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Tidal Wetlands Information / Permits
Wetlands is administered through the Planning and Zoning Department. The Mathews County Wetlands Board only has jurisdiction over tidal wetlands.
Vegetated & Non-Vegetated Wetlands
Wetlands grasses may be cut. You cannot place anything (i.e. rocks, boards, structures, rubble, trash, tires, tree trimming debris, etc.) on vegetated or non-vegetated wetlands without a permit.
- "Non-Vegetated Wetlands" means unvegetated lands lying contiguous to mean low water and between mean low water and mean high water.
- "Vegetated Wetlands" means land lying between and contiguous to mean low water and an elevation above mean low water equal to the factor one and one-half times the mean tide range.
Obtain a Permit
For placement of material on or around vegetated or non-vegetated wetlands, a Tidewater Joint Permit Application (JPA) must be completed. If a hearing is required, Wetlands Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm in the Historic Courtroom of Mathews County, Mathews, Virginia.
For Oyster Floats / Osprey Poles
A JPA for Shellfish Aquaculture Structures (PDF) must be completed.
Fees for Tidewater Joint Permits Requiring Wetlands Board Hearings
Tidewater Joint Permits | Fee |
---|---|
Application for single user (private, non-commercial, residential) with the advertising fee paid by the County | $150 |
Application for multi-user (commercial, community, industrial, government) with he advertising fee paid by the County. | $200 |
After-the-Fact Application | Double the application fee and additionally are subject to possible violation fees up to $10,000 |
2022 Application Submittal Deadlines
Deadline Date
- December 15th, 2021
- January 12th, 2022
- February 9th, 2022
- March 16th, 2022
- April 13th, 2022
- May 11th, 2022
- June 15th, 2022
- July 13th, 2022
- August 17th, 2022
- September 14th, 2022
- October 12th, 2022
- November 16th, 2022
Meeting Date
- January 5th, 2022
- February 2nd, 2022
- March 2nd, 2022
- April 6th, 2022
- May 4th, 2022
- June 1st, 2022
- July 6th, 2022
- August 3rd, 2022
- September 7th, 2022
- October 5th, 2022
- November 2nd, 2022
- December 7th, 2022
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
If you have Shoreline questions, please visit the VIMS Center for Coastal Resource Management website.
- Access the "Map Viewer" to see aerial photography of your shoreline, VIMS erosion control guidance (Preferred Shoreline Best Management Practices), and yard management (upland) guidance.
- Use the scroll bar to the right to find and expand the "Preferred Shoreline Best Management Practices" layers then hit "toggle BMPS on/off."
- You can then click on one of the beaded lines along your shoreline to view a results box, click "BMP" at the top for VIMS guidance regarding your shoreline.