Virginia Law

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Approved" means a procedure of operation or construction in accordance with the standards established by the Virginia Department of Health or acceptable to the Health Commissioner based on a determination as to the conformance with appropriate standards and good public health practice.

"Campgrounds" means tourist camps, travel trailer camps, recreation camps, family campgrounds, camping resorts, camping communities, or any other area, place, parcel, or tract of land, by whatever name called, on which three or more campsites are occupied or intended for occupancy, or facilities are established or maintained, wholly or in part, for the accommodation of camping units for periods of overnight or longer, whether the use of the campsites or facilities is granted gratuitously, by a rental fee, by lease, by conditional sale, or by covenants, restrictions and easements. This definition is not intended to include migrant labor camps and summer camps as defined in §§ 32.1-203 and 35.1-16 of the Code of Virginia, construction camps, manufactured home parks, storage areas for unoccupied camping units, or property upon which the individual owner may choose to camp and not be prohibited or encumbered by covenants, restrictions and conditions from providing sanitary facilities within established property lines.

"Camping unit" means tents, tent trailers, travel trailers, camping trailers, pick-up campers, motor homes, yurts, cabins, or any other device or vehicular-type structure as may be developed marketed and used by the camping trade for use as temporary living quarters or shelter during periods of recreation, vacation, leisure time, or travel.

"Campsite" means any plot of ground within a campground used or intended for the exclusive occupation by a camping unit.

"Health Commissioner" means the chief executive officer of the State Board of Health or authorized agent.

"Operator" means any person employed or contracted by a campground owner who is responsible for the management and general administrative operation of the campground.

"Overflow area" means a plot of ground in or adjacent to the campground set apart for accommodating those campers for whom no designated sites are available in the general geographical area, and which is subject to certain restrictions as to size, length of stay, temporary facilities, etc.

"Overnight" means the occupation of a camping unit as a temporary habitation between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., or major portion thereof.

"Permit" means a written permit issued by the Health Commissioner authorizing a designated person to operate a specific campground.

"Permit holder" means the owner or operator to whom the campground permit is issued.

"Person" means any individual or group of individuals, named party, partnership, firm, private or public association or corporation, state, county, city, town, or anyone who by covenant, restriction, or agreement has care, control, custody, ownership, or management of property or parts thereof, or any combination of the above or other legal entity.

"Primitive campsites" means campsites that are characterized by the absence of toilets, showers, lavatories, electrical connections, or any combination thereof.

"Sanitary facilities" means toilets, privies, urinals, lavatories, and showers.

"Self-contained camping unit" means a unit that contains a toilet, and may contain a lavatory, shower, and kitchen sink, all of which are connected as an integral part of the structure to water storage and sewage holding tanks located within the unit.

"Service building" means a structure housing toilets, showers, or lavatories.

"Sewage" means water-carried and non-water-carried human excrement, kitchen, laundry, shower, bath, or lavatory wastes separately or together with such underground surface, storm, or other water and liquid industrial waste as may be present from residences, buildings, vehicles, industrial establishments, or other places. Such other places include service buildings, dump stations, campsites, and camping units.

"Swimming pool" means any swimming, wading, or spray pool, including all appurtenant equipment, structures, and facilities provided for the use of the campers.