Chapter 21. General Rules and Regulations of the Commonwealth Transportation Board
24VAC30-21-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board" means the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
"Right-of-way" means that property within the system of state highways that is open or may be opened for public travel or use or both in the Commonwealth. This definition includes those rights-of-way in which the Commonwealth has a prescriptive easement for maintenance and public travel. The property within a right-of-way includes the traveled way and associated boundary lines and the area in between, the subsurface below and area above the property, parking and recreation areas, rest and service areas, and other permanent easements for a specific purpose appurtenant to the right-of-way.
"System of state highways" means all highways, roads, streets, and trails under the ownership, control, or jurisdiction of VDOT, including the primary, secondary, and interstate systems.
"VDOT" means the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 4, eff. November 23, 2011; Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. November 19, 2025.
24VAC30-21-20. General provisions concerning permits and use of right-of-way.
A. No work, occupancy, or nontransportation uses of any nature may be allowed or performed on the system of state highways or any real property under the ownership, control, or jurisdiction of the board or VDOT, including the right-of-way of any highway in the system of state highways, until written permission is first obtained from VDOT. Written permission is granted by way of permit pursuant to 24VAC30-151 or by the letting of a contract by and between VDOT or the board and any other party, which automatically grants to that party such permission for the area under contract, unless otherwise stated in the contract. VDOT is authorized to establish specific requirements for such permits, including permit authority, application procedure, and conditions under which a permit may be denied or revoked.
B. Any structure placed upon or within the right-of-way pursuant to a permit issued by VDOT or otherwise shall be relocated or removed whenever ordered by VDOT. Such relocation or removal shall be accomplished at no expense to the Commonwealth unless VDOT agrees or has agreed otherwise.
C. The following restrictions apply to activities occurring on bridges forming a part of the system of state highways:
1. No person may fish or seine from any bridge except when facilities are provided for such purposes as set out in § 33.2-278 of the Code of Virginia.
2. No person may use any bridge as a wharf from which to load or unload a vehicle, as a place of deposit of property, or for any other purpose except crossing.
3. No master or owner of a vessel may make it fast to or lay it alongside such bridge.
4. Provisions of this subsection shall not apply to highway maintenance vehicles or vessels or fire and law-enforcement vehicles or vessels.
D. No person may, without the consent of VDOT, remove, injure, destroy, break, deface, or in any way tamper with property, real or personal, that is growing or has been placed on the right-of-way by or with the consent of VDOT.
E. No person may cause water to flow from any source upon the right-of-way, cause an increase of the water at present lawfully on the right-of-way, or concentrate the flow of water upon the right-of-way without the written consent of VDOT.
F. No road, railroad, or tracks of any description may be laid along, upon, or across any portion of a highway in the system of state highways without the written consent of VDOT.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. November 19, 2025.
24VAC30-21-30. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 7, eff. December 31, 2014; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. November 19, 2025.
24VAC30-21-40. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 7, eff. December 31, 2014; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. November 19, 2025.
24VAC30-21-50. Placement of airport or heliport facilities.
No airport runways, heliports, or similar facilities, either private or commercial, may be placed adjacent to highway rights-of-way in such a manner as to impede the safe flow of vehicular traffic. Runways or similar facilities shall be placed a proper distance to allow a minimum glide slope for aircraft of 3° approaching said runway, or at a height over the roadway of 30 feet, whichever is greater. All airports or heliports proposed in the vicinity of highway rights-of-way shall take these minimum road clearances into consideration when planning the location of the end of their runways.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. November 19, 2025.
24VAC30-21-60. Use of electronic means for submitting documents or payments.
Where practicable, VDOT shall allow the alternative of submitting any documents or payments by electronic means.
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. March 3, 2011.