Regulations applicable to city lakes and city-owned land adjoining city lakes.
Norfolk City Code § 46.1-50
in effectSec. 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)
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_ARTVREAPCINELAADLA_S46.1-50REAPLACINELAADLAFetched: 11/1/2026