Land Use Permits
24 VAC 30-151
Land Use Permit Regulation
Land Use Permit Regulations establish the rules that individuals, localities, and companies must meet in order to conduct any work, other than travel, on the systems of state highways that are under Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) jurisdiction.
The current Land Use Permit Regulations were approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) on October 15, 2009 and became effective on March 17, 2010. The new regulations replace the 1983 Land Use Permit Manual.
Any party that wishes to complete work on a VDOT highway, park-and-ride lot, or rest area must have written permission from VDOT. Written permission is granted by a land use permit or a contract let by VDOT.
Most land use permits may be obtained at local VDOT offices. Certain permits, such as districtwide permits to complete across a region instead of a specific location, are issued through the VDOT Central Office Land Use Permit Section in Richmond.
VDOT staff has prepared documents to assist interested parties and VDOT staff in the interpretation and application of the Land Use Permit Regulations:
- Land Use Permit Regulations (PDF, 145KB)
- Land Use Permit Regulations Guidance Manual (PDF, 1 MB)
- Land Development Inspection Documentation Best Practices Manual
Information and Forms
The applicable land use permit form is dependent upon the type of work to be completed within the VDOT right-of-way. Because this work can vary a great deal, there are a number of land use permit forms and guidance information to assist the user in better understanding the Land Use Permit Regulations. You can access the land use permit forms and this additional information by using the links listed below.
Land Use Permit Forms 
|
Name |
Type |
|---|---|
| LUP-A (Word 7, 21 KB) LUP-A (PDF, 29 KB) |
Land Use Permit Application |
| LUP-BMA (37 KB) | Building Movement Application |
| LUP-CSB (37 KB) | Corporate Surety Bond |
| LUP-CSN (31 KB) | Cash Surety Bond |
| LUP-ESCCC (87 KB) | Erosion and Sediment Control Contractor Certification |
| LUP-IPP (403 KB) | In-place Permit Application |
| LUP-LC (54 KB) | Land Use Bank Letter of Credit |
| LUP-PRP (384 KB) | Prior Rights Permit Application |
| LUP-SB (45 KB) | Surety Bond |
| LUP-WZTCC (27 KB) | Work Zone Traffic Control Certification |
Land Use Permit Regulation – Guidance Information
|
Name |
Type |
|---|---|
| LUP-BM (87 KB) | Building Movement Guidelines |
| LUP-BR (86 KB) | Bicycle Race Guidelines |
| LUP-DWSV(89 KB) | District-wide Surveying Operations |
| LUP-DWTLE(85 KB) | District-wide Temporary Logging Entrances |
| LUP-DWUSC (96 KB) | District-wide Utility Service Connections |
| LUP-IR (85 KB) | Irrigation Guidelines |
| LUP-LSP (70 KB) | Landscape Special Provision |
| LUP-LT (76 KB) | Lighting Guidelines |
| LUP-OCPR (94 KB) | Open Cut Pavement Restoration |
| LUP-SE (81 KB) | Special Event Guidelines |
| LUP-SEA (32 KB) | Special Event Approval |
| LUP-SP (99 KB) | Special Provisions |
| LUP-SEI (35 KB) | Special Event Information |
| LUP-VM (84 KB) | Volunteer Mowing Guidelines |
Additional Information
If you would like additional information regarding the Land Use Permit Regulations and related processes and forms, please contact your VDOT district office for the related county in which the work is to be performed or VDOT’s Central Office in Richmond.
Development of the Land Use Permit Regulations
The Land Use Permit Regulations sets forth the requirements applicable to all activities permitted within the VDOT right-of-way as allowed by the CTB. These include such activities as installation of utilities, construction of private and commercial entrances, landscaping, and temporary use of the right-of-way. The regulations set forth criteria used by VDOT when determining whether to issue a permit. The regulations are intended to preserve the integrity of the highway system and protect the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and highway workers. The Land Use Permit Regulations were prepared in accordance with Virginia’s Administrative Process Act.
To assure a broad outreach of public input, VDOT encouraged the public to provide comments on the proposed regulations and standards for a 60 day period. Input was submitted via the internet, the U.S. mail, and in person at three public hearings conducted throughout the state. The proposed regulations and standards were also published in the Virginia Register and posted on VDOT’s website.
- More than 53 written and public hearing comments were received from individuals, developers, companies, consultants, and business organizations. VDOT utilized the comments received along with input from stakeholders to develop the final version of the Land Use Permit Regulations.
- Public hearing comments and responses (PDF, 316 MB)
The 1983 Land Use Permit Manual is available here for historical purposes.
- Land Use Permit Manual (PDF, 437 KB)
