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Encroachments
How we maintain property rights around power structures
What Is an Encroachment?
An Encroachment is any activity or improvement within the Easement area that is inconsistent with the terms of the Easement. An Encroachment could potentially interfere with Dominion Energy's need to safely and reliably provide electrical service in the worst of conditions.
An Encroachment is determined by numerous factors, including:
- The terms and conditions of the document establishing the Easement
- The unique characteristics of the real estate encumbered by the Easement
- The types of Facilities installed on the Easement
- The Company’s specific needs for the Easement, both now and in the future
- Certain legal requirements
For specific information about fences, lighting facilities, landscaping, parking or digging in a right of way, please refer to these right-of-way guidelines.
Encroachment Requests
All Encroachment requests must be submitted to Dominion Energy's regional right of way representative.
Dominion Energy will review the pertinent Easement documents, as well as operational and legal requirements. If permission for an Encroachment is granted, Dominion Energy will issue a written consent agreement. The agreement will contain conditions which must be met in order for the Encroachment to remain on the property.
- Buildings, building extensions, building additions, or any portion of a building. By way of example and not limitation, the following items generally will not be approved: homes, offices, garages, barns, sheds, roof overhangs, gutters, balconies, decks, porches, and covered patios
- Playground equipment
- Trampolines
- Any inflatable items such as bounce houses, slides, or decorations
- Dumpsters and trash receptacles
- Debris, trash, scrap or waste materials, fill, spoil material, stumps, large boulders, concrete debris, asphalt debris, construction debris, and tire piles
- Landfills
- Building materials
- Swimming pools (either in-ground or above-ground pools)
- Wells
- Septic tanks
- Drain fields (to include engineered systems)
- Fuel tanks
- Propane tanks
- HVAC units
- Satellite dishes and television antennas
- Stored trailers, motor homes/recreational vehicles (RV’s), and inoperable vehicles
- Most watercraft
- Any type of fire or burning
- Solar panels
- Sprinkler systems (excluding drip systems)
- Fire hydrants
- Retaining walls
- Earthworks (changing existing grade)
- Flag poles
- Light poles
- Billboards
- Storm water ponds, BMP’s, retention ponds, water features, or any man-made pond
- Burial sites, family plots, and cemeteries
- Hunting or tree stands
- Storage container units
- Flammable or explosive materials
- Any Encroachment located, or proposed to be located, within fifty (50) feet of any of the Company’s Facilities