Virginia Beach Electric & Gas Franchise Rules

Utilities and Infrastructure Virginia 3 Minutes Read · published February 09, 2026 Flag of Virginia · By Emily Carter
Virginia Beach, Virginia regulates use of public rights-of-way and franchise arrangements for electric and gas utilities through ordinances, agreements and department oversight. This guide explains how franchise rate rules interact with municipal approvals, what enforcement looks like, how to find official documents, and practical steps for residents, businesses, and utility operators to apply, appeal, or report issues. It summarizes the responsible offices and official sources for Virginia Beach municipal franchise matters and points to the primary city contact for questions and complaints.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Virginia Beach enforces franchise agreements and rights-of-way rules via municipal departments and code enforcement; specific monetary fines for franchise or rate matters are not listed on the city pages cited here and rate-setting authority for investor-owned utilities is generally with the Virginia State Corporation Commission rather than the city.City of Virginia Beach - Public Utilities[1]

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for franchise rate violations.
  • Escalation: city material does not specify first/repeat/continuing offence ranges; enforcement may include notices and corrective orders.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: corrective orders, removal of unauthorized facilities from rights-of-way, injunctions, and referral to courts or city attorney for enforcement.
  • Enforcer & inspections: Department of Public Utilities, Department of Public Works, and City Attorney enforce agreements and inspect rights-of-way; complaints should start with Public Utilities.
  • Appeals & review: the city process for appeals or administrative review is handled through the department contact or City Clerk; time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited city page.
  • Defences & discretion: permits, approved franchise terms, and issued variances or written agreements can provide lawful defenses to enforcement actions.
Franchise rate disputes for investor-owned utilities in Virginia are generally filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission rather than the city.

Applications & Forms

Franchise agreements, permits for right-of-way work, and related applications are processed by city departments; the city website provides contact points but does not publish a single consolidated franchise application form on the cited page.

  • Forms: no single franchise application form is posted on the cited page; right-of-way and permit forms are available via departmental permit pages.
  • Fees: any fees for permits or inspections are published with each permit type; franchise fee details are not specified on the cited city page.
  • Submission: contact Public Utilities or the City Clerk for executed franchise agreements and ordinance records.

Common Violations

  • Unauthorized occupancy or attachments to poles or conduits in city rights-of-way.
  • Excavation or construction in rights-of-way without required permits.
  • Failure to comply with terms of an executed franchise agreement.
Start with the city department that issued a permit or the City Clerk for ordinance records when you need official agreement text.

Action Steps

  • Report suspected unauthorized work or attachments to Virginia Beach Public Utilities via the department contact page.
  • Request copies of franchise agreements or ordinances from the City Clerk if you need official terms.
  • If the issue concerns rates charged by an investor-owned electric or gas utility, consider filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission for rate review.

FAQ

Who sets electric and gas retail rates for Virginia Beach residents?
Retail rates for investor-owned electric and gas utilities are set by the Virginia State Corporation Commission; the city regulates rights-of-way and franchise terms but generally does not set retail utility rates.
How do I report a franchise violation or unsafe attachment?
Report to Virginia Beach Public Utilities or the Department of Public Works; the city contact page provides filing and inspection contacts.[1]
Where can I find the text of a franchise agreement?
Franchise agreements and related ordinances are public records; request them from the City Clerk or the department that manages the franchise.

How-To

  1. Identify the issue and gather photos, dates, and location details.
  2. Contact Virginia Beach Public Utilities to report the problem and request inspection.
  3. Request any relevant franchise agreement or permit records from the City Clerk if you need terms for enforcement or appeal.
  4. If the dispute concerns utility rates, consult the Virginia State Corporation Commission for rate complaint procedures.
  5. Follow up in writing and note any deadlines provided by the inspecting department or the City Clerk.

Key Takeaways

  • Virginia Beach controls rights-of-way and franchise agreements, but retail utility rates are generally handled by the state commission.
  • Report violations to Public Utilities or Public Works and request official records from the City Clerk.
  • Specific fines and appeal time limits are not specified on the cited city page and require direct inquiry to the enforcing office.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Virginia Beach - Public Utilities

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Emily Carter

Emily Carter

Municipal Policy Researcher

Emily researches municipal codes and local ordinances across the United States. She verifies every guide against official city and state sources before publication.