Virginia Administrative Code › Title 4 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Agency 15 - DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES › Chapter 20 - DEFINITIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS: IN GENERAL › Section 4VAC15-20-155 - Camping on Wildlife Management Areas and other department-owned or department-managed lands

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Temporary
				dispersed camping, with no amenities provided, may only be performed on
				Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and other department-owned or managed lands
				when occupants are engaged in authorized activities and in strict compliance
				with established terms and conditions, including those listed in this section.
				Camping may be prohibited on certain portions or entire parcels of
				department-owned or managed lands, including certain WMAs.
B. Authorization. It shall be unlawful to
				camp without written authorization from the department. Written authorization
				to camp is required in addition to any and all other licenses, permits or
				authorizations that may otherwise be required. Written authorization is
				obtained by completing and submitting a Camping Authorization Form. Only an
				individual 18 years of age or older who is a member of and accepts
				responsibility for the camp and camping group may be issued a camping
				authorization.
C. Camping periods.
				Unless otherwise posted or authorized, it shall be unlawful to camp for more
				than 14 consecutive nights, or more than 14 nights in a 28-day period on
				department-owned or controlled lands. At the end of the authorized camping
				period, all personal property and any refuse must be removed.
D. Prohibited locations. Camping is allowed
				only at previously cleared and established sites. No vegetation may be cut,
				damaged, or removed to establish a camp site. It shall be unlawful to camp
				within 300 feet of any department-owned lake, boat ramp or other facility. It
				shall be unlawful to camp at other specific locations as posted. This section
				shall not prohibit active angling at night along shorelines where permitted.
E. Removal of personal property
				and refuse. Any person who establishes or occupies a camp shall be responsible
				for the complete removal of all personal property and refuse when the camping
				authorization has expired. Any personal property or refuse that remains after
				the camping authorization has expired shall be considered litter and punishable
				pursuant to §
									33.2-802
				of the Code of Virginia.
F. It
				shall be unlawful when camping on department-owned or managed lands to store or
				leave unattended any food (including food for pets and livestock), refuse, bear
				attractant, or other wildlife attractant unless it is (i) in a bear-resistant
				container; (ii) in a trunk of a vehicle or in a closed, locked, hard-sided
				motor vehicle with a solid top; (iii) in a closed, locked, hard-body trailer;
				or (iv) suspended at least 10 feet clear of the ground at all points and at
				least four feet horizontally from the supporting tree or pole and any other
				tree or pole. It shall be unlawful to discard, bury, or abandon any food,
				refuse, bear attractant, or other wildlife attractant unless it is disposed of
				by placing it inside an animal-resistant trash receptacle provided by the
				department.
G. Any violation of
				this section or other posted rules shall be punishable as a Class III
				misdemeanor, and the camping permit shall become null and void. The permittee
				shall be required to immediately vacate the property upon summons or
				notification. A second or subsequent offense may result in the loss of camping
				privileges on department-owned or managed properties.
Statutory Authority: 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of
					 the Code of Virginia.