Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the detailed outline provided in the following brochure.

The town considers businesses for available incentives as funds become available and applications are submitted. Assistance may be offered to businesses located within the town limits or Vinton Business Center based on the type of project proposed. The town generally partners with Roanoke County to approve such requests.

Fences and walls not exceeding four feet in height may be located within front- and street-side property lines. Shorter fences may be required for visibility at intersections. Fences and walls not exceeding six and a half feet in height may be located within side- and rear-property lines. An additional one foot of fence or wall height shall be permitted for posts, columns, or gates. It is recommended, but not required, that you set the fencing away from the property line at least six inches. Requirements subject to change, please call (540)983-0605 to verify before installing your fence.

All storage buildings require a zoning permit regardless of size. Depending upon the size or the storage building, BOTH zoning and building permits may be required. Electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits may also be required depending upon what amenities are added to the building. Additionally, the building must meet any required setbacks. Please call (540) 983-0605 to inquire about the required permits and setbacks for storage buildings.

Permits are required for any swimming pool that is more than 150 square feet in surface area, contains more than 5,000 gallons of water, or contains more than 24 inches of water. A zoning permit, a building permit, and an electrical permit (if there is a pump and/or heater) will be required. Additionally, the pool must have an adequate barrier(s) and must meet any required setbacks. Requirements subject to change, please call (540) 983-0605 to verify before setting up a swimming pool in your yard.

Bulk pick-up includes brush, limbs, bagged leaves, large appliances, furniture, and bagged clothing.

The Town is a charter member of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority (RVRA) which provides household hazardous waste disposal services to residents. Please call the RVRA's Hazardous Waste Department at (540) 857-5071 for more information.

Contact the Vinton / Roanoke County Health Department Clinic at (540) 857-7800 or in person at: 227 S. Pollard St. Vinton, VA 24179

You can obtain a marriage license at the Roanoke County Circuit Court clerk's office located at the Roanoke County Court House: 305 E. Main St. Room 200 Salem, VA 24153

The Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce's office is located at 116 South Poplar Street, Suite 1-A. Contact them at (540) 343-1364 for more details.

At the time the decal fee was eliminated, the Town Council adopted a vehicle license fee (VLF). The VLF is authorized by the State Code of Virginia, Section 46.2-752, and was adopted by the Town Council pursuant to Ordinance No. 851. The VLF is levied on every motor vehicle, trailer, and semitrailer registered and licensed with the DMV and garaged in the Town of Vinton as of January 1 of every year. This fee covers the administrative cost of maintaining personal property records. If your vehicle or trailer is assessed taxes for that year, then you are also levied the VLF. Unlike prorated personal property taxes, the VLF is a non-prorated and nonrefundable fee.

No. The Town Council voted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, to eliminate the town decal as of July 1, 2008.

Yes. Residents will now be charged for the vehicle license fee as part of the annual personal property tax bill. By not using a decal, and by combining the fee with the tax bill, the Town of Vinton joins many other cities, towns, and counties across the commonwealth that have changed their decal laws.

Yes. The vehicle license fee will be included as a separate item in the annual personal property tax bills.

The vehicle license fee is due, together with your annual personal property taxes, by May 31.

The Town of Vinton works with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to withhold registration from vehicles whose taxes are unpaid.

Yes. The Town of Vinton is authorized to charge for outstanding vehicle license fees dating back three years.

Yes. The vehicle license fee will now be included in the personal property tax bill. Even if you receive a Personal Property Tax Relief Act tax credit, you will still receive a bill for the vehicle license fee.

No. There is no vehicle license refund for moving from the Town of Vinton.

No. You cannot receive a refund for a vehicle license fee if a vehicle has been sold or disposed of. However, if you replace the vehicle within 60 days, you can apply to have the fee transferred to the new vehicle. This transaction must take place within the same fiscal year. If the new vehicle is added before the sale or disposal of the first vehicle is complete, a second vehicle license fee must be paid in full.

Yes. If you own a vehicle that is registered in the Town of Vinton, even if its inoperable, you are still required to pay a vehicle license fee.

Roanoke County receives weekly information from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles about newly acquired vehicles.

• A change in ownership due to purchase, acquisition, sale, trade or disposal
• A change in the name or address of the person owning or leasing the motor vehicle, trailer, or motorcycle
• A change in the use of the motor vehicle, trailer, or motorcycle from personal to business use or vice versa
• An occurrence that causes a motor vehicle, trailer, or motorcycle to acquire or lose its location
• Any other change affecting the assessment or levy of personal property tax on the motor vehicle, trailer, or motorcycle for which a return was previously filed

For more details, contact the commissioner of the revenue at (540) 772-2046.

Whenever you move, it is necessary to re-register your vehicle at your new location. If you have not changed your registration it is possible your vehicle is still taxable by the Town of Vinton.

Yes. There is a state law prohibiting the display of any expired stickers or decals. Any officer has the discretion to issue tickets for this violation.

After a change in location you should contact the Roanoke County commissioner of the revenue's office within 60 days at (540) 772-2046.

Whenever you buy, sell, trade, or junk a vehicle, it’s necessary to notify the DMV and the commissioner of the revenue’s office, within 60 days. By not acting within this time frame, it’s possible that a vehicle can remain on the town’s tax records. Please contact the commissioner of the revenue’s office at (540) 772-2046 to determine the proper documentation required to remove a vehicle from your account.

Flow testing of fire hydrants is done to identify the amount of water a certain fire hydrant can deliver during an emergency situation. This service is done on an annual basis so problems can be identified and resolved. All the hydrants are color coded so Fire Department personnel can identify how many gallons per minute (GPM) an individual fire hydrant can flow.

Due to fire hydrant flow testing, citizens of the Town of Vinton and east Roanoke County may experience a temporary water discoloration. This is due to the unsettling of mineral deposits in the water main.

Run the cold water for about 15-20 minutes. This should clear up the water.

The Town of Vinton posts jobs on the town’s website and in the Roanoke Times.

All applications must be submitted to the Human Resources Department. Instructions, job requirements, and a printable online job application are available online.

Yes. Candidates are required to fill out an application for each job that interests them and submit it to the Human Resources Department.

Not generally. A position must be available and advertised by the town before applications will be accepted. It is always recommended that job seekers watch for available jobs where and when we post or advertise. We do maintain a pool for police officer positions, but they are not reviewed until a position is available. The applications are only active for six months, and should be renewed if you are still interested in being considered for a police officer position.

Yes. To request a Brush Burning Permit Application, please contact the Roanoke County fire marshal’s office at (540) 561-8100). Applications must be submitted in accordance to the statewide Fire Prevention Code and Roanoke County Ordinance. Apply 10 days in advance of your requested burn date. There is no current fee requirement for this permit.

Managing the quantity and quality of stormwater is termed, "Stormwater Management."[1] The term Best Management Practice (BMP) is often used to refer to both structural or engineered control devices and systems (e.g. retention ponds) to treat or store polluted stormwater, as well as operational or procedural practices. Stormwater management includes both technical and institutional aspects, including:[2] -->control of flooding and erosion; -->control of hazardous materials to prevent release of pollutants into the environment (source control); -->planning and construction of stormwater systems so contaminants are removed before they pollute surface waters or groundwater resources; -->acquisition and protection of natural waterways or rehabilitation; -->building "soft" structures such as ponds, swales or wetlands or Green Infrastructure solutions to work with existing or "hard" drainage structures, such as pipes and concrete channels; -->development of funding approaches to stormwater programs potentially including stormwater user fees and the creation of a stormwater utility; -->development of long-term asset management programs to repair and replace aging infrastructure; -->revision of current stormwater regulations to address comprehensive stormwater needs; enhancement and enforcement of existing ordinances to make sure property owners consider the effects of stormwater before, during and after development of their land; -->education of a community about how its actions affect water quality, and about what it can do to improve water quality; and -->planning carefully to create solutions before problems become too great. REFERENCES: [1] Washington State Department of Ecology (2005). Olympia, WA. "Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington." Publication No. 05-10-029. [2] Debo, Tom; Reese, Andrew (2003). "Chapter 2. Stormwater Management Programs". Municipal Stormwater Management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. ISBN 1-56670-584-3.

Stormwater pollution can be controlled if everyone plays a part in managing stormwater runoff where we live and work. The most effective way to reduce stormwater pollution is to prevent pollutants from entering the system in the first place. By making responsible decisions about what enters the storm sewer system upstream, we improve water quality and the downstream aquatic habitats.

An Elevation Certificate is an important tool that documents your building’s elevation. If you live in a high-risk flood zone, you should provide an Elevation Certificate to your insurance agent to obtain flood insurance and ensure that your premium accurately reflects your risk. Obtaining an Elevation Certificate also can help you make decisions about rebuilding and mitigation after a disaster. The elevation certificate also can be used to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment or Revision (LOMA OR LOMR-F).