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Request to Amend Accountability Plan – Georgia – NCLB Policy Letters to States
June 5, 2006
The Honorable Kathy Cox
State Superintendent of Schools
Georgia Department of Education
2062 Twin Towers East
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Dear Superintendent Cox:
I am writing in response to Georgia's request to amend its State accountability plan under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Following our discussions with your staff, I am pleased to approve the amendments that are aligned with NCLB; the revised and fully approved plan will be posted on the Department's website. A summary of the approved amendments is enclosed with this letter.
As you know, any additional requests to amend the Georgia accountability plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval as required by section 1111(f)(2) of Title I. Please note that approval of Georgia's accountability plan does not constitute approval of the State's standards and assessment system.
Please also be aware that approval of Georgia's accountability plan for Title I, including the amendments approved above, does not indicate that the plan complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
NCLB has provided a vehicle for States to raise the achievement of all students and to close the achievement gap. We are seeing the results of our combined endeavor; achievement is rising throughout the nation. I appreciate Georgia's efforts to raise the achievement of all students and hold all schools accountable. I wish you continued success in your school improvement efforts. If you need any additional assistance in your efforts to implement the standards, assessments, and accountability provisions of NCLB, please do not hesitate to contact Catherine Freeman (email@example.com) or Valeria Ford (email@example.com) of my staff.
Henry L. Johnson
cc: Governor Sonny Perdue
Amendments to the Georgia Accountability Plan
The following is a summary of the State's approved amendment. Please refer to the Department's website (refer to: www.ed.govhttps://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/index.html) for the complete Georgia accountability plan.
Including students with disabilities in AYP (Element 5.3)
Revision: For the 2005-06 school year, Georgia is once again requesting interim flexibility regarding modified achievement standards. Georgia will calculate a proxy (16%) to determine the percentage of students with disabilities (SWD) that is equivalent to 2.0 percent of all students assessed. For 2005-06, this proxy will then be added to the percent of students with disabilities who are proficient. For any school or district that did not make AYP solely due to its students with disabilities subgroup, Georgia will use this adjusted percent proficient to reexamine if the school or district made AYP for the 2005-06 school year.
Subgroup Accountability: Creating a separate subgroup for hurricane evacuees (Element 5.1)
Revision: Georgia requests flexibility to create a new AYP subgroup specifically for students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Displaced students will appear only in this new subgroup for NCLB reporting and accountability purposes and not in any other subgroup (even the "all students" subgroup) to which they would usually belong. AMO's and second indicators will not apply for this subgroup in the 2005-2006 school year.
The Secretary granted this waiver and the conditions for approval can be found in the April 19th letter to the Georgia Department of Education found at http://hurricanehelpforschools.gov/letters/052606-georgia.doc


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Studios partner with developers to raise the bar in film-to-game adaptations By Martin McEachern
Special Gaming Section THE GODFATHER MEET THE ROBINSONS OVER THE HEDGE SUPERMAN RETURNS
Last spring, for example, shortly after Activision signed a multi-year agreement with DreamWorks Animation for the exclusive video game rights for DreamWorks' upcoming feature films (including Bee Movie, Kung Fu Panda, and all future Shrek films), DreamWorks announced that Activision would be opening a studio facility on the DreamWorks Animation campus. "This is an unparalleled step in the convergence between Hollywood and video games," says Robert Kotick, chairman and CEO of Activison. "For the first time, we'll be able to align our games' production schedules with those of the movies, from the preproduction phase onward. This will allow us to fully leverage the movie assets and story lines, in addition to collaborating closely with the talented production teams at DreamWorks to develop story lines that expand the movie experience in new and compelling ways."
In the same spirit of collaboration and consolidation of assets and talent, ILM and LucasArts are now housed in the same building on George Lucas's Presidio campus. "[The idea] came from George himself," says LucasArts president Jim Ward. "And it's key to rebooting our game studio." To create its upcoming Indiana Jones 2007 and next-gen Star Wars titles, LucasArts will also be using its Zeno Game Editor, which is incorporated into ILM's Zeno Development Environment, allowing both film and game artists access to the same tools. LucasArts can now use ILM's high-end art creation software, while ILM can tap into LucasArts' real-time technology, which underlies their previsualization tools.
Jacob Meakin, lead programmer at Edge of Reality, which developed the game title based on DreamWorks' Over The Hedge, sees this marriage between real-time and cinematic effects tools spreading throughout the industry. "One of the most interesting developments is how some film studios are now using game studio software to prototype movies [through animatics]," he says. "This allows them to bring their ideas to life without having to wait a long time for rendering. That means the assets for both films and games will be more similar during production, which could definitely promote sharing."
Besides DreamWorks, other studios offering unprecedented support to game developers include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios, Paramount, and Twentieth Century Fox. More importantly, these games are now being developed under the auspices of heavyweight directors such as Peter Jackson and James Cameron, so that they don't merely encapsulate a film, but expand deeply upon its universe. At the 2005 GDC show, lifelong gamer and renowned film director James Cameron announced his plan to create a "highly involved" massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) to enrich and extend the narrative of his upcoming feature film, the rumored sci-fi epic Battle Angel Alita.
"In my next film, we're planning on simultaneously developing a major motion picture and, hopefully, a major game title that coexists in the same world and that shares the same characters," Cameron says. "Going into that world will actually inform those watching the film and vice versa." Later, he told BusinessWeek: "So much of literary sci-fi is about creating worlds that are rich and detailed and make sense at a social level. We'll create a world for people and then later present a narrative in that world. You are exploring the interaction of technology and the human imagination, and you play it out in a highly competitive, fast-paced [game]."
Recently, Steven Spielberg signed a long-term deal to develop games for Electronic Arts, while Peter Jackson's heavy involvement with Ubisoft's video game adaptation of King Kong (see "Aping Film," March 2006) turned out to be just a precursor to his latest venture: his newly announced Wingnut Interactive, a partnership with Microsoft to produce interactive titles for the Xbox 360.
The first release will be a spin-off of the Halo film, which Jackson and partner Fran Walsh are producing. Jackson describes the new Halo game as "not quite a game, not quite a film." Jackson's manager, Ken Kamins, offers this cryptic tease about the director's plans: "The idea is to create a kind of interactive entertainment that's not games as we know it."
This level of commitment to the art of video games—from film studios, leading effects houses, and highly acclaimed directors—should ensure that the next generation of film-to-game adaptations will not be the second-rate marketing vehicles that often stigmatized the genre in the past. Rather, they should succeed in fusing the emotion of films with the intense absorption of interactive entertainment like never before.
The operatic mafia drama about young Michael Corleone's reluctant descent from a free-thinking, law-abiding war hero to the head of his crime family is making its much-hyped debut on the new Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 this month, following the Xbox 360 version released last fall. Those games, along with those for all the other major game platforms, feature a star-studded voice cast including James Caan as Sonny Corleone, Robert Duvall as lawyer Tom Hagen, and the late Marlon Brando as the patriarchal Vito Corleone. While the returning cast members certainly helped to elevate the game to the pedigree of the film, re-creating 1940s New York, the nuances of the actors' performances, and Gordon Willis's shadowy cinematography—with its sepulchral palette of browns, golds, and blacks—required countless hours of studying the film, visiting the locations in New York, and poring over Paramount's extensive photo archives. "We even digitized signature sequences so they could always be instantly accessible at each artist's desktop," says EA producer Joel Wade. "We kept the first movie running on a loop in our central team area so people could stop and catch a few minutes [of it] at a time."
With the film's complex, interweaving, multi-character story lines, following the movie plot linearly would have been impossible in the game. "We decided very early on what we didn't want to do, which was present a linear level-based movie game. It would have deprived us of some great game opportunities—like the ability to create your own mobster to bring up through the ranks. By embracing the world of The Godfather, and weaving your story through the fiction of the book and movie, we could have our cake and eat it, too."
This approach, Wade says, allows the player to experience countless hypothetical scenarios posed by the film. "What if, when Don Vito or Sonny ordered a hit, you could be his right-hand man to carry it out? What if you could be the man who delivered the horse's head to Woltz? What if you could expand the Corleone empire block by block through negotiation and strong-arm tactics? We knew that if we could take those amazing game concepts, set them in the authentic streets of 1940s New York, and bring the characters we all know to life, we'd have an amazing package."
Far from merely undergoing a simple textural face-lift, the game encompasses so much more. The memory and speed of the new consoles allowed the team to make vast improvements throughout all areas of the graphics and gameplay. For example, EA was able to add more interactive objects to the interiors, increasing the fun factor in "persuading" reluctant merchants to pony up protection money by hurling bottles at them or destroying their wares. The team could also double the number of pedestrians and cars in the world, imbuing the streets with the bustling energy of the period. Moreover, artists could apply real-time reflection maps to the cars and enhance the quality and quantity of special effects, such as smoke and blood.
Bringing Film Legends To Life
EA did a facial-performance capture of James Caan and Robert Duvall during their voice-recording sessions for the game. When the data was unavailable, the artists animated the faces by hand.
"For the Xbox 360, we added new 'living world' motions, such as conversation variants and emotional interactions, to amplify the realism of the pedestrians and character interactions with their environments," says animation director Seth Swanson. For much of this "living world" and face-to-face dialog, EA used its proprietary facial animation tool, FACT (for Facial Action Coding Technology), which can procedurally combine 35 phoneme-based poses for speech and another 35 emotion-based poses for expression. For the facial animation in the Xbox 360 version, EA used a combination of both mocap data and its FACT system.
"When we didn't have performance-capture data available, we hand-keyed the lip sync," says Swanson. "We also used audio and text inputs for our FACT tool to generate lip sync procedurally for less-critical characters that wouldn't be viewed up close. With the volume of dialog in the game (over 15,000 unique lines), this was critical." EA is currently investigating the potential of Softimage's Face Robot in streamlining its facial animation pipeline.
Set Design
To force the viewer to look through the eyes of the animals and feel the dizzying scale of suburbia, the film adheres religiously to a squirrel's-eye point of view. Obviously, this cinematic approach could not be retained in the game's cooperative gameplay mode. "We needed to move the camera up and away from the characters to allow both players to see the action and characters at all times," says Hranchak.
The suburban neighborhood, with its many leafy yards and busy streets, was the most texturally and geometrically complex environment to light and render in real time. "We needed a high level of detail almost everywhere," says Sullivan. "Our solution was to make each yard, house, and lot a separate level object that could be populated into a single 3ds Max file for each level. By doing this, we were able to [level of detail] each of them. We still needed occlusion planes and careful camera placement to keep the frame rate from dropping."
The team relied primarily on light maps for the harsh light of suburbia and the more soft, diffuse light of the outlying woodland, but resorted to vertex lighting and vertex painting for more challenging lighting scenarios. "By building shadows into our breakables, we could make those shadows disappear when the object was broken," says Sullivan. "We utilized real-time lighting on all the characters. It was difficult to get consistent lighting and shadows from lot to lot without leaving visible seams, so we ended up keeping the primary light source almost straight up to avoid casting shadows across the lots. Also, we changed the time of day with color instead of the position of the sun."
While the game's AI was programmed from scratch, the team incorporated Havok physics so the animals could wreak maximum destruction across the carefully manicured lawns, smashing up barbecue stands, golf carts, and everything else in their path. "The most exciting effects are in the mini-games, where players race remote-controlled cars," says lead programmer Jacob Meakin.
Over the Hedge was produced prior to the newly struck alliance between DreamWorks and Activision, and reflects many of the difficulties that have encumbered game development in the "pre-parallel development" era. Activision producer Steve Rosenthal is excited about the new partnership between DreamWorks and Activision, and its potential to achieve parallel production.
Back to top
While each developer used very different tools and techniques to meet the unique challenges of their games, there is a consensus among all of them on what is needed to improve film-based games. Many agree that instead of approaching the development of these products in a linear fashion (from license to film to game), using a model with the license at the core and all of the products fanning out from it—with lots of overlap, supporting and playing off each other to produce a cohesive entertainment experience—is the pathway to success. And the goal is to seamlessly continue and extend the enjoyment the audience has experienced with the license, film, or game.
Martin McEachern is an award-winning writer and contributing editor for Computer Graphics World. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Show All Answers
A variance is a relaxation to the terms or requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. A variance may be granted when conditions are unique to the property and not a result of the applicant's actions. The applicant must show a hardship that restricts the use of the property in a way that is not generally shared by other properties in the same zoning district and vicinity. Please note that this is not applicable to the lists of generally and specially permitted land uses for each district.
It is strongly recommended that you either submit a conceptual plan or set up a pre-application meeting to review the application process and answer questions. You must submit an application package which includes:
Applications must be received at least five weeks prior to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) meeting. Meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of each month.Prior to the BZA meeting, staff will review your application, make a site inspection and verify the information on your application for compliance with County codes and ordinances. Staff will consider the impact of the proposed variance on surrounding properties and the public welfare. Staff will incorporate their findings into a report for the BZA. Staff may recommend that the BZA place conditions on your application regarding the location, character, or any other features of your proposal. These conditions attempt to protect the public interest and lessen any potential impacts caused by your proposal. Staff will notify you in advance of the meeting of any recommended conditions. You will receive a copy of the staff report, including any recommendations, in advance of the BZA meeting.The Zoning Division will:
Staff will present your request to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and give their recommendations, including any conditions. After staff's presentation, you or your representative will have an opportunity to speak. Then the BZA will hold a public hearing where any citizen can speak about the application. After the public hearing is closed, the BZA will discuss the application and make their determination.If you are requesting a variance, the BZA will approve, deny, or defer your request. If the BZA does authorize a variance, it may place conditions on that approval. The BZA may condition any variance as it deems necessary to protect the public interest. These conditions may affect the location, character, or any other element of your proposal.If you are appealing a decision of the Zoning Administrator, the BZA will either uphold or overrule the Zoning Administrator.After the meeting, Zoning staff will notify you in writing of the BZA's decision, including any conditions placed on your application.
Yes. You have 30 days to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court. Call the Clerk of the Circuit court at 757-564-2242 for information.
The person who the court appoints to administer the estate for the decedent is called an executor if specified in the will or a personal representative if no executor was specified. Executors and personal representatives are also referred to generically as administrators or fiduciaries. Other people involved in the administration of estates include the Commissioner of Accounts (a local person appointed by the circuit court to oversee the administration of estates), the circuit court clerk and his or her deputies, and the circuit court judges.
The will (last will and testament) is a legal document drawn up by a person and/or his or her attorney to specify how a person's property should be distributed and who should administer the affairs of the estate. The List of Heirs is a legal document prepared by the estate's administrator that lists the people specified by the will and/or by law who are eligible to receive distributions from the estate. A copy of a document is certified by a circuit court deputy clerk to indicate that it is a true and complete copy of the original. An exemplified copy also contains the official seals of the judges and clerk of the circuit court.
To probate a will is to officially prove it as the authentic and valid last will and testament of the deceased and admit it to record. Qualification and appointment of a personal representative may or may not accompany probate. If a decedent owns real estate in multiple jurisdictions in Virginia, the will should be probated in the jurisdiction where he or she resided and then a certified copy recorded in the other jurisdictions. If real estate is owned in another state, an exemplified copy of the will must be probated in that state.
There are other contingent beneficiaries set out in the Code of Virginia.
The probate process takes about 15 minutes if the paperwork has been completed correctly, no changes are made at the time of the appointment, or a surety bond is required. Please note each probate is unique and subject to specific factors which may prolong or decrease the time.
If there is a will, but no executor is named or the specified executor refuses or ceases to serve, the circuit court may grant administration to an alternate executor or a beneficiary of the will.
If there is no will, the surviving spouse is given preference in the appointment of a personal representative, followed by the other natural distributees (children, parents, etc.). Anyone having an interest in the estate may qualify after 30 days.
Whoever is appointed as an executor must take an oath to faithfully perform the duties required and must give bond in an amount at least equal to the value of the estate. If the will does not waive surety, surety must be given on the bond.
Who can register to vote in Virginia? You may register to vote if you meet the following criteria:
Where can I find information on registering to vote? Your best source for information about registering to vote is the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Do we register by party in Virginia? No. Virginia does not have party registration. While a voter may vote in either primary, no voter can vote in both.
I registered to vote before my 18th birthday. Am I eligible to vote in the November election? If you turn 18 on or before the date of the general election in November (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November), you may vote in the general election and also in a primary election for federal offices held prior to that election.
I Have been convicted of a felony. Can I vote? Only if you have had your rights restored.
Any person convicted of a felony loses their right to vote in Virginia and that right can only be restored by the Governor of Virginia. You can find out more information, check the current status of your civil rights, and apply to have your rights restored through the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth Restoration Department can be contacted directly at 804-692-0104.
Once your rights have been restored you must register to vote before you can qualify to receive a ballot at the next election.
I lost my voter registration notice. Or: I submitted a voter registration application but did not receive a voter notification card. What can I do? You may call, email, or visit our office and request a duplicate be mailed.
Please note that Virginia law prohibits us from mailing voter registration cards to voters at any address other than their residence. We cannot print or provide voter registration cards to voters in person or electronically; these must be mailed out via USPS First Class Mail, so please allow adequate time for delivery.
How do I check my voter registration record or update my address or name? The easiest way is online through the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal. Alternatively, you may complete a paper application. For more information on voter registration, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website. If you need a paper application mailed to you call 757-259-4949.
My daughter/son is away at college. Can I register them to vote? No! A voter must complete their own application. It is a felony to impersonate someone else on an election document. They may register to vote in the locality where they are living while attending school or in James City County using their family's residence address.
I am moving out of James City County to another locality in Virginia. How do I change my voter registration address? You may update your registration information online through the Virginia Citizen Portal. Alternatively, you may complete a paper copy of a voter registration application to register to vote when you arrive in your new locality. This will automatically cancel your registration in James City County.
I am moving out of state. How do I cancel my voter registration? Download the "Request to Cancel Voter Registration" form to complete and mail or email our office.
I heard Virginia now offers "same day voter registration." To vote by placing your ballot in the voting machine yourself or to vote an absentee ballot by mail, you must register before the deadline ("close of books"), which is 22 days before Election Day.
After that date, Virginia offers same day registration (SDR) at voting locations as an option for residents who were unable to register before the deadline. At the time they register, these voters must vote a provisional ballot for consideration after Election Day by the James City County Electoral Board, which means their votes are not included in the election night results.
How does same day registration (SDR) work? After the standard deadline to register to vote (22 days before an election day), Virginia citizens may complete a voter registration form at the JCC Vote Center or on Election Day at the polling place for the precinct in which they reside and cast a provisional ballot. Virginia law requires a voter on Election Day to cast their provisional ballot at their polling place.
After completing a voter registration form, same day registration (SDR) voters mark a ballot, seal it in a provisional ballot envelope, then complete the required information on the outside of the envelope.
Provisional ballot envelopes are reviewed in the days following the election, and the Electoral Board determines which are to be counted. For the SDR ballot to be considered, both the voter registration form and the provisional ballot envelope must be completed fully and correctly.
Important: To place your ballot in the voting machine yourself or to vote absentee, you must register to vote prior to the standard deadline, 22 days before an election day.
To save time, may I register online after the standard deadline then go to a precinct polling location and vote a provisional ballot? No. All online (and mailed) registration applications submitted after the standard deadline are not processed until after Election Day. To register after the standard deadline, you must do so at a polling place and immediately vote a provisional ballot.
After the standard registration deadline date, Virginia offers same day registration (SDR) at polling places as an option for residents who were unable to register before the deadline. At the time they register, these voters must vote a provisional ballot for consideration after Election Day by the James City County Electoral Board, which means their votes are not included in the election night results.
What are the rules for keeping voter registration lists current? There are several laws regarding voter registration lists that we strictly follow. The Virginia Department of Elections provides additional information on how Virginia maintains voter lists in accordance with laws and standards.
If someone doesn't vote in elections for many years, will they be made inactive or removed from the voter list? No. There is no requirement for a registered voter to vote.
What is an "inactive voter?" This is a voter who we suspect has moved because their election mail has been returned as "undeliverable" or "return to sender" and they haven't responded to a letter asking them to confirm their address. Alternatively, the voter may have appeared in the National Change of Address or other database provided to the Virginia Department of Elections that indicates that they have moved.
If an inactive voter does not vote for two federal general elections, they will be removed from the voter list.
Can an "inactive" voter become active again? Yes. They either complete an Affirmation of Eligibility statement at the polling place when they go to vote, declaring they are a qualified and registered voter, or they submit a new voter registration application.
How does address confirmation mailing work? Address confirmation mailings include a postage prepaid envelope and a form for voters to use to confirm whether their address did or did not change, or to request that the general registrar cancel their registration, as appropriate.
What happens after a voter becomes "inactive" as a result of the confirmation process? Following each federal general election, the Virginia Department of Elections cancels individuals who have been on the inactive list without voting in two federal general elections.
Voters who have been designated as "inactive" through the confirmation process may still cast a ballot on Election Day, under certain conditions. These voters are required to complete an Affirmation of Eligibility statement declaring they are a qualified and registered voter of the polling place at which they are present. They will be checked in to the pollbook by election officers and permitted to vote. Their status in the statewide database will be changed automatically to "active."
Are there any other methods used by the Virginia Department of Elections in the confirmation and cancellation process for the voter lists? In addition to the processes outlined above, when the Virginia Department of Elections receives information from federal or state agencies regarding a voter's qualifications to vote as registered have changed, the local general registrar is notified through the statewide database to take action.
What do I do with election mail I receive that is addressed to someone who does not live at my address? Write on the front of the envelope "Return to Sender – Not at this address" and give to the mail carrier to return to us.
By returning mail to us, you are providing official confirmation that the address for a voter is incorrect or no longer valid and enabling us to take action.
Only when we receive mail marked "undeliverable" or "return to sender," are we able to flag the voter in the statewide database to receive an address confirmation mailing from the Department of Elections. We may only update a voter's address or immediately remove someone from the voter list after we receive a signed statement or official form from the voter stating they have moved.
Note that overseas and military voters must use the address of their last residence as their voter registration address, regardless of the number of years they have lived overseas. It is possible that you could receive election mail for someone who no longer lives at your address but who is still a qualified voter.
What does James City County Office of Elections do with undeliverable mail? When election mail is returned to our office as "undeliverable" or "return to sender" by the Post Office, our voter registration staff make an entry in the voter's record on the statewide voter database that flags the voter for inclusion in the next address confirmation mailing. Additionally, the front of the envelope is scanned and uploaded to the voter's record in the statewide voter database.
What does an individual voter need to do to be removed from the list of registered voters? Individual voters must submit a signed request to have their voter registration canceled. When a completed official Request to Cancel Voter Registration form is received in our office, the voter's registration is canceled. We send a cancellation confirmation letter to the voter's residence address.
What happens if a registered voter responds "No" to the citizenship question when completing a form for the DMV? § 24.2-410.1 requires the DMV to ask all customers to identify their citizenship status. On a regular basis, the DMV shares the list of individuals who responded "No" to the citizenship question with the Virginia Department of Elections. The list is compared to the list of existing registered voters, and any potential matches are provided to the appropriate local general registrar for further review and processing.
Through the statewide voter database, Virginia Department of Elections provides us with a list of individuals who responded "No" to the DMV citizenship question. Based on state law, we send these individuals a Notice of Intent to Cancel letter along with an Affirmation of Citizenship form. If an individual does not return a signed Affirmation of Citizenship form within 14 days, the statewide database automatically removes them from the list of registered voters. If the individual is a citizen entitled to vote in James City County and they did not return the Affirmation of Citizenship form during the required time period, they may complete a new voter registration application in the future.
How are deceased individuals removed from the list of registered voters? Pursuant to § 24.2-404.3 and 24.2-408, the Virginia Department of Elections is required to ensure that voters who have died are removed from the voter registration list in a timely manner. § 24.2-404.3 requires the Virginia Department of Elections to conduct a match of the voter registration list against the list of deceased persons maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA distributes its death records through the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Technical Information Service (NTIS). §24.2-408 requires the Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) at the Virginia Department of Health to provide the Virginia Department of Elections a monthly list of those who have died in the previous month. Currently, the BVS uploads a monthly file to the Virginia Department of Elections containing these records.
The data from NTIS and BVS is loaded into the Virginia voter registration system regularly. The records are matched automatically against existing registered voters. Any potential matches are provided to the responsible local general registrar for further review and processing.
Each month, the Virginia Department of Elections uses VERIS to provide James City County and other localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia the names of deceased individuals on their voter lists for local general registrars to remove from the list of registered voters.
Additionally, the local general registrar's office may cancel a voter when a death certificate is presented, or a Report of Death of Registered Voter form has been submitted. The statewide database generates a cancellation letter expressing condolences to "The Family of" the deceased former voter for the local general registrar's office to print and mail.
How are mentally incapacitated voters removed from the list of registered voters? Pursuant to § 24.2-410, the Clerks of the Circuit Courts send Virginia Department of Elections a paper based monthly report indicating any individuals who were adjudicated mentally incapacitated. Each month, we receive this information from the Circuit Court then we take the appropriate action to remove individuals from the list of registered voters.
How do the political parties, organizations, and candidates get my name and know that I am a voter? Virginia law allows certain groups and individuals, including political parties, candidates, certain non-profit organizations, and incumbent officeholders, to obtain voter lists and lists of people who voted in a given election for use with political activity from the Department of Elections.
I registered to vote before my 18th birthday. Am I eligible to vote in the November election? If you turn 18 on or before the date of the general election in November (the first Tuesday in November), you may vote in the general election, and you may vote in a primary election for federal offices held that year before that election.
Do I need a photo ID to vote? No, you do not need a photo ID to vote in-person, but you do need an ID to check in. See what IDs are acceptable.
What if I don't have an ID with me? If you don't have an acceptable ID, you may complete an ID Confirmation Statement, which serves as an acceptable ID and will allow you to check in and vote. Alternatively, you may vote a provisional ballot and provide a copy of your ID to the Office of Elections before noon on the Friday after the election.
However, first time voters in a federal election who register by mail are required by federal law to present an ID, § 24.2-701.1
What is a provisional ballot? A provisional ballot is a ballot used to record the vote of an individual whose eligibility to vote cannot be confirmed at the polling place on election day by election officers or the general registrar.
If the election officers and general registrar cannot find your name in the pollbook or there is a question regarding your eligibility to vote (such as you received an absentee ballot) then a provisional ballot will be utilized. A provisional ballot is designed to protect your right to vote by allowing you to submit a ballot that will be counted if the underlying question of your eligibility can be resolved.
Additionally, if you go to your polling place and do not have proper ID, you will be given the option to complete an ID Confirmation Statement form or to vote a provisional ballot. You will receive a notice of steps to follow to provide your ID by the required deadline to ensure your vote will be counted.
How do I find out where I vote on Election Day? On the Department of Elections Citizen Portal, "Find your polling place." On Election Day, you MUST vote at the polling place where you are assigned to vote.
I moved. Do I vote on Election Day at the polling place where I used to live or where I live now? You need to go to the polling place where you are assigned to vote. Look up your voter information on the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal.
Can I vote in-person after I received an absentee mailed ballot? May I vote early or on Election Day? If you change your mind and want to vote in-person after you have been mailed an absentee ballot, it is permitted. However, the process will take additional time.
During Early Voting - Voters who change their mind about absentee voting by mail have two options, only available at the JCC Vote Center during the early voting period which is 45 days prior to Election Day.
On Election Day - If you have your mailed absentee ballot,
If you do not have your ballot, you will need to complete additional paperwork then you will be offered a provisional ballot. This ensures that there is only one ballot per voter is counted. Provisional ballots are then reviewed and counted at the Election Canvass by the Electoral Board after noon on the Friday following the election (except when Veteran's Day is on Friday then the Electoral Board Canvass is after noon on Monday).
What is a primary? A primary election is the method by which the party determines who will represent them on the ballot in the November General Election. While a voter may vote in either primary, no voter can vote in both.
Who can vote in a primary? All registered voters are eligible to vote in either primary, but not both.
Can I vote in both primaries? Who may Vote in a Primary states that "No person shall vote for the candidates of more than one party." While a voter may vote in either primary, no voter can vote in both.
Why am I asked at the polling place "In which party primary would you like to vote?" The two primaries are actually two separate elections. State law requires separate ballots for each party's primary. The question must be asked and answered so that the voter will receive the ballot requested. Your choice of primary does not mean that you will be "registered" with that party or that you are required to vote for that party in November.
What accommodations do you have for disabled voters? All polling places (early voting in-person and Election Day) offer:
If you require assistance at the polling place, someone may help you with your ballot after you both complete and sign the Request for Assistance form, available at the polling place. If you do not have an assistant with you, you may ask an election officer to serve as your assistant.
Marking a ballot is difficult for me. May I bring someone with me to help? Or to translate? Yes. They will be required to complete a Request for Assistance form before they may assist you.
Do I need to vote for every contest on the ballot? Or may I leave some blank? You are not required to vote for someone in every contest or mark every issue on the ballot. Your ballot will be accepted, and only the votes you marked will be counted.
If I make a mistake on my ballot, what do I do? Completely fill in all of the candidate/referendum black oval(s) on the ballot, mark the ballot "Spoiled" across your ballot and take it to the Chief Election Officer to exchange for a new ballot.
I was turned away at the polling place and was not offered a provisional ballot. What can I do? If you were turned away because you were at the wrong polling place, then you will need to vote at the polling place that is associated with the voter registration address. You can look up the polling place address using Polling Place Lookup.
If you were turned away for any other reason, return to your polling place and ask to vote with a provisional ballot.
How do I file a complaint? If you have a complaint related to your registration or voting experience, the law provides several options for you to take action.
Be sure to provide as much information as you can in the complaint. The complaint will be sent to the Department of Elections and to your general registrar.
May I bring my children into the voting booth with me? Yes, if they are aged 15 or younger. Older children are allowed in the voting room but must sign a Request for Assistance form to accompany a voter into the voting booth or provide assistance.
May I take a selfie of myself voting? And a picture of my voted ballot? Yes, but you may not include any other voter in the photograph without their permission.
Must I be inside the polling place on Election Day before 7 p.m. to be allowed to vote? Not necessarily. Anyone in line at 7 p.m., in front of the designed election officer at the end of the line, is permitted to vote.
Where can I see election results and turnout figures for past elections? You may find these figures at Virginia Department of Elections.
How many polling places are there in James City County? James City County has 18 polling places. You may see registration statistics on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Where can I vote early in-person? Unlike Election Day voting, anyone may vote at the JCC Vote Center.
Do I need a reason to vote early in-person? No. Any registered voter may vote early in-person.
Do I need to fill out an absentee application if I plan to vote early in-person? No, an absentee ballot application is not used for early voting in-person.
However, to vote in-person, you will need to provide your full legal name, current residence address and present an acceptable ID, just as you would at your polling place on Election Day. If you don't have an acceptable ID, you may complete an ID Confirmation Statement, which serves as an acceptable ID and will allow you to check in and vote. Alternatively, you may vote a provisional ballot and provide a copy of your ID to the Office of Elections before noon on the Friday after the election. (except when Veteran's Day is on Friday then the Electoral Board Canvass is after noon on Monday).
If I vote early in-person at the Vote Center, when is my ballot counted? Your ballot is counted when you feed it into the voting machine. However, the votes on the voting machines are not disclosed and reported until after 7 p.m. on election night.
Fireworks are illegal in James City County. Professional fireworks displays are conducted with a permit issued by the Fire Marshal's Office.
No. It is our policy that callers are not required to give their name when calling 911. As a part of protocol, the Emergency Communications Officer will ask you for your name. However, if you do not wish to provide your name, please inform the Emergency Communications Officer.
Unfortunately, health insurance premiums continue to rise regardless of whether or not a community decides to bill for EMS transports. Such factors as prescription drug coverage, litigation, technology improvements in the medical field and depressed insurance company investment returns have resulted in escalating health insurance premium costs. However, ambulance transport costs represent less than 1% of health care expenditures. Many other local governments in Virginia have implemented a revenue recovery program for ambulance transport fees, and they have reported no evidence that EMS billing increases health insurance premiums.
Current charges are $1,024.26 for Advanced Life Support-2 (ALS-2; an example is care which involves surgical interventions); $707.67 for Advanced Life Support (ALS-1; an example is response to chest pains); and $595.94 for Basic Life Service (BLS; which is the basic level of care provided). A charge of $12.03 per mile, from the location of the incident to the hospital, will also be part of each bill. You will not be charged for the distance the ambulance must travel from the fire station to get to you.
Existing records prepared by or in the possession of a public body or its officers or employees in the ordinary transaction of public business. All public records are presumed to be open and are withheld only if a specific exemption applies. You will be notified if any requested records are being withheld and the reason for the withholding of any records, including the appropriate authority (law or code section) which permits the City to withhold such records. Although the City strives to help you as much as possible, FOIA does not require that the City create records that do not already exist or answer general questions.
You may submit a records request in several ways:
The County asks that the name and address of the requester be provided so that it can be determined to whom to send the information, but also so that the County can determine whether the person requesting the information is entitled to request records under the law. Your request must also be reasonably specific so that the records you are seeking can be identified and located.
You may request records in any format used by the County, such as paper, email or electronic means. The County can provide the records requested to you by mail or email, or you can arrange to personally retrieve copies of the records.
The County may charge for any requested records. The County is permitted to charge only for the actual costs of responding to your request. You may request that the County tells you in advance what the anticipated costs will be for supplying the records. If the estimated costs exceed $200, you may be required to pay before processing your request. Additionally, if you owe the County money from a previous request that has remained unpaid for more than 30 days, the County will require you to pay the past-due bill before processing any subsequent records requests.
A public body may make reasonable charges not to exceed its actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying or searching for the requested records. No public body shall impose any extraneous, intermediary or surplus fees or expenses to recoup the general costs associated with creating or maintaining public records or transacting the general business of the public body. Any duplicating fee charged by a public body shall not exceed the actual cost of duplication. All charges for the supplying of requested records shall be estimated in advance at the request of the citizen as set forth in subsection F of § 2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective July 1, 2022 - Per Code of VA 2.2-3704 (F), public bodies are required to inform requesters that the public body may make reasonable charges not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying or searching for requested records, and shall ask the requester whether they wish to receive a cost estimate in advance of supplying the requested records. A cost estimate shall be provided if requested. If, after receiving the cost estimate, the requester would like the County to proceed with the records request, the staff time required to determine the cost estimate will be applied to the final amount due. If the requester does not respond to the County's question within 30 days, the request will be deemed withdrawn.
Other charges besides those listed may be applicable, including storage retrieval, professional printing, microfilm, printing, etc.
The City's FOIA Officer is:
The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council is a state agency that can answer any questions you may have about FOIA. The Council may be contacted by email at firstname.lastname@example.com, or toll-free by phone at 1-866-448-4100.
The text of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act is available online, or we can provide you with a copy upon request.
The Local Government Officials' Guide to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act is a 36-page printed booklet with more than 100 questions and answers about FOIA. We have purchased a limited supply and can provide you with one free copy for personal use.
James City County's elected constitutional officers: Commonwealth's Attorney, Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue, Registrar and Sherriff and Circuit Court are the legal custodians of their own respective records, and have separate disclosure exemptions applicable to some of their records. If we receive a request for records that are held by one of those officials, we will refer the requester to that official.
Contact constitutional offices below:
Circuit Court Clerk Mona A. Foley, Elizabeth O'Connor, 757-564-2358 (direct) 757-564-2242 (main office) Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court 5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite 6 Williamsburg, VA 23188
Commissioner of the Revenue Richard Bradshaw email@example.com 757-253-6695
Commonwealth's Attorney Jill Kean firstname.lastname@example.com 757-564-2277 (office) 757-564-2288 (fax) 5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite 4 Williamsburg, VA 23188-8213
Office of Elections Dianna S. Moorman firstname.lastname@example.com 757-253-6868
Sherriff David Hardin firstname.lastname@example.com 757 564-2220
Treasurer email@example.com 757-253-6705
You can pay County bills using our online payment system.
You can find job listings and submit applications through the
Use our Recyclopedia tool to look up a waste item and we'll tell you how to recycle or dispose of it.
Request Curbside Recycling ServicesOur curbside recycling program serves approximately 25,000 homes. If you live in the service area, a recycling cart and brochure will be delivered to your home upon request. Enroll in the County's curbside recycling program or call the recycling hotline at 757-253-6700 to determine if curbside recycling is available in your area. Curbside collection is provided bi-weekly. View the recycling schedule for your home.
Convenience CentersFree separated recycling drop-off available at all 3 recycling convenience centers:
The County does not provide curbside trash pickup, but citizens have 2 options for trash disposal:
The County's curbside recycling program serves approximately 25,000 homes. If you live in the service area, a recycling cart and brochure will be delivered to your home upon request. Enroll in the County's curbside recycling program or call the recycling hotline at 757-253-6700 to determine if curbside recycling is available in your area. Curbside collection is provided bi-weekly. View the recycling schedule for your home.
Read our guidebook for investing in the County's future and learn more about goals, capital projects and operational initiatives on our
Yes, at this time, all customers may still place glass in the curbside carts, however it will not contribute towards the Glass-only Recycling program.
As long as the broken glass is container glass (food and beverage bottles and jars) it may be placed in purple bins, however you may want to throw it away to avoid injury.
Emptying liquids and rinsing food residue prevents recyclables from attracting wildlife and pests at your home (kitchen, garage, curbside), in the purple bins and throughout transport and processing. During the recycling process, glass is melted in a furnace, so organic residue will burn off; however too much residue can alter the chemical formula of the glass.
In-tact glass windows, sliding doors and mirrors can be dropped off to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (ReStore) on Jamestown Road. Most thrift stores accept usable Pyrex, pottery and ceramics. Incandescent, LED and halogen light bulbs can be thrown in the trash. Fluorescent bulbs (including CFLs) can be brought to Home Depot, Lowe's or a VPPSA Household Chemical Collections for proper disposal (they contain mercury).
This program has no additional cost implications to the County. The bins were provided by O-I Glass, and the County received a competitive grant from the DEQ for promotional materials (buckets, information cards, promotional materials, etc.). The County delivers the purple bins to O-I in Toano, but it is closer than the MRF in Chesapeake, where the co-mingled material is transported. Since glass is the heaviest material, removing it from the co-mingled material saves the County in transportation costs.
The United Way of the Greater Peninsula provides funding to multiple community organizations, which allows for the donation to be dispersed to various programs within James City County. Please visit their website to learn about their Pathways Out of Poverty mission.
O-I Glass has had a manufacturing plant in James City County since 1980. Please visit their website or their Sustainability page to learn more specifically about their glass recycling efforts.
On average, each person uses 90 gallons of water per day. To calculate your average household usage, multiply the amount of residents in your house by 90 and then multiply that number by the amount of days in your billing cycle. You may expect an above-average usage if you have a pool or hot tub, irrigate your lawn or pressure clean frequently.
HRUBS is a cost effective billing service provided by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) that bills JCSA customers for their water, sewer and HRSD charges. This cooperative agreement allows customers to receive one combined bill for water, sewer and sewer treatment charges Commercial and Residential Customers are billed monthly. James City County's Newport News Water Works customers receive their water bill separate from their sewer and sewer treatment bill and are billed monthly.
There are several options to stop or start service:
Every connection in your waterline has the potential for a leak, especially if pipes are old or exposed to freezing temperatures. Pipes that are located in vanities or cupboards under sinks should be checked periodically for leaks. Supply lines to toilets should be checked for water dripping at the connection to the tank. If crawl spaces are accessible, you can check for pooling water under your house indicating a possible leak. Not all drips are indications of a leak, condensation may form on cold water supply lines.
Faucets: Most leaks result from worn washers which allow faucets to drip or leak. Faucets, as well as hose bibbs or seldom used taps in crawl spaces or basements, should be checked periodically.
Toilets: Flappers that are worn and do not close properly will allow for water to leak unnecessarily into the toilet bowl. Usually you will hear the water trickling intermittently from the tank to the bowl. If you do not hear water leaking, you can test the flapper by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait for about 20 minutes without flushing. If the food coloring appears in the bowl, then your toilet has a silent leak.
If you are relocating and need to cancel or start your water or sewer service, call our Customer Service at 757-253-6800 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Deposits and stains are the results of naturally occurring minerals in our water. Although these minerals are in trace amounts, over time they can leave deposits on fixtures, toilets, sinks and tubs. Applying a commercial car wax so that the water runs off the fixtures and cleaning fixtures regularly will go a long way to reducing the deposits. Do not allow the water to evaporate leaving the minerals behind. Products found at hardware and grocery stores that are advertised as hardness stain removers are effective. A home treatment system like a water softener or reverse osmosis will remove the minerals that cause these stains, but water softeners can increase sodium levels. Stains and deposits do not mean that your water is not safe to drink.
Prevent frozen water pipes and breaks in your home during freezing temperatures by following these preparedness tips:
For more information on preventing frozen pipes, please visit our informational page.
FOG stands for Fats, Oils and Grease and is found or produced in kitchen areas and garages. The main contribution of FOG is from discharge of used grease from cooking processes, but can also be caused by machinery lubricants discharged into floor drains.Many of the foods we eat contain FOG. These include meats, sauces, salad dressings, deep-fried dishes, cookies, pastries, batters, icings, dairy products, butter and many others. Generally, food scraps washed down the drain also contribute to FOG in the sewers. Grease accumulation in the sewer system causes obstruction by constricting flow of the sewer pipes, and interfering with the normal operation of your community wastewater treatment system.
FOG is certainly a community issue. To learn about the harmful impact FOG can have on community health and your neighborhood, please visit the Health Hazards page.
Problems caused by waste from restaurants and other grease-producing establishments, have served as the basis for ordinances governing the discharge of grease materials to the sanitary sewer system. This type of waste has forced the requirement of the installation of preliminary treatment facilities, commonly known as a Grease Control Device (GCD). GCD's include gravity grease interceptors (GGI's), and hydromechanical grease interceptors (HGI's), also known as grease traps.
Gravity Grease Interceptors (GGI) are usually larger (up to 2000 gallons), made from concrete, and located outside underground. Like HGIs, these interceptors are also designed to separate and retain FOG and solids while allowing the remaining wastewater to be discharged to the sanitary sewer.
HGI's are typically small and located indoors. These devices are designed for separating and retaining the FOG and settled solids while allowing water to continue to flow at a designated flow rate into the sanitary sewer using gravity. Newer HGIs made from polycarbonate plastic are tested and rated to breakdown and retain a high capacity of grease.
Newer HGI's and older model grease traps are smaller sized reservoirs built into wastewater piping typically a short distance from the grease producing area. This is normally an under sink box-shaped fixture located in the kitchen, though they can also be installed in the service area floor. They typically have a liquid capacity of not more than 20-30 gallons. Reservoir baffles retain the wastewater long enough to allow the grease to solidify and rise to the surface. Building staff can then remove and dispose the grease properly, either in a building exterior grease collection tub, or in the trash. Due to the nature of this system being so limited in size, constant monitoring and maintenance an absolute must.
Read about gravity grease interceptors and how they work by visiting the Grease Interceptors page.
Read about Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors (HGI) and how they work by visiting the Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors page.
For the purpose of the regulatory requirements of the JCSA's Fats Oil and Grease (FOG) Program, an FSE is any commercial, industrial, institutional, or food processing facility discharging kitchen or food preparation wastewaters including, but not limited to, restaurants, commercial kitchens, caterers, motels, hotels, cafeterias, correctional facilities, prisons or jails, care institutions, hospitals, schools, bars, and churches. Any establishment engaged in preparing, serving, or otherwise making food available for consumption by the public shall be included. Such establishments use one or more of the following preparation activities: cooking by frying (all methods), baking (all methods), grilling, sautéing, rotisserie cooking, broiling, boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting, or poaching. Also included are infrared heating, searing, barbequing, and other preparation activity that produces a hot, non-drinkable food product in or on a receptacle that requires washing.
As of October of 2020, all new and existing Food Service Establishments (FSE's) that are served by the JCSA sewer collection system are required to have a grease control device (GCD). This will include businesses, establishments, and properties that may lie outside of James City County but are connected to the JCSA sewer collection system. The GCD shall be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the International Plumbing Code. Additionally, the JCSA Fats, Oil and Grease Program and Policy and the Hampton Roads Regional Technical Standards for Grease Control Devices provide direction and guidance for proper sizing and maintenance frequency. These requirements can change if the JCSA continues to discover grease buildup, or blockages in the downstream sewer line that requires maintenance from the JCSA.
Further federal and regional directives and guidelines may also apply as set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD). James City County and Virginia State codes prohibit the discharge of materials that can solidify and create blockages in the wastewater collection system or treatment plants. The VDH makes periodic inspections to see that no health problems exist due to improperly maintained grease interceptors. The JCSA has an ongoing program of inspection and verification of correct preventive maintenance procedures.
Gravity Grease Interceptors shall be pumped out completely when the total accumulation of FOG, including floating solids and settled solids, reaches 25% of the overall liquid volume. At a minimum, Gravity Grease Interceptors shall be cleaned once every three (3) months unless approved in writing by the General Manager for good cause shown. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis upon submittal of a request by the FSE, documenting reasons for the proposed frequency variance.
Existing older types of grease traps and grease removal devices shall be opened, inspected, and completely cleaned of food solids and FOG a minimum of once per week, unless otherwise approved in writing by the General Manager for good cause shown. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis upon submittal of a request by the FSE documenting reasons for the proposed frequency variance. In no event shall the content of food solids and FOG exceed 25% of the overall liquid depth of the device.
Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors shall be cleaned before their maximum capacity is reached as established by the manufacturer in accordance with test reports validated by a third party. The maintenance frequency shall be determined in accordance with the sizing and selection requirements for HGIs in the Hampton Roads Regional Technical Standards for Grease Control Devices. At no time shall an HGI be cleaned less frequently than once every 3 months, or as otherwise approved in writing by the General Manager.
At least one staff member or employee must obtain the regional FOG Certification. The certification program is free and is available online at the HRFog website.
The facility manager can contact the JCSA Regulatory Compliance Office at 757-259-4138. If you don't have a grease control device (GCD) and need to install one, the property owner will be required to file for a permit for device installation. This may be done through JCC Building Safety and Permits office located in the James City County Government Center, 101 Mounts Bay Road, Building E. or online via Permitlink. This ensures proper installation with an accredited plumbing contractor for a correctly sized grease collection device that will meet the code requirements, the Hampton Roads Regional Technical Standards for Grease Control Devices and the JCSA Fats, Oil and Grease Program and Policy. Additionally, the facility should follow the administrative and maintenance instructions provided in the two aforementioned Regulatory Guidance documents.
Food Service Establishments (FSE's) shall maintain records of cleanings, and yellow grease disposal recycling pickups for a minimum of 3 years. This is an important requirement that will be looked at during routine and or random inspections. Sample forms to assist with maintaining your required records are available from HRPDC and can located here: (Grease Control Device Cleaning/Maintenance Log and Yellow Grease Disposal Log).
If a FSE uses or generates FOG in food preparation, it will eventually encounter a maintenance problem with a plugged building sewer line. The blockage can create a sewer backup situation and ultimately a potential health problem within the establishment. If the problem develops on the private side of the sewer line, then the establishment has direct responsibility for paying for the repair or remediation. If the grease blockage is in the public sewer main, and it can be proven that the establishment is the cause of the blockage, then the establishment could pay for the public sewer to be maintained. Additionally, HRSD (Hampton Roads Sanitation District) will be notified and can place a monitoring station on your sewer outflow. Should they discover excessive FOG amounts, an additional charge will be added to the facility utility bill. Please note that restricting or blocking a sanitary sewer line is considered a violation of the federal Clean Water Act.
JCSA will randomly inspect FSEs without advance notice and with inspectors observing the normal operations at the FSE. This is also to ensure that BMPs are properly implemented. During inspection, they will ask for maintenance logs and manifest records (receipts) from licensed grease haulers and recyclers. These records will verify compliance with proper waste disposal requirements. All records of cleanings should be maintained for 3 years. The JCSA also utilizes CCTV footage of the sewer lines found during routine maintenance. This footage can pinpoint the exact source of FOG and is utilized to assist with mitigating problem areas that are caused by FOG.
The JCSA prefers to resolve the FOG problems through informative discussions and follow actions undergone by the customer. However, if it is found that a customer is introducing FOG into the sewer collection system and or is not performing the proper maintenance actions to alleviate FOG from entering the sewer system, there are fees and fines that will be imposed. More information about these charges can be found in the JCSA Fats, Oil and Grease Program and Policy.
All food service establishments (FSEs) suspected of causing problems to the collection system or treatment facilities may be subject to random inspections. The JCSA utilizes both random inspections and CCTV footage of the sewer lines found during routine maintenance to assist with mitigating problem areas that are caused by FOG. For more information, please visit the Interceptor Maintenance page.
Garbage disposals do not keep grease out of your sewer system, nor will it prevent grease from building up. Products such as detergents that claim to dissolve grease will pass the grease down the pipeline and cause problems elsewhere. In short, you may remove it from your immediate vicinity but you will only help to create a larger problem downstream.
The JCSA has partnered with our regional municipalities to help provide educational outreach through the askHRgreen.org program. Together we have created a residential grease abatement program that educates and informs residents about the effects of dumping oil and grease down the kitchen sink. Protect your community and preserve your environment. Doing so will be a financial benefit to you, your home, and your quality of life. For more information, please visit the Fat Free Drains website.
For a quick tutorial on using SignUp.com click below:
How to use Signup.com
Parks & Recreation staff updates the field closing hotline on weekdays by 3 p.m. After this time and on weekends, cancellation is up to league officials. The hotline number is 757-259-3237.
Hiking trails are located at:
Mountain bike trails are located at:
There are walking trails at:
The Waller Mill Dog Park is located in the City of Williamsburg. It is operated by Williamsburg Parks & Recreation and is jointly funded by Williamsburg and James City. It is available to all Williamsburg and James City County residents.
Permits may be obtained and inspections scheduled online through JCC PermitLink.
Yes. The fee is based on a schedule adopted by the Board of Supervisors. This fee schedule is available from the Building Safety and Permits Division, the Satellite Services Office, or Community Development.
If you have all the information required including final site plan approval, it may take about 30 business days to review the plans and issue the permit (this time may vary depending on workload).
Permits may become void if no work is accomplished during any 6-month period.
Please consult our Development Procedures page.
PermitLink enables you to search for development cases in multiple ways (by street name, tax map number, case type or number, and more) and lets you access basic case information, check on the status of review, and view agency comments related to the selected case.
James City County must advertise and post signs on the property for all rezoning and special use permit applications that will be heard by the Planning Commission. Try to write down the number on the sign or note the road the sign is on or a nearby landmark. Use PermitLink to search for the case by street or subdivision name or case number. Alternatively, you can either call the Planning Division to find out additional information or come into the office to view the case file and submitted plans.
Official survey plats are required as part of the building permit, conceptual plan, site plan, variance, rezoning, special use permit, and master plan application submittal packages. The Planning Division does not keep a copy of the recorded plat on file. If you are unable to obtain a plat from the current property owner (normally produced with property deed or land title) here are several options:
Applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to a scheduled meeting to be placed on the Planning Commission agenda. The Planning Commission usually meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Please view the Planning calendar for the most current meeting schedule.
James City County designates all land to one of the 15 zoning districts outlined in the Zoning Ordinance. Certain land uses are allowed in each district, and the rules governing each zoning district vary.Sometimes, a parcel of land must have its zoning district designation changed to develop or use that land in a certain fashion. The process of changing a parcel's zoning district is called a rezoning. The rezoning procedure helps the Planning Division, Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors take a closer look at a zoning change. This includes the proposed zone's compatibility with existing zones, surrounding development, and the County Comprehensive Plan.
Learn more about Police oversight, training, background checks, use of force and more.
Report a crime in progress by calling 757-566-0112 or 911 if an emergency. Crimes must be reported by phone; crimes should not be reported via email or social media.
You can call 888-LOCK-U-UP (888-562-5887) or online at p3tips.com.
Magistrates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They may be reached by phone at 757-820-3951 or 804-652-1217.
Necessary county services, such as schools, police, and fire protection, are supported by tax revenue from the County. Real estate assessments are how localities fairly distribute the tax burden among all property owners. The distribution from the assessment is proportionally based on the market value of individual properties.
Reassessments of all parcels in JCC are done every two years. The next reassessment will be in Jan. 2024.
The 2022 Assessment goes into effect Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) which begins July 1, 2022. The first bill for the 2022/FY2023 assessment is due in December 2022, and the second half in June 2023.
Assessments are determined using actual sales data from valid sales within a property's neighborhood or comparable neighborhoods from homes that have sold over the past 2 years.Sometimes, there may be a substantial increase or decrease in the assessed value of a specific property when it doesn't seem like there have been any meaningful changes to the property. Periodically, we review neighborhoods for accuracy and update our records accordingly. There is a chance that some information on a specific property was incorrect and has been updated.Additionally, the assessed value of a particular parcel may be more or less than the County average. This is because the County average takes into account all parcels in a neighborhood and how they relate as a whole. A specific neighborhood may move more or less than the County average amount based on sales.Your assessor can be contacted for specific concerns related to a particular property.
James City County does offer an exemption program for elderly and disabled property owners, provided that specific criteria are met. More information on this program can be obtained through the
Most property information can be found and printed via the James City County Property Information System website. Visiting the property information website is the best first step for finding property records information relating to a particular parcel. If you need assistance, please call the Mapping Office at 757-253-6650 or visit in person to get your information.
All deeds are stored at the James City County Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 5201 Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg, and the phone number is 757-564-2242.
Recorded plats are stored in the James City County Courthouse. The Real Estate Assessments Division has access to scans of these documents and can provide them assuming they are available through the Courthouse records. These scans are copies of legally recorded maps or surveys, they are not certified copies and not legal documents. To get a certified copy of the Legally Recorded plat, you will have to go through the courthouse. The courthouse is located at 5201 Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg, and the phone number is 757-564-2242.
Unfortunately many of the items that residents were previously putting in their cart were not supposed to go in there in the first place (on average 25% of what we put in our cart is not recyclable). We are cleaning up the recycling stream with this new program and all of our outreach and education. Consumers need to do their part by knowing what is and isn't recyclable rather than just "wishful recycling" that clogs up the waste stream, breaks equipment and makes recycling more expensive.
Here's what you can put in your cart:
Visit our accepted recyclables page to search for ways to recycle and dispose of waste items.
Unfortunately, yogurt cup containers are no longer recyclable. This is a repercussion of the international trade restrictions that were recently enacted because those items used to be sent overseas for recycling and there is no longer a market for them. Hopefully, domestic markets will open up and we will be able to add those items back into our recycling stream. For now all we can do is focus on reducing and reusing!
Use our new Recyclopedia tool to search for other waste items, and we'll tell you how to recycle or dispose of them.
Shredded paper is not allowed in the curbside cart with one exception–if the shredded paper is in long strips (not crosscut into short strips or confetti) it can be placed in a paper bag and put into the curbside recycling cart. Otherwise it needs to be disposed of in the regular trash.
We accept only #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs. This includes water bottles, sports drink bottles, laundry detergent containers, shampoo bottles and any other plastic container with a neck. However, those numbers on the bottoms of containers can be misleading so the best way for consumers to recycle correctly it to pay attention to the shape. The majority of plastic bottles and jugs are #1 and #2.
Plastics #3-7 are not accepted at this time. Unfortunately the chemical makeup of these items leads them to be unmarketable to the manufacturers that are making new items out of recycled materials. Several Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have accepted these items for the past few years, but there isn't a market for them at this time.
Numbers 3-7 will not be accepted. Unfortunately, the chemical makeup of these items lead them to be unmarketable to the manufacturers that are making new items out of recycled materials at this time.
The only items that are being excluded (that were included before) are plastic containers such as yogurt cups and clamshells because there simply isn't a market for those materials at this time. The good news is that these are a small percentage of our recycling stream. All of the items that we currently accept have always made up the majority of the items in the cart.
We are simply asking folks to pay attention to the shape of the plastic rather than the number to keep it simple and minimize confusion. We accept any plastic bottles and jugs (water bottles, sports drink bottles, laundry detergent containers, shampoo bottles and any other plastic container with a neck). This does include #1 and #2 plastics but those numbers on the bottoms of containers can be misleading and were created by the plastics industry to identify the chemical compounds that the materials are made of. The best way for consumers to recycle correctly it to pay attention to the shape.
Plastic bottles and jugs are the only ones that are marketable for recycling. The recycling industry is working hard to look for new markets so as they become available, we will definitely be adding more materials back into the stream.
View or download and print our Curbside Recycling Program brochure.
The number of plastics with a neck that are not #1 and #2 are minimal so the Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) can easily weed them out. Here is the technical explanation:
Plastics #1 and #2 with a neck are the only plastic containers that hold any value on the recycling commodities market at this time. Bottles with a neck are blow molded and melted at a certain temperature. Plastic bottles without a neck are injection molded and melted at a different temperature. When the two different types of materials are mixed in the recycling stream they create a contamination problem because there is no market for the injection molded plastics #1 and #2 at this time and they do not melt down together. To streamline the response we simply leave the numbers out of the conversation and tell folks that we accept any plastic bottle with a neck. The small number of plastics with a neck that are not #1 and #2 are easier for the MRF to weed out.
The County accepts the same materials at the convenience centers as we do in our curbside recycling program – we no longer accept the additional plastics at the convenience centers as of July 1.
James City County has gray carts with a tan lid that have TFC printed on the side. Recycling carts come in three sizes and have wheels.
No. Carts MUST be gray cart with a tan lid in order to be service by James City County; due to liability reasons.
Carts MUST be curbside the night before a collection OR by 7 a.m., the morning of the collection.
TFC will NOT return to the address if the cart was not out curbside by 7 a.m. on collection day.
We will schedule a missed collection for the address 24 hours after their scheduled collection. A missed collection will be serviced depending on when the resident contacts us. (If a resident has called in a missed collection by 12:00 noon, their items will be serviced that business day by 6 p.m. Anything after 12:00 noon, will be serviced on the next business day.
TFC will NOT remove items that are not placed inside the cart. The truck has a clamping arm that services the carts. Drivers are not required to step outside of their vehicles to service items on the ground. All items must be…
TFC will not service the small green/blue/black recycling containers. Those small containers are from other providers.
No. Due to liability reasons, carts MUST be the gray cart with a tan lid in order to be service by James City County or TFC.
No. James City County residents are serviced by TFC, who will only service recycling carts with gray bottoms and tan lids. Residents will need to contact the following companies for their policy information, service, and billing concerns.
Yes. Residents can request a cart exchange if their current cart is:
Residents can also requests additional carts, but will be charged accordingly.
Carts are $7.00 per cart, per month.
Residents will be serviced curbside every other week unless they:
Cart deliveries will take place within 3-5 Business days of the request.
Cart removals will take place within 2-4 weeks of the request. Cart must be visible and not behind a gate or on a patio.
James City County charges $7.00 a month; however, we bill quarterly. You will start paying once you receive your first quarterly bill in the mail. You will be able to sign up for reminders as well as sign up for auto payment with the provided payment instructions attached to invoice.
All payment information will be updated daily in PCI. If PCI is not reflecting the correct payment information, all payment concerns must be directed to the Treasurer's Office.
Residents can sign up for auto payment on the James City County website under Online Payments, when paying an open invoice. Residents will be able to request how they would like to be billed as well. To sign up for Reminders, the resident must go to their Curbside Recycling Schedule Online, and request notifications.
Personal property and real estate taxes are both due June 5 and Dec. 5 of each year. If the fifth of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, taxes are due on the next business day. Additionally, supplemental billings may be created throughout the year for personal property that moves into the County during the year, or real estate improvements.
Yes! The County now has an online payment system that allows citizens to see their invoices as well as pay with credit/debit card or e-check. Convenience fees apply for online payments. To access the system, visit the ePayment webpage.
We accept cash, check, credit or debit cards. Payment can be made at the Government Center or Satellite Services, online or by telephone at 855-329-4498. A convenience fee will apply for all credit/debit card and e-check payments.
Our mailing address is PO Box 8701, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8701. The main office is located at the County Government Center at 101 B Mounts Bay Road, Building B, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Real estate is assessed at $0.83 per $100 of assessed value. Personal property is assessed at $4 per $100 of assessed value. Personal property tax relief is offered on personal use vehicles. The relief percentage is adjusted annually.
The County works on a fiscal year that starts July 1 and ends June 30 each year. For real estate taxes, the time period of July 1 through Dec. 31 is considered the first half of the fiscal year, and Jan. 1 through June 30 is the second half. Personal property taxes are assessed based on the calendar year.
Both personal property and real estate taxes are paid in arrears. Taxes due June 5 cover assessments from Jan. 1 through June 30. Taxes due Dec. 5 cover assessments from July 1 through Dec. 31.
The Treasurer's Office is now using a lockbox program through our bank to help with more efficient payment posting. The closest lockbox facility for the bank is located in Boston. Payments can still be mailed to the local office at PO Box 8701 Williamsburg, VA 23187-8701.
Payments postmarked on or before the due date are considered on time. We also have drop boxes located in the Government Center parking lot, at the front of the main office, and at the Satellite Office. These boxes are cleared at 8 a.m. daily and considered the previous day's mail.
The Treasurer's Office experiences high payment, high call and high in-person volumes during peak tax season. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the processing of any payments sent to the local address during the June 5 and Dec. 5 tax seasons.
Yes! Visit the Property Information webpage, search for your property and navigate to the Taxes tab.
Yes, lists are available in both hardcopy and electronic format. Please email the office at firstname.lastname@example.com with the preferred format. The list will not identify the status of any property.
The Treasurer determines what properties are to be sold and oversees the process. Taxes must be delinquent on Dec. 31 following the second anniversary of the due date to begin the litigation process. The James City County Treasurer has retained the services of Taxing Authority Consulting Services, P.C. (TACS) to represent the County during the collection and sale process. For more information on the process, or to sign up for notifications of upcoming tax sales, visit the TACS website. TACS can be reached at 804-545-2500 or email@example.com.
Dog licenses go on sale Nov. 1 and are due by Jan. 31 annually. The current rate is $5 per year for spayed or neutered dogs and $8 per year for male or female dogs. The County currently offers a multi-year dog license based on the expiration of the dog's rabies vaccination. For more information, please visit the Dog License webpage.
Coupon books, containing 5 coupons each, can be purchased for $20 at the Treasurer's Office, Satellite Services, Freedom Park, and the James City County Recreation Center. Payments by credit/debit card (additional convenience fees apply) can be made on site at the convenience centers or online.
If you recently paid off your mortgage and would like the real estate tax bills mailed to you, please call our office at 757-253-6705 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to update your records.
If you received your real estate tax bill in the mail and you believe your mortgage company is responsible for payment, contact your mortgage company or forward the tax bill to them immediately.
Payment agreements can be set up with a collections staff member. These are established on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please contact our office at 757-253-6705.
As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Treasurer's Office is no longer able to accept payments for water bills. Please call JCSA customer service at 757-253-6800.