Stafford
Current tax rates are $1.08/$100 assessed at 100% for real estate (due June 5 and Dec. 5),

CIRCUIT COURT SERVICES

The Circuit Court offices, located at the Judicial Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, is the Commonwealth's principal trial court in the County. Court is held on the second floor. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over both original cases and appeals in criminal and civil cases.

The Circuit Court: hears all civil cases over $10,000 may hear civil cases where the issue is more than $500 but less than $10,000 hears appeals from lower courts hears divorce and chancery suits hears criminal cases appealed and certified to the Grand Jury has jurisdiction over an inquiry into the misuse of a particular right or authority issues writs of mandamus, orders to perform specific acts; writs of prohibition, orders to stop specified acts, and writs of certiorari, orders to forward records of a case from a lower court The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a constitutional officer elected to an eight-year term. The Clerk's duties are twofold: to administer the Circuit Court's judicial proceedings and serve as record keeper for the County.

The Clerk: records all deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, land transfers and easements records wills and divorces preserves military discharge records issues passports and marriage licenses collects state and County recording taxes and probate fees administers all probate matters records and dockets judgements records election results swears in officials assuming office.

ORDINANCES

BURNING TRASH
Open air burning is regulated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the County of Stafford. The administration and enforcement of open air burning regulations is the responsibility of the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. Residents are allowed to open burn, leaves, tree branches or twigs and grass trimmings, but must maintain a minimum of 50 feet from any structure, 300 feet from their neighbors home or have written permission from their neighbors that are located within 300 feet of their burn site. Open burning must be constantly attended at all times by a competent person and burning shall be conducted in a fashion as to minimize any nuisance to neighbors. The burning of garbage, trash, rubbish and other forms of solid waste, including but not limited to wastes resulting form residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional, trade and construction shall be prohibited at all times. During the period beginning February 15 and ending April 30 of each year, open burning is prohibited except between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. This law is strictly enforced by the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services and the Virginia Department of Forestry. If you are a contractor wishing to burn on a building site, you must obtain a permit. Permits are available from the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, located at the Administration Center, 1300 Courthouse road, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All contractors must abide by the County regulations governing the materials that can be burned and when and how the burning is done. For detailed information about this and all County burning laws call the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services at 540-658-8685.

PET CONTROL
Dog owners must keep close tabs on their pets during the six months from April through September. County and State law requires that dogs must be leashed or penned during these months so that young wild animals can mature unharmed. Owners who let their pets run at large without supervision are in violation of the law. A fine plus court costs is charged to owners whose pets are picked up the County Animal Control personnel. Once a dog is picked up, owners must pay a $25.00 reclaim fee and $5.00 each day for boarding fees. Section 5-23 of the Stafford County Code reads as follows: "It is unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit such dog to run at large within the County during the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September of any year. During such months, all dogs shall be restricted by LEASH or PEN or kept CONFINED to the premises of their owners." For further information, call the Animal Warden at 540-658-PETS (7387).

NOISE CONTROL
The Stafford County Code contains a noise ordinance which is enforced and administered by the Sheriff's Office. The ordinance prohibits the operation of a sound source so as to create a sound level in a residential zone between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., in excess of 55 decibels when measured at the property line. Between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., the ordinance prohibits operation of a sound source so as to create a sound level in a residential zone in excess of 65 decibels, when measured at the property line.

In addition, the ordinance sets forth maximum decibel levels permitted for various types of vehicles. For further information on the Noise Ordinance, contact the Sheriff's Office non-emergency number at 540-658-4450.

WEAPONS DISCHARGE
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has adopted a weapons Ordinance. The Ordinance designates four (4) areas in which the discharge of a firearm is prohibited. The general areas designated as "shooting prohibited areas" are:

1) Lake Arrowhead Subdivision,

2) the Garrisonville area around Garrisonville Road (State Route 610),

3) the Aquia area from Courthouse Road (east) to Aquia Harbor Subdivision along Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1), and

4) a large area of developed subdivisions in the southern portion of the County.

Other provisions of the Ordinance make it unlawful to:

1.Shoot or hunt within 100 yards of any regularly occupied structure without the permission of its owner or occupant

2.Shoot or hunt within 100 yards of a private road located in a subdivision with lots of (10) or more acres without permission of the property owner, and

3.Shoot or hunt on any public property, such as school, parks or pools and other facilities.

The Ordinance also includes procedures for expanding or adding shooting prohibited areas. The owners of a parcels adjoining the existing zones may request the Board of Supervisors to consider the expansion of the shooting prohibited area to include such land. For more information, call the Citizen's Assistance office at 540-658-8641 or email Natalie Davis, Coordinator.

VOTER REGISTRATION
Voter registration is available at all Department of Motor Vehicles Offices and at many public assistance agencies. In Stafford County, the following sites offer voter registration:

Office of the Registrar of Voters
Stafford County Administration Center
1300 Courthouse Road

John Musante Porter Memorial Library
2001 Parkway Boulevard, Park Ridge

Virginia Tech Extension Office
405 Chatham Square Office Park

Department of Motor Vehicles
874 Garrisonville Road

Voter Registration by Mail
You may request an application by calling 658-4000, or pick an application up at one of the above sites. You may also download the application via the Internet. However, voters who register by mail who have never registered to vote in Virginia before must vote in person and present an identification the first time they vote. Exceptions to this requirement are students away at school; citizens overseas; members of the armed forces, their dependents; and senior citizens.

MARRIAGE LICENSES
Marriage licenses are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court located in the Judicial Center (Courthouse) 1300 Courthouse Road. A Virginia resident must be 18 years of age before obtaining a marriage license without parental consent. Both parties must appear in person. The cost is $30. For more information about Marriage Licenses, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 658-8750.

COUNTY AUTOMOBILE DECALS
County Automobile decals must be purchased from the Treasurer's Office by April 15th of each year. The cost is $23.00 for cars and trucks, $1.00 for non-resident military personnel, and $18.00 for motorcycles. All outstanding personal property taxes are required to be paid in full before a decal will be issued. For more information about decals, contact the Treasurer's Office at 540-658-8700.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
The Stafford office of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, located at 385 Garrisonville Road, Suite 105, is a full-service agency offering services which include:

- Issuance of new or duplicate title and registration for motor vehicles;
- Issuance of Virginia license plates, including vanity tags and special interest plates
- Issuance of new or duplicate drivers licenses, including commercial drivers license
- Administering written and road tests; (Automated Testing Machines)
- Issuance of driver history files;
- Collection of fuels tax and liquidated damages for vehicle overload citations

When visiting the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, please note that two forms of identification verifying name, date of birth and social security number verification is required for most services. For new licenses and registrations, two forms of identification verifying the name and date of birth are required. Acceptable forms of identification are: Birth Certificate, Passport, Military ID, out-of-state driver's license, marriage license (if date of birth is imprinted), and life insurance policies. Also, your Social Security number must be verified. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The last week of the month is the busiest. The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends that you renew your license and registration early or by mail. (Mail-in savings on registration is $1.50 per year). Also touch tone renewal is available.

Directions: Take the Aquia/Garrisonville Road exit off I-95. Go west on Garrisonville Road for approximately 1.3 miles. The DMV is on your left after passing the Ames store.

For further information regarding fees and other services, call the Stafford Office of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles at 540-659-7867.

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