Stormwater is rainwater or melted snow that runs off of streets, yards, parking lots, and other sites. Not all rainwater is absorbed into soil, and unabsorbed rainwater ultimately ends up in our waterways, picking up pollutants along the way. Stormwater is managed in Charlottesville through a combination of humanmade (e.g. pipes, ditches, vegetated swales) and natural infrastructure (e.g. natural stream). The stormwater infrastructure system in Charlottesville includes a combination of public and privately-owned facilities. In the city, there are approximately 35 miles of open waterways and 130 miles of storm drains. Stormwater management addresses both water quantity (volume/flow of water) and water quality. Insufficient stormwater management can cause downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, degraded water quality, and property or infrastructure damage.

Key City Departments

• Public Works Engineering: Administer stormwater management regulations and requirements (VESMP/City Code Chapter 10).
• Utilities: Manage the stormwater conveyance system within city boundaries, perform routine maintenance and repairs, and administer the stormwater management fee and stormwater capital improvement projects.
• Neighborhood Development Services: Coordinate development review and lead updates to Comprehensive Plan policies.

Resources

City Stormwater Utility

Overview of the City's Stormwater Utility, including information about the Stormwater Utility Fee and stormwater management projects to protect our waterways. There are also resources available for financial, technical, and educational assistance to property owners in Charlottesville who intend to install eligible stormwater control practices on their property, including Conservation Assistance Programs.

City Stormwater Management Program

Since our stormwater system drains to surface waters, Charlottesville is required to develop a Stormwater Management Program. There are six key elements of the program, which are addressed through the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) and will lead to water quality improvements through the reduction of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable.

Stormwater Management Requirements for Development

Chapter 10 of Charlottesville's Code of Ordinances includes the City's Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP), which regulates erosion and sediment control and stormwater management for land disturbance activities (including development).

A floodplain or flood hazard area is defined as any land subject to 1% or greater chance of flooding in a given year. The City receives flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and regulates floodplain management through the Flood Hazard Protection Overlay District. The intent of regulations is to prevent loss of life and property and deter the creation of health and safety hazards. The mapped flood zones are primarily surrounding the Rivanna River, Meadow Creek, and Moore's Creek. Approximately 7% of parcels in the city are within mapped flood zones. However, there are areas outside of mapped flood zones that flood, due to topography, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and other factors.

Credit: Pierce County, WA

Key City Departments

• Neighborhood Development Services: Staff include the Floodplain Administrator and Certified Floodplain Manager. Responsible for floodplain management regulations in the Development Code. Building code enforcement of construction and elevation standards within flood zones.
• Public Works Engineering: Review technical requirements for building in the floodplain and Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) requests.
• Utilities: Responsible for the Water Resources Protection Program.
• Office of Sustainability: Leading the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) grant to build a more robust local floodplain management program.
• Parks and Recreation: Manage publicly-owned lands in floodplains and riparian buffers.

Resources

Phase 1 Flood Resilience Plan

Resources and strategies to address the impacts of flooding. Allows the City to apply for Community Flood Preparedness Fund grants through the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The City has been awarded four of these grants to date. The most recent grant award will be used for a Floodplain Management Program review and Flood Resilience Plan update.

Flood Hazard Protection Overlay District

An overlay district that constitutes the floodplain management regulations for the City. This is part of the City's Development Code (Div. 2.9) and starts on Page 2-69.

Protecting and expanding our urban tree canopy is a priority in the City's Comprehensive Plan. The City is currently updating its Urban Forest Management Plan to analyze existing conditions and develop recommendations to increase tree canopy, remove and prevent invasive species, and find ways to fit street trees into constrained right of ways. Increasing our tree canopy will need to involve tree planting and management on both public and private land. Existing tree canopy varies significantly by city neighborhood, and neighborhoods with lower tree canopies tend to have higher temperatures (urban heat island effect). The City regulates tree canopy and street trees through development requirements and provides guidance for tree protection during development.

Key City Departments

• Parks and Recreation: Lead and manage urban forestry in the city, including the comprehensive tree list, Downtown Mall tree management, invasive species projects, planting new trees, tree health and preservation guidance, and public education.
• Office of Sustainability: Collaborating with Parks and other departments on the Urban Forest Management Plan update.
• Neighborhood Development Services: Administer development requirements for tree canopy and preservation through the Development Code. Review and enforce tree preservation plans and tree removal permits in collaboration with Parks.

Resources

City Urban Forestry Resources

Includes urban canopy reports, project updates for the Urban Forest Management Plan (anticipated completion in 2026), invasive species projects, and resources for planting new trees.

City Tree Canopy and Street Tree Requirements

The City's Development Code includes requirements for tree preservation, replacement, and canopy (4.9.1) and street trees/streetscapes (4.4.5).

Best Management Practices for Tree Preservation, Transplanting, Removal, and Replacement

Best practices to inform tree planting and preservation during development.

Charlottesville Urban Heat Islands Study

An analysis by the UVA Center for Community Partnerships on Charlottesville's temperatures and tree canopy by neighborhood.

Stream buffers are vegetated areas on each side of a stream or river bank. Tree and plant roots hold banks in place and help slow runoff, filter pollution, prevent soil erosion, and provide shade to keep waterways cooler. In Charlottesville, three waterways have regulated stream buffers through the Water Protection Ordinance (WPO): the Rivanna River, Moore's Creek, and Meadow Creek.

Key City Departments

• Utilities: Responsible for the Water Resources Protection Program. Collaborate with Public Works and other departments on stream restoration projects.
• Neighborhood Development Services: Administer requirements for the Water Protection Ordinance (WPO) stream buffers in Chapter 10 of City Code.

Resources

Water Protection Ordinance Requirements for Development

Chapter 10 of Charlottesville's Code of Ordinances includes the City's WPO Stream Buffer requirements for the three designated waterways, including allowable buffer disturbances and activities.

Meadow Creek Restoration and Schenks Branch Tributary Restoration

Information on two stream restoration projects completed by the City in collaboration with partner organizations.

Critical slopes are defined in the Development Code with the following criteria:

• Grade of 25% or greater;
• A portion of the slope has a horizontal run of greater than 20 feet;
• An area of 6,000 square feet or greater; and
• A portion of the slope is within 200 feet of any waterway protected by the Standard and Design Manual or Chapter 10 of the Charlottesville Code of Ordinances, or shown on the map entitled “Properties Impacted by Critical Slopes”, maintained by the Neighborhood Development Services

The purpose of protecting critical slopes is to limit the disturbance of steep slopes near waterways, adjacent waterways, and environmentally sensitive areas to protect from the impacts of erosion and stormwater and to preserve habitats. There are exemptions for certain activities and infrastructure in critical slopes, such as public utilities and stormwater management facilities. Applicants can also request a special exception, which requires review by the Planning Commission and City Council.

Key City Departments

• Neighborhood Development Services: Administer development requirements for critical slopes and the special exception process in the Development Code.
• Public Works Engineering: Technical review of critical slopes special exceptions requests and review of developer requests to change mapped topography or grade.

Resources

City Critical Slope Requirements

The City's Development Code includes the definition and requirements for critical slopes (4.10.1) along with the special exception criteria and process (5.2.16).

Map of Critical Slopes

The City's GIS Viewer includes a layer for critical slopes.

The City has a variety of energy efficiency programs and resources for both residential and commercial properties. Additionally, State Code requires certain local government new construction projects (including those greater than 5,000 square feet) to meet energy efficiency requirements.

Key City Departments

• Office of Sustainability: Lead the City's portion of the Energy Resource Hub. Develop and update the City's Green Building Policy and EV Community Charging Plan. Collaborate with Utilities to administer a variety of energy efficiency credits, programs, and rebates.
• Neighborhood Development Services: Building inspections to verify compliance with energy efficiency tax abatement programs.

Resources

Energy Resource Hub

The Energy Resource Hub connects homeowners, renters, and businesses in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County with rebates and incentives.

Charlottesville Utility Incentives

These include assistance with insulation, thermostats, and weatherization.

Charlottesville Green Incentives and Rebates

Incentives and resources to support and promote green building practices for both commercial and residential properties.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Resources

Information about EV chargers, siting and design guidelines, and EV charging initiatives.

Development Code Requirements for EV Charging

Requirements for EV charging with development, including required number of spaces for EV charging (4.5.4.C3), design and placement (4.5.5.C4), and screening (4.7.4.B2).