Virginia Maps
Digital Data Availability Summary
Click for local parcel information. Map courtesy Digital Map Store
| VIRGINIA | Spatial | Non-spatial | None |
| GIS Data Portals | x | ||
| Reference and Supporting Data | |||
| Cadastral Reference Grid | x | ||
| Shorelines | x | ||
| Coastal Imagery | x | ||
| Bathymetry | x | ||
| Marine Jurisdictional Boundaries | x | ||
| Submerged Lands Boundaries | x | ||
| Ownership | |||
| Submerged Lands Parcels | x | ||
| General Property and Parcel Data | x | x | |
| Public and Conservation Lands | x | ||
| Leases and Other Use Authorizations | |||
| Aquaculture and Shellfish | x | ||
| Other Use Authorizations | x | x | |
| Marine Managed Areas | x | ||
| Local Parcel Information | 13 coastal counties; 3 cities | ||
| Deed Records | Availability of local data was not completely assessed. Links to some data sources are identified. | ||
| Assessment Data | |||
| Parcels | |||
Why is marine cadastral data important for conservation and marine spatial planning?
Marine Cadastral Data Management
The Nature Conservancy’s 2010 Nationwide Comparative Assessment of State-level Marine Cadastral Data in Virginia included interviews with the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program1 (VCMP) and the Marine Resources Commission2 (MRC) and a review of relevant Internet sites.
State Data Management: Virginia’s GIS Coordinating Council serves as the state coordinating body for GIS. Their portal, the Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) provides a catalog and index to state agency data. The VCZMP Coastal Gems (GEMS) site provides a gateway to Virginia’s coastal resource data and maps, coastal laws and policies, facts on coastal resource values, and direct links to collaborating agencies responsible for current data. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science Center for Coastal Resource Management (CCRM) at William and Mary applies GIS and remote-sensing techniques to studies addressing coastal, watershed, and landscape issues and provides interactive maps from their web site.
Marine Cadastre and Supporting Data
Cadastral Reference System: Virginia does not have a marine cadastre. There is a significant amount of information about coastal waters collected in the GEMS and CCRM portals. The VCMP has compiled a number of databases that are essential for a marine cadastre, including data on rights and interests in coastal waters. This information was collected as part of a project to look for appropriate offshore wind development sites.
Supporting Reference Data
Shorelines and Bathymetry: The CCRM provides downloadable files for a variety of resolutions and shorelines. No state maintained sources of bathymetry were identified.
Coastal Imagery: Coastal imagery can be viewed through GEMS. VGIN Portal provides a catalog of imagery for NAIP one-meter imagery under “VGIN Hosted Downloads.” They also provide high-resolution imagery available for download for a fee.
Marine Jurisdictional Boundaries and Submerged Lands: All of conservation lands are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR) and are available from their web site. County marine boundaries are not mapped. The three nautical mile limit is shown on the GEMS online mapping site. Data files describing submerged lands in Virginia were not identified.
Ownership, Leases and Other Authorizations: Virginia is a low water state, which means public lands generally start at the low water line. Kings grants of subaqueous lands exist, but are not comprehensively known or mapped. A source of state submerged land ownership data was not found. The agencies appear to maintain their own records about the lands that they own or manage. The VDCR provides GIS data files for conservation lands, state owned tidal lands, locally and privately owned conservation lands, and TNC Preserves. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) keeps records on public and private (leased) shellfish grounds. VMRC sends regular updates to VCZMP that are published on GEMS. It has been discovered through a study by VA Institute of Marine Science that oyster density and public oyster grounds do not correlate, as they should. There is discussion about how to revise boundaries for public oyster grounds to reflect change over time.
Marine Managed Areas: All marine protected areas are managed by the DCR. Downloads of some components of the MPA data are available from the DCR’s Natural Heritage download site. Coastal GEMS provides an online mapping view of a wide variety of coastal marine data.
Local Parcel Information: Virginia does not centrally maintain parcel records. It will be necessary to contact the counties individually to determine the availability of parcel data (see local parcel information, below).
GIS Portals
- Center for Coastal Resource Management. Online mapping tools include Blue Infrastructure, Marina Suitability, Oil Spill Cleanup and Response, Shallow Water Use Conflict, Shoreline Manager’s Assessment, Wetlands tools, and tools for specific localities. (web page)
- Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program GEMS. Interactive online mapping tool brings together coastal resources data from many state agencies. (web site)
- Virginia Department of Conservation Lands. DCR began digitally mapping the boundaries for agency owned and managed State Parks and State Natural Area Preserves in 1998. DCR is continually reviewing and updating the Conservation Lands Database. Updated data will be provided on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December. Data is available for download and viewing is available through the Virginia Conservation Data Explorer. (web site)
- Virginia Geographic Information Network. Provides links to state agencies, educational institutions, cities and counties, and planning districts that maintain GIS data. This site requires registration. (web site)
Reference and Supporting Data
Cadastral Reference Grid
None used.
Shorelines
| Data | Shorelines and Shoreline Inventories - Virginia |
| Access | Data down loads and interactive maps: W&M> VIMS > CCRM > GIS Data & Maps > Data (web site) |
| Detail | Contains a topographic shoreline as well an inventory of three shoreline zones: 1) riparian zone; 2) bank; and the shoreline. |
| Distributor | Center for Coastal Resource Management |
Coastal Imagery
| Data | DOQQ Low and High Resolution |
| Access | Index to data – category imagery (web site) |
| Detail | Links are provided to the USGS for public domain orthoimagery. State orthoimagery is available for a fee. |
| Distributor | Virginia Geographic Information Network |
Bathymetry
No state level data found
Marine Jurisdictional Boundaries
No data was found that was specific to marine boundaries.
The term submerged lands is used here to refer to tidal waters lying between the high water mark and the seaward extent of the state’s jurisdictional limit, which for most states is three nautical miles (i.e., the Submerged Lands Act Boundary). See the Submerged Lands definitions page for specific terminology used in each state.
Submerged Lands Boundaries
No data found.
Ownership
Submerged Lands Parcels
No data found.
General Property and Parcel Data
| Data | Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grants and Surveys. |
| Access | Document images available online. (web page) |
| Detail | Searchable index to colonial land patents and commonwealth land grants. 1632-present. |
| Distributor | The Library of Virginia. |
| Data | Barrier Island Ownership. |
| Access | View through online interactive map. (web site) |
| Detail | This point layer ostensibly identifies owners of barrier islands; however, querying these points displays only the name of the island. 2005. |
| Distributor | Coastal GEMS (Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program). |
Public and Conservation Lands
| Data | Conservation Lands. |
| Access | Download ESRI shapefiles or view through online interactive map. (web page) |
| Detail | Federal, state, local and private protected lands in Virginia. Two subsets of this data are “State-owned Tidal Lands” and “TNC Managed Lands,” listed below. 2007 and earlier. |
| Distributor | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. |
| Data | State-owned Tidal Lands (also called VMRC Lands). |
| Access | Download ESRI shapefile or view through online interactive map. (web page) |
| Detail | Covers only the bay and ocean sides of Virginia’s eastern shore. These lands appear to be intertidal or wetlands, not bottomlands. 1990. |
| Distributor | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. |
| Data | The Nature Conservancy Managed Lands. |
| Access | Download ESRI shapefile or view through online interactive map. (web site) |
| Detail | Lands managed by TNC in Virginia’s coastal zone. 2006. |
| Distributor | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Coastal GEMS (Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program). |
Leases and Other Use Authorizations
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (web site) does not appear to maintain a GIS portal. However, the Engineering/Surveying Department of the Habitat Management Division is responsible for surveying and mapping subaqueous grounds for private and public shellfish management, and is the ultimate source of data for a number of the GIS layers. According to the Virginia Geographic Information Network, VMRC spatial data includes “leased and publicly-owned streambeds and tidal bottomlands, locations of permits and construction encroaching on pubic lands, locations of artificial fishing reefs, locations of oyster reefs, other information pertaining to commercial fisheries.”
Aquaculture and Shellfish
| Data | Virginia Oyster Reef Restoration Atlas. |
| Access | Download atlas in PDF format or inquire about underlying data. (pdf document) |
| Detail | Maps show proposed oyster restoration areas, but introduction states that, among other sources, they are based upon maps of existing public and privately-lease oyster grounds. 2002. |
| Distributor | Virginia Institute of Marine Science (College of William and Mary) and Virginia Marine Resources Commission. |
| Data | Public Oyster Grounds (Baylor Grounds). |
| Access | View through online interactive maps. (web site) or (web site) |
| Detail | Public oyster grounds not available for shellfish leasing. More current information may be available from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission as AutoCAD files. 2001. |
| Distributor | Blue Infrastructure (VIMS) or Coastal GEMS (Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program). |
| Data | Private Oyster Ground Leases. |
| Access | View through online interactive maps. (web site) or (web site) |
| Detail | Shows private oyster lease areas. Does not identify lessee. More current information may be available from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission as AutoCAD files. 2001. |
| Distributor | Blue Infrastructure (VIMS) or Coastal GEMS (Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program). |
| Data | Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Sites. |
| Access | View through online interactive maps. (web site) or (web site) |
| Detail | Point locations for bottom-culture shellfish aquaculture sites. Attribute data includes name of permit holder, application number, species, permit type, and status (active or inactive). Not all private oyster ground leases (above) appear to have points in this layer. 2003. |
| Distributor | Blue Infrastructure (VIMS) or Coastal GEMS (Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program). |
| Data | Oyster Gardening Sites. |
| Access | View through online interactive map. (web site) |
| Detail | Permitted non-commercial oyster garden sites in the Middle Peninsula area. Incomplete. Oyster gardens are maintained by riparian landowners. 2003. |
| Distributor | Coastal GEMS (Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program). |
Other Use Authorizations
| Data | Shoreline Permit Application Reports. |
| Access | Non-spatial database viewable online (follow link from web page). |
| Detail | Permits are for physical encroachment on subaqueous bottomlands, tidal wetlands, and coastal primary sand dunes. Database lists permit number, applicant, application data, locality, watershed, and immediate waterway. Records are for 2007 and 2006, with just a few earlier. |
| Distributor | Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary. |
| Data | Combined Shoreline Situation Coverages |
| Access | View through online interactive map or download ESRI Arc/Info coverages by county. (web site) or (web site) |
| Detail | Shoreline inventory includes arc coverage of shoreline protection structures and marinas, and point coverage of access structures such as docks, boathouses, and boat ramps. Although permit references are not included in the attribute data, all these structures would require permits from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. 2000-2006. |
| Distributor | Shoreline Mangers’ Assessment Kit or Comprehensive Coastal Inventory Program (VIMS) |
Marine Managed Areas
| Data | National Heritage Conservation Lands |
| Access | Download shapefiles (web site). |
| Detail | This site provides a variety of statewide conservation lands that are inclusive of coastal areas. |
| Distributor | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Data | Coastal GEMS - Viewable Marine Management Areas |
| Access | Viewable coastal data (web site) |
| Detail | This site provides a variety viewable marine managed areas although a site for downloading this data could not be found. It will be necessary to contact the state to determine how to acquire the data. |
| Distributor | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Local Parcel Information
Due to budget and time limitations, not all counties were assessed for data availability. Select Municipality Information can be accessed below the counties.
Accomack County (web site)
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | AccoMap. (web site) |
| Parcels | See Assessment Data. |
Essex County
Availability of data not assessed.
Fairfax County (web page)
| Deed Records | Circuit Court’s Public Access Network. Accessible by subscription ($25/mo.) (web page) |
| Assessment Data | Department of Tax Administration's DTA Parcel Finder. Assessment data (including owner) links to parcel viewer. (web page) |
| Parcels | Department of Information Technology's Digital Map Viewer/Property Map. PDFs of tax parcel maps, by grid tile. Also available for purchase on CD. (web page) |
Gloucester County (web page)
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | Property Records Search. Input owner name, map number, address or historical data search with map number or name; output same information, acreage, districts, sale information, building sketch. (web page) |
| Parcels | Availability of data not assessed. |
Isle of Wight County
Availability of data not assessed.
James City County
Availability of data not assessed.
King George County
Availability of data not assessed.
Lancaster County
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | Lancova GIS/Parcel Search. Search geographically or by name or parcel number for owner, parcel, parcel number, acreage, assessed value, and deed book/page. (web page) |
| Parcels | See Assessment Data. |
Mathews County (web page)
Availability of data not assessed.
Middlesex County (web page)
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | Middlesex County Department of Planning and Community Development. Tax Assessment Maps in PDF. (web page) |
| Parcels | See Assessment Data. |
Northampton County (web page)
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | Public Access Mapping Website. Search by text or map. Input owner’s name, address, or tax map number; output same information, legal description, assessment, map with resource information layers. (web page) |
| Parcels | See Assessment Data. |
Northumberland County (web page)
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | Land Book 2006 searchable by owner or map number for address and assessed value. (web page) |
| Parcels | Availability of data not assessed. |
Prince William County
Availability of data not assessed.
Richmond County
Availability of data not assessed.
Stafford County
Availability of data not assessed.
Surrey County
Availability of data not assessed.
Westmoreland County
Availability of data not assessed.
York County (web page)
| Deed Records | Availability of data not assessed. |
| Assessment Data | Real Property Information. Input address, owner, or parcel number; output map with navigation, same information, districts, legal description, assessment. (web page) |
| Parcels | Site Selector. Input parcel number or address, yield map of parcel with streets, water, zoning, community improvements, and this information, acreage, zoning, and some district, but not owner. (web page) Also, see Assessment Data above. |
Municipality Information
City of Hampton
Property Database and Maps (web site): Input address, parcel identification or land record number, yields ownership, sales and assessment histories, land data, building descriptions, photos and sketches if available), tax information, map of the surrounding area, with relevant geographical information, zoning information.
City of Newport News
Real Estate Assessor’s Office Property Search (web site): Input address or parcel identification, yields this information, assessments, improvements, ownership history (but no names).
GIS Map Viewer (web site): Click and drag zoom map with various features including parcels with identification numbers and address, information button links to Assessor’s office database (as above).
City of Norfolk
Real Property Assessment (web site): Input address, yield legal description, parcel identification, assessment, but no owner name.
City of Poquoson
Property Information Search (web site): Input address, owner or map number, yields same information, acreage, legal description, improvements, assessment.
City of Portsmouth
Real Estate Assessment Data and Tax Map Search (web site): Input address or map/parcel, yields same information, deed identification, assessment, improvements, link to tax map, but no owner name.
City of Virginia Beach
Real Estate Assessment Search (web site): Input address, yields identification numbers, legal description, structure improvements, land information, assessment, but no owner identification.
1 Interview with Nick Meade, Coastal GIS Coordinator, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, June 2010.
2 Interview with Erik Barth, Virginia Marine Resource Commission, June, 2010.