Engineering

Function and Responsibilities

The Engineering Department is responsible for:

• Administration of the County’s site plan review process and the technical review of submitted projects.
• Administration of the County’s Environmental Services and Floodplain Management.
• Administration of the Lake Shenandoah Stormwater Control Authority and associated projects.
• Inspection of development projects for environmental and public utility compliance and best construction practices.
• Assisting with the identification, planning, and project management of the County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

The Department consists of a number of functional areas that are interdependent and mutually supportive.

 
Mission statement

• To serve as a technical resource for all County departments, boards, commissions, and community stakeholders.
• To convey a professional and courteous manner in all interactions with the public and those we work with.
• To protect the best interest of the County including its residents and the County government.
• To deliver superior infrastructure and environmental public services, thereby improving the quality of life and enhancing the County as a whole.

Development Review

The mission of development review is to provide prompt, technical, and essential assistance to the developers and citizens in order to maintain the character and integrity of neighborhoods, to promote excellence of commercial and residential development, to prevent undue traffic and safety hazards, and to encourage the most harmonious development and use of land.

Regulations & Requirements

Submitting development plans provides all required reviewing entities to review and comment on the plan for general compliance with all applicable regulations and requirements. The applicant will be advised of requirements relative to: 

• Zoning and permitted use of project
• Subdivisions
• Building setbacks
• Availability of water and sewer services
• Erosion and sediment control measures
• Stormwater management measures
• Floodplains
• Vehicular traffic and parking
• Landscaping, screening, and buffering
• Lighting
• Other requirements that may affect the development

Review agencies include but are not limited to: Rockingham County Engineering, Planning and Zoning, Fire and Rescue, Public Works, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). 

Types of Development Review 

Site Plan Submittal Procedures and Review Process 

Submittal Application Forms, Checklists, and Fee Schedules 

County’s Online Portal for Permitting, Plan Review, and Payment  

Environmental Services

Environmental Services is responsible for the protection of property owners and the watersheds of Rockingham County from erosion and stormwater runoff occurring from development activities, as well as regulating development in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Submitted plans are reviewed to ensure proposed projects properly mitigate the effects of sedimentation during construction and the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff after construction. Development sites are inspected during and after construction to ensure compliance with the County’s stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, and floodplain management ordinances.

Environmental Services Homepage 

Lake Shenandoah Stormwater Control Authority

In recent years, residential neighborhoods bordering the headwaters of Congers Creek (a major tributary to Lake Shenandoah) have experienced localized flooding – some severely inundating their homes. To resolve these issues, the Lake Shenandoah Stormwater Control Authority was created by the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors on July 17, 2019 “for the purpose of providing for the acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance of a stormwater control system for the collection and transport of stormwater” (for lands within the Lake Shenandoah drainage area).

Lake Shenandoah Stormwater Control Authority Homepage 

Public Utility Infrastructure Inspections

The construction of all public utility infrastructure is inspected by County staff on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the approved site plan. Inspections consist of verifying that correct materials are used by the contractor, installed, and tested in accordance with the County’s Design and Construction Standards Manual. Additionally, construction sites are inspected for safe working conditions.

 Public Utility Infrastructure Inspections Homepage 

Capital Improvement Program

The County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is to guide the construction or acquisition of capital projects for a rolling 5-year period. The program is based on the County’s Comprehensive Plan and does not obligate the County to buy, build, or appropriate funding. There are nine major categories in which projects are divided into: Technology, Transportation, Education, Landfill, Public Safety, Facilities, Recreation, Utilities, and Voter Registrar. A capital project is classified as a non-recurring, non-operational expense exceeding $25,000 which may have project stages phased over successive fiscal years. A County Planning Commission appointed CIP Advisory Committee evaluates, prioritizes, and recommends adoption of the CIP based upon the following criteria: 

• Community need
• Urgency of the request
• County’s ability to finance the project
• Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan 

FY2024-FY2028 Capital Improvement Plan