Engineering / Surveying Department

The Engineering / Surveying Department is responsible for surveying and mapping subaqueous ground for public and private shellfish cultivation, leasing private shellfish grounds, and maintaining oyster ground lease records.  This includes the accounting for work performed and the annual rent accounting of the leased oyster ground, the platting and composite mapping of these parcels and the adjacent waters.  There are over 300,000 acres of public ground and over 100,000 acres of private ground for which the department is responsible.  Requests for new leases and transfers of current leases also are processed and surveyed.  In cases user conflicts and objections, the department weighs all available information in making recommendations to the division head for presentation to the Commission.

The Engineering / Surveying Department also is responsible for surveying and maintaining the marking of the Maryland/Virginia State line, where it borders or falls within the waters of the two states, and is also charged with the surveying, identification and mapping of state-owned marshes and meadowlands on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  Call the Engineering/Surveying Department at (757) 247-2225 for further information.

Go to download page for Engineering and Surveying forms

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