Zoning › State preemptions › Virginia

Virginia Scenic Rivers — Designated River Segments (VA)

Tracked preemption from the Virginia overlay bundle.

Overview

← All state preemptionsVirginia overlay roll-upVirginia zoning wikiVirginia building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Not flagged
Effective
1970-04-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:VA
Other Virginia preemptions
Virginia 2024-2025 Housing Preemption Bills (Status: None Enacted)Virginia Small Cell Wireless Facility Preemption (§§15.2-2316.3 / 15.2-2316.4)Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP)Virginia Military Air Installation Influence Areas (§15.2-2294)Virginia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Integration (44 CFR 201.6 / Va. Code §44-146.18:2)Virginia Family Day Home Preemption (§15.2-2292)Virginia RPA 100-ft Riparian Buffer (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act)Virginia Floodplain Management — NFIP Coordination (Va. Code §10.1-600 et seq.)

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

OR
  • parcel.in_scenic_river_segment == True
  • parcel.geometry geographic match

Preempted fields

1 field on the base district schema is rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
review_typeaddscenic_rivers_advisory_reviewConstruction or development of dams, locks, or other water-impoundment structures on a designated Scenic River requires General Assembly approval (§10.1-418); other riparian development is subject to local Scenic River Advisory Committee review.

Citation

Authority source
Va. Code §10.1-400 et seq. (Scenic Rivers Act)
§ §§10.1-400 through 10.1-418
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title10.1/chapter4/

Research notes

Administered by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. ~35 designated scenic-river segments (Rappahannock, Shenandoah, James, Staunton, Goose Creek, Nottoway, etc.). Designation does not directly preempt local zoning but (a) prohibits new impoundments without legislative consent and (b) creates an advisory-review framework. Localities along designated segments often adopt scenic-corridor overlay districts under §15.2-2306 enabling language.