Wetlands is administered through the Planning and Zoning Department. The Mathews County Wetlands Board only has jurisdiction over tidal wetlands.
Vegetated & Non-Vegetated Wetlands
Wetlands grasses may be cut. You cannot place anything (i.e. rocks, boards, structures, rubble, trash, tires, tree trimming debris, etc.) on vegetated or non-vegetated wetlands without a permit.
- "Non-Vegetated Wetlands" means unvegetated lands lying contiguous to mean low water and between mean low water and mean high water.
- "Vegetated Wetlands" means land lying between and contiguous to mean low water and an elevation above mean low water equal to the factor one and one-half times the mean tide range.
Obtain a Permit
For placement of material on or around vegetated or non-vegetated wetlands, a Tidewater Joint Permit Application (JPA) must be completed. If a hearing is required, Wetlands Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm in the Historic Courtroom of Mathews County, Mathews, Virginia.
For Oyster Floats / Osprey Poles
A JPA for Shellfish Aquaculture Structures (PDF) must be completed.
Fees for Tidewater Joint Permits Requiring Wetlands Board Hearings
| Tidewater Joint Permits | Fee |
|---|
| Application for single user (private, non-commercial, residential) with the advertising fee paid by the County | $150 |
| Application for multi-user (commercial, community, industrial, government) with he advertising fee paid by the County. | $200 |
| After-the-Fact Application | Double the application fee and additionally are subject to possible violation fees up to $10,000 |
2025 Application Submittal Deadlines
Hearing Month | Hearing Date | Deadline 45 days | Run Legal Ad
(20 days prior) | VMRC (14 days) | Board Packets |
| January | 1/08/2025 | Nov. 7th | October 17th & 24th (10-14) | October 14th | December 30th |
| February | 2/05/2025 | Dec. 5th | Jan 16th & 23rd
(Jan 13th) | January 13th | January 28th |
| March | 3/05/2025 | Jan. 2nd | Feb 13th & 20th
(Feb 10th) | February 10th | February 25th |
| April | 4/02/2025 | Jan. 30th | March 13th/20th (3-10) | March 10th | March 25th |
| May | 5/07/2025 | March 6th | April 17th & 24th (4-14) | April 14th | April 29th |
| **June | 6/12/2025 | April 3rd | May 22nd & 29th
(5-19) | May 19th | June 4th |
| July | 7/02/2025 | May 1st | June 19th & 26th (5-16) | May 16th | June 24th |
| August | 8/06/2025 | June 5th | July 17th & 24th (7-14) | July 14th | July 29th |
| September | 9/03/2025 | July 3rd | August 14th & 21st
(8-8)* | August 8th * | August 26th |
| October | 10/01/2025 | August 1st | Sept 18th & 25th
( 9-15) | September 15th | September 23rd |
| November | 11/05/2025 | Sept. 4th | October 16th & 23rd (10-13) | October 13th | October 28th |
| December | 12/03/2025 | Oct. 2nd | Nov 13th & 20th (11-10) | November 10th | November 25th |
| ** Thursday, 2nd week of June | | |
