Northern Virginia Land Development Services

The Street Acceptance Process

One result of the land development process may be the creation of a new subdivision street. Concurrent with approving the plans and plats, the local governing body will require the developer to post a performance bond for all public improvements, including the subdivision street. With the exception of Arlington and Henrico counties, Virginia subdivision streets are maintained by the Virginia Department Of Transportation (VDOT) as a part of the Secondary System of State Highways, provided that they are designed and constructed to meet certain criteria. The minimum criteria that new subdivision streets must satisfy for acceptance and maintenance by VDOT are found in the VDOT Subdivision Street Requirements, which is a regulation of the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board.

While all specific criteria of the Subdivision Street Requirements must be satisfied, in general the street will qualify for acceptance if the following provisions are met:

1. The developer dedicates the prescribed right of way to public use.
2. The street has been constructed in accordance with the applicable specifications, standards and the plats or plans approved by VDOT.
3. The street renders sufficient public service to justify the expenditure of public funds for its subsequent maintenance.
4. The street has been properly maintained since its completion.
5. The developer furnishes a maintenance fee, and also a surety fee to guarantee the performance of the street for one year. The surety may be waived, however, if sufficient inspection can be done by a VDOT-approved inspection mechanism. This may be inspection by VDOT at the developers' cost, or by the local governing body if it has an approved inspection program.
6. The local governing body requests that VDOT accept the street by a resolution guaranteeing unrestricted and unencumbered right-of-way.

Typically, the local governing body will not release a developer's construction performance bond for a subdivision until such time as VDOT accepts the streets or the Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution requesting state maintenance. The exact process to initiate county bond release and VDOT acceptance of streets varies between jurisdictions. For specific information relating to the local process contact the county and VDOT offices listed below.

Fairfax County

Fairfax County Department of Environmental Management
12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22033
Telephone (703) 324-1590

VDOT Fairfax Permits Section
14685 Avion Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151-1104
Telephone (703) 388-2888

Loudoun County

Loudoun County Department of Building and Development
1 Harrison Street, S.E.
Leesburg, VA 22075
Telephone (703) 777-0397

VDOT Leesburg Residency
41 Lawson Road, S.E.
Leesburg, VA 20175
Telephone (703) 737-2000

Prince William County

Prince William County Department of Public Works (for inspections)
4379 Ridgewood Center Drive
Prince William, VA 22192
Telephone (703) 792-7441

Prince William County Planning Office (for bond release)
1 County Complex Court
Prince William , VA 22192
Telephone (703) 792-6830

VDOT Manassas Residency
P.O. Box 249
Manassas, VA 22110
Telephone (703) 366-1916