DOWNLOAD the JOINT PERMIT APPLICATION (JPA)

These applications are used to apply for permits from the Norfolk District Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and local wetlands boards. The JPA process and JPA forms are used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the Local Wetlands Boards (LWB) for permitting purposes involving water, wetlands, and/or dune/beach resources, including, but not limited to, construction, dredging, filling, or excavation. Read the directions on the application carefully to determine how many copies must be submitted to the VMRC, who acts as the clearinghouse for permit applications. Permit applicants may obtain paper copies of the Joint Permit Applications by calling the Corps at 757.201.7652, or by downloading and using one of the two versions of the JPA below.

There are two different Joint Permit Applications available for use depending on the type of activity that you are proposing. If you propose to impact tidal waters, or wetlands, or dunes/beaches in the Tidewater area of Virginia, you may be eligible to use the TIDEWATER JPA, an abbreviated version of the Joint Permit Application. Activities eligible to use the Tidewater JPA include piers, boathouses, boat ramps, moorings, marinas, aquaculture facilities, riprap revetments, bulkheads, marsh toe stabilizations, breakwaters, beach nourishment, groins, jetties, road crossings over tidal waterways, and utility lines over or under tidal waterways. Dredging and excavation projects in tidal waterways/wetlands MUST use the Standard JPA.

Tidewater JPA PDF document with fillable forms

Standard JPA PDF document with fillable forms

Sample drawings, in plan view and cross-section

These blank Joint Permit Applications include fillable forms. In order to fill out the forms on your computer, you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which may be downloaded for free by visiting http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Once you have finished entering your information, you may print the completed portions of the applications and mail them in. Alternatively, you may choose to print the documents and fill in the forms by hand before mailing in. The Acrobat Reader will NOT allow you to save an electronic copy of completed applications. If you wish to save your completed application electronically, you will need to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat (not just the Reader). This software is not free, but may be purchased locally or by visiting http://www.adobe.com/store/main.jhtml.

The above-listed JPAs also include detailed instructions on how to apply. A link to example drawings is also provided above for your use as a guide.

Attention: Due to system changes the epermit system was shut down August 29, 2008 until further notice. We will issue a public notice when the epermit system is back on-line.

For applicants who wish to complete and submit a JPA electronically, a completed version of either the Standard or Tidewater JPA will have to be saved as a PDF document via use of the full (not free) version of Adobe Acrobat. Then, you may submit the JPA as a PDF attachment in an email and send it to VMRC at JPA.permits@mrc.virginia.gov .

The electronic application and attached documents must not exceed 5 megabytes. However, electronic documents must have sufficient resolution to show project details.