Virginia Conservation Assistance Program

The City of Norfolk Division of Environmental Storm Water Management has partnered with our local Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) to provide financial, technical, and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible stormwater control practices through the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP).

VCAP is an urban cost-share program open to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs). These include practices that capture, treat, or reduce stormwater runoff. These practices can be installed in areas of your yard where problems like erosion, poor drainage, or poor vegetation occur. 

The goal is to reduce the quantity of stormwater and improve the quality of stormwater by reducing the Nitrogen and Phosphorus sediment that enters our watershed.

*VCAP focuses on developed areas that are at least three years old and is not eligible to be used to assist new development sites. 
 It may be eligible to public, private, non-profits, and commercial landowners. 
 Properties that are in the 100-year floodplain zone are NOT eligible for infiltration practices.


Eligible Practices…

Most practices are eligible for 80% cost-share and some practices provide a flat incentive payment up to the installation cost.


Conservation Landscaping icon
Conservation Landscaping
Impermeable Surface Removal icon
Impermeable Surface Removal
Permeable Pavement icon
Permeable Pavement
Vegetated Conveyance System icon
Vegetated Conveyance System
Dry Well icon
Dry Well
Infiltration icon
Infiltration
bioretentiion icon
Bioretention
Living Shoreline icon
Living Shoreline
Constructed Wetlands icon
Constructed Wetlands
Green Roof icon
Green Roof
Rain Water Harvesting icon
Rainwater Harvesting

Rain Garden icon
             Rain Garden
  • 1  -   CONNECT
    Reach out to the Division of Environmental Stormwater Project Manager to discuss interest and eligibility.
    Chris Epes, Project Manager
    christopher.epes@norfolk.gov
    757-823-4048

  • 2   -   SITE ASSESSMENT
    Stormwater Staff will visit the property to determine which practice is the best fit.

  • 3   -   DESIGN PLAN
    Create a design plan that includes details on materials, installation, function and maintenance.

  • 4   -   APPLICATION REVIEW
    Application is reviewed by the SWCD Board and VCAP Steering Committee for approval.

  • 5   -   INSTALLATION
    Installation must begin within 90 days of approval and completed by June 1st of the following year.

  • 6   -   PAYMENT
    Stormwater staff will verify the practice was installed and a check will be written for the approval reimbursement amount.

  • 7   -   MAINTENANCE
    All practices are required to be maintained for 10 years.

Additional Resources:

VCAP Design & Implementation Manual

Understanding Your Flood Zone:
The 100-year flood zone designation refers to areas that have a 1% probability of being inundated by a flood event in any given year.
Norfolk areas included are the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) are: Zone AE, Zone AH, Zone AO.

You can check which flood zone you are in by:
Searching your property address in Norfolk Air under Flood Awareness or 
Search by address Flood Information | Norfolk, VA

You can also visit the Norfolk Flood Rate Insurance Map (FIRM)