The provisions of this article apply to all Virginia counties and cities bordering on bodies of water in oyster-growing areas, except they shall not apply to riparian lands located above the James River bridge in the James River or its tributaries. In any Virginia county or city where more than one-half acre of ground per waterfront tract has been assigned to a riparian owner, the ground in excess of one-half acre shall be ground held under a regular lease and assignment, and not a riparian assignment.
For Northampton County, however, § 6 of Chapter 254 of the 1883-1884 Acts of Assembly, not this article, shall govern the quantity of land to be assigned to and held by riparian owners. Nothing in this article authorizes a rental of a lesser amount per acre than that provided by law for riparian owners in Northampton County of the land assigned them as such riparian owners. Nothing in the section which restores to riparian owners in Northampton County one-fourth of their waterfronts suitable for planting oysters, permits the owners of waterfronts to compel occupants of the fronts to remove their oysters from any fourth of the shores, if the residue of the shore is already in the landowner's possession or is unoccupied.
Riparian landowners may erect wharves, landings, or other structures as otherwise permitted by law.
Code 1950, § 28-123; 1950, p. 987; 1956, c. 586; 1958, c. 184; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-108; 1964, c. 393; 1968, c. 747; 1972, c. 644; 1976, c. 256; 1978, c. 548; 1984, cc. 100, 244, 259; 1986, c. 168; 1992, c. 836.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 28.2 - Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters
§ 28.2-600. Riparian planting ground assignments; eligibility; fee
§ 28.2-601. Riparian assignments; entitlements; obligations
§ 28.2-602. Riparian assignments; special terms and conditions
§ 28.2-603. General oyster planting grounds
§ 28.2-603.1. Temporary enclosures on leased ground
§ 28.2-603.2. Commissioner to provide notice
§ 28.2-604. Eligible applicants
§ 28.2-605. Application for assignment
§ 28.2-606. Notice of application
§ 28.2-607. Survey and marking of ground
§ 28.2-608. Application, surveying, and recording fees
§ 28.2-609. Restrictions on assigned acreage and applications
§ 28.2-610. Restriction on acreage owned or operated
§ 28.2-612. Payment of annual rental; penalty for default
§ 28.2-615. Payment of costs for service, etc.
§ 28.2-616. Possession gives no preference as to assignment
§ 28.2-617. Recordation of plat
§ 28.2-619. When leases become vacant
§ 28.2-621. Effect of proposal for navigation project
§ 28.2-622. Consolidation of lease
§ 28.2-623. Excusing rent payment on condemned oyster grounds in the Lynnhaven River and tributaries
§ 28.2-624. Public rocks, etc., not to be used or staked off; penalty
§ 28.2-625. Transfer or assignment
§ 28.2-626. Refund of rent paid under mistake
§ 28.2-627.1. Oyster Leasing, Conservation, and Repletion Programs Fund
§ 28.2-628. Condemnation of oyster bottoms and grounds
§ 28.2-629. Rights of owner to waters within lawful survey
§ 28.2-630. Rights of riparian owners to build bulkhead or wharf
§ 28.2-632. Public clamming grounds
§ 28.2-633. Bathing grounds; assignment; rental
§ 28.2-634. Nonresidents; taking, planting oysters prohibited; penalty
§ 28.2-635. Residents not to be associated with nonresident
§ 28.2-636. Leasing of certain bottoms in Rappahannock River prohibited
§ 28.2-638. Authority of Governor to authorize dredging of channel in navigable waters
§ 28.2-639. Certain public oyster rocks in Rappahannock River
§ 28.2-640. Declaring certain grounds in Mobjack Bay public oyster rocks
§ 28.2-649. Acts which remain in force
§ 28.2-650. Dredging clams in polluted areas for replanting in public clamming grounds