Citizen's Guide to County Government

BLUEWAYS MAP.  The York County Blueways map outlines water trail routes, points of interest and other information for some of the County's scenic waterways.  Free maps available from Parks and Recreation or downloaded from the web site.  Telephone  - (757) 890-3500.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. York County's boards, commissions and committees are listed here.
Citizens who wish to be considered for an appointment should contact the County Administrator's Office.  Telephone - (757) 890-3321 and request a Board Bank application.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Regular Meetings are currently held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the East Room, York Hall, 301 Main Street, Yorktown, with the exception of the months of July and November, and on the 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. in the Board Room, York Hall.   Meetings are telecast live on WYCG-TV46 and are rebroadcast at 11 a.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Residents are invited and encouraged to attend Board of Supervisors meetings as often as possible.

Public Hearings are required by the Virginia Code to be scheduled on certain proposed changes to the York County Code and for zoning changes, use permits, and certain other issues, and are advertised in a local newspaper having a general circulation in the County. Public Hearings are held during the second regular meeting of the month (3rd Tuesday) and begin promptly at 7 p.m.

Citizens' Comment Period is an opportunity for citizens to address the Board during the second regular meeting of the month (3rd Tuesday). Comments are limited to three minutes per individual.

Adjourned Meetings are continued from an earlier meeting and are typically held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. The adjourned meetings begin at 6 p.m. and are televised live on WYCG-TV46.

Closed Meetings are held only for those purposes specifically provided by law to include discussion of specific personnel issues, disposition of publicly held property, investment of public funds, and consultation with legal counsel. No action is taken in a closed meeting.

Appointments to Boards and Commissions are made by the Board of Supervisors. Citizens who wish to be considered for an appointment should call (757) 890-3321 to request a Boards and Commissions Application Form.

GUIDELINES FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Public Hearings and Citizens Comment Period are held on the second meeting of the month for the purpose of receiving the public's views on issues being considered by the Board of Supervisors or issues of interest to the public being brought to the Board.  They are not intended as question and answer sessions. Therefore, if you have questions, please put them in writing and give them to our clerk who will make sure they are forwarded to the Board or to the appropriate staff member who can best answer each concern.

Registration to Speak Before the Board:

Regular Meetings of the Board of Supervisors begin promptly at 6:00 p.m.  Speaker Registration forms are located on the table outside the Board Room.  Please complete the proper form (either for Citizens Comment Period or a Public Hearing) and present the entire two-part form to the clerk who can be found in front of the dais in the Board Room.  Individuals who have submitted Speaker Registration Forms prior to the beginning of the meeting will be called on to speak first.  Speaker Registration Forms for Citizens Comment Period will not be accepted after the meeting has begun.  Speaker Registration Forms for Public Hearings will not be accepted after the hearings have begun.  The Chair will entertain unregistered individuals to speak at the end of the comment period or each hearing.  Each speaker is allowed one 3-minute appearance during Citizens Comment Period or during each public hearing, except for the applicant in a land use case or his/her designated representative who is allowed one 10-minute period to present their case.

Speaking Before the Board:

When you are called by the Chair to come forward to speak, please go directly to the podium and clearly state your name and address and the name of any person or organization you are representing for the record.  Please note there is an electronic timer on the podium.  The green light indicates you are within your allotted time limit; the yellow light indicates you have 30 seconds to sum up; the red light and beep indicates your allotted time is up.  We ask that you respect the time limit in making your remarks to the Board.  If you have a written statement or supportive material, please provide the clerk with a copy.

These procedures are provided to insure a smooth and efficient meeting and to enable as many citizens viewpoints to be heard as possible.  Thank you for your interest in attending the meetings of the York County Board of Supervisors.

BOAT DOCKS AND RAMPS.  Public docks on the York River are available at Riverwalk Landing in Historic Yorktown. Contact the Dockmaster at (757) 890-3370.  Boat launching ramps are located at: Rodgers A. Smith Landing at the end of Tide Mill Road, Back Creek Park off of Goodwin Neck Road, and Wormley Creek Landing at the end of Old Wormley Creek Road.  Telephone - (757) 890-3500.

BOATS. All boats must be registered and Personal Property Return filed on or before March 1 with the Commissioner of the Revenue to avoid a filing penalty. Any boat with a motor must be registered as personal property and, depending on size, may need to be titled with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  Telephone - (757) 253-7072.  Boats must be initially filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue for personal property tax purposes.  Telephone - (757) 890-3381.



BUDGET & FINANCIAL REPORTING. Responsible for preparing and administering the Annual Budget, coordinating the Annual Financial Audit for the County, School Division and Economic Development Authority and preparing the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the County.  A division of the Department of Financial & Management Services.  Telephone - (757) 890-3700.

BUILDING REGULATION. Issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and other construction permits; ensures compliance with County and state building codes; conducts building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections. A division of the Department of Environmental and Development Services.  Telephone  - (757) 890-3522.

BURNING REGULATIONS. Open burning of only leaves is allowed if the burn pile is not less than 250 feet from an adjacent dwelling and 50 feet from the dwelling on the property on which leaves are being burned, where permissible. Leaves must be burned in small, contained piles.  During the period of February 15 to April 30, burning is permitted after 4 p.m.  For information on open burning, including permits for land clearing operations, call the Department of Fire and Life Safety, Monday through Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Telephone - (757) 890-3600. EMERGENCIES - CALL 911.

The following precautions shall be followed:

• Leaves cannot be burned on local, state or federal holidays or on Sundays. Also, burning is prohibited between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

• Leaves cannot be burned in ditches, on roads or in drainage facilities.

• Household refuse may not be burned.

• Burning is not allowed in environmentally sensitive areas.

• Tree, yard and garden trimmings collected by the County through regular roadside collections may not be burned.

• Fires need to be attended until they are extinguished.

• Campfires or other fires used for recreational purposes for ceremonial occasions, for outdoor noncommercial preparation of food and for warming of outdoor workers are permitted.

• Water, sand, dirt or fire extinguishers need to be on hand to extinguish fires.

• Leaves may be burned in small piles (3 feet in diameter) in a cleared area (10 feet in diameter).

• If burning is determined to be a nuisance and/or hazardous, you will be asked to extinguish the fire.

• Violators of burning regulations may be fined. If the fire gets out of control, those responsible may be liable for damages.

BUSINESS LICENSES. Business Licenses are issued by the Commissioner of the Revenue and renewed annually on March 1. New businesses are required to apply for, pay applicable fee or tax required, and obtain a Business License prior to opening.  Telephone - (757) 890-3383.
To be sure that a new business is in compliance with the zoning code, applicants should first contact Development & Compliance.  Telephone - (757) 890-3524.

BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY. Every business is required to file a Tax Return of Business Tangible Personal Property and Machinery and Tools each year and report all property (furniture, equipment, tools, machinery, computers, vehicles, property borrowed or leased to or from others, etc.) owned as of January 1. This return must be filed on or before March 1 annually to avoid a filing penalty.  Telephone - (757) 890-3381.

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