years of age or over .....10.00 City of Norfolk employees .....10.00 (2) Daily permits shall be issued for a twenty-four-hour period at a cost of five dollars ($5.00). (b) The permit is nontransferable. (c) The director has the right to issue boat permits for law enforcement, special events, contractors and other situations as deemed appropriate. (d) The city treasurer may establish substations in convenient locations and appoint agents for the issuance of boat permits and may require surety bonds from said agents for the faithful performance of their duties. Appointed agents shall be entitled to a one-dollar handling fee per permit to be deducted from the cost of the fee imposed by this section in accordance with procedures established by the city treasurer. (Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03)

Norfolk City Code § 46.1-49 Boat identification tag.

Sec. 46.1-49. - Boat identification tag. (a) A boat identification tag will be issued with each permit at no extra cost. The identification tag shall be securely attached to the left bow of the boat in plain view and easily recognizable. The number on the identification tag shall be stamped on the boat permit. Should an identification tag become mutilated so that its numbers cannot be read easily, it is to be removed and a new identification tag will be issued for a fee of one dollar ($1.00). The boat owner will report a lost or stolen tag to the location where purchased. (b) Proof of legal ownership must be presented before an impounded boat will be released to any person claiming ownership. (Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03)

Norfolk City Code § 46.1-50 Regulations applicable to city lakes and city-owned land adjoining city lakes.

Sec. 46.1-50. - Regulations applicable to city lakes and city-owned land adjoining city lakes. Every permit issued pursuant to section 46.1-48, shall be subject to the following regulations which are hereby established for the use of all city reservoirs and city owned land adjoining such reservoirs: (1) All city reservoirs and adjacent city-owned property shall be open during hours designated by the director and posted at major entry points. No person shall go on any city reservoir or adjacent watershed property outside of posted hours unless he is a warden, law enforcement officer, member of a reserve unit or other authorized personnel. (2) No person shall use water skis, jet skis, surfboards, open bottom paddle boats, houseboats, tubes, rafts, inflatable boats or similar devices on any city reservoirs except as allowed by the director for non-recreational use. (3) Sailing is not permitted on any portion of the city reservoirs. (4) No person shall permit stagnant water to accumulate in such person's private boat on any city reservoirs. (5) No person shall carry or set off any firecrackers or other fireworks from any boat on any city reservoirs or from any city-owned land adjoining any city reservoirs. (6) No person shall swim in any city reservoirs without the permission of the director of utilities. (7) No person shall fish from any city-owned land adjoining any city reservoirs, except on property designated therefor at the fishing stations unless otherwise authorized in writing by the director. (8) All boating and fishing shall be in compliance with the regulations set by local, state, and federal agencies having jurisdiction. (9) No person shall take any fish from any city reservoir except with rod, line and hooks baited with natural or artificial bait unless authorized by the director. (10) No person under the age of twelve (12) years shall operate any boat unless accompanied by an adult on any city reservoir. (11) No person shall use any boat having an operational outboard motor exceeding twelve (12) horsepower on any city reservoir. The director may grant exceptions for city departments, agencies and contractors. (12) Boats shall be launched only from designated launching areas on city reservoirs and at any other launching areas designated by the director of utilities. (13) All permits issued pursuant to this section must be produced for inspection when requested by any patrol officers or person of properly constituted authority. (14) Except as otherwise provided by law no person shall bring, possess, or drink any alcoholic beverage on the city reservoirs or on any city-owned land adjoining any city reservoir. (15) No person shall cause the disturbance of others through the use any sound amplification equipment or radio on the city reservoirs on any city-owned land adjoining any city reservoir. (Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03; Ord. No. 42,851, § 2, 9-18-07)

Norfolk City Code § 46.1-51 Damage to or removal of trees or shrubs.

Sec. 46.1-51. - Damage to or removal of trees or shrubs. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person except an authorized employee or agent of the department of utilities to perform any of the following acts without first obtaining a permit from the director: (1) Plant, prune, trim or remove any tree or portion thereof or damage, cut, tap, caulk, paint, attach any rope, wire, nail, sign or any manmade object to any tree or shrub, or dig a tunnel trench or otherwise excavate or place any dirt, rubble or debris within the drip line of any tree or shrub. (2) Place any material of any sort, including, but not limited to, dirt, soil, rubble, concrete, bricks, wood, dredge spoil, asphalt, creosote timbers, logs, garbage, tires, organic wastes and other materials including herbicides and growth regulators that either prevent or hinders the establishment of vegetation or is detrimental to the environment beneath the drip line of any tree or shrub except as authorized by permit. (c) When a tree is removed, destroyed or damaged beyond recovery in violation of this section, the director may require that they be replaced on the basis of one tree with a minimum two and one-half (2.5) inches in caliper for every two and one-half (2.5) inches diameter of tree removed, destroyed or damaged. Failure to replace or replant as directed shall constitute a violation of this chapter. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any person from the requirements of obtaining any additional permits as required by law. (Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03)

Norfolk City Code § 46.1-52 Permit revocation.

Sec. 46.1-52. - Permit revocation. In the event of the violation of any of the foregoing regulations by any person holding a permit issued pursuant to this chapter, the director shall have the right, in addition to any other remedies herein provided or otherwise allowed by law, to revoke such permit and to deny such person access to the city reservoir and city-owned land adjoining any city reservoir for a period deemed appropriate. (Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03)

Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH46.1WASU_ARTVREAPCINELAADLAFetched: 11/1/2026