Duty of persons causing well or pit to be dug to fill it before abandonment

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-316

in effect

Any person who has caused to be dug on his own land or the land of another any well or pit, shall fill such well or pit with earth so that the same shall not be dangerous to human beings, animals or fowls before such well or such pit is abandoned; and any person owning land whereon any such well or pit is located shall in the same manner fill with earth any such well or pit which has been abandoned, provided such person has knowledge of the existence of such well or pit. But in the case of mining operations in lieu of filling the shaft or pit the owner or operator thereof on ceasing operations in such shaft or pit shall securely fence the same and keep the same at all times thereafter securely fenced. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Code 1950, § 18.1-73; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-316/Fetched: 10/16/2026