Free parcel data in Virginia

Yes. Virginia publishes a free statewide parcel layer: Virginia Parcels (VGIN), from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Coverage: 132 of 133 counties/independent cities (plus 4 towns that submit separately). It's a public ArcGIS REST service with no API key or login.

The layer

Layer	Virginia Parcels (VGIN)
Publisher	Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Coverage	132 of 133 counties/independent cities (plus 4 towns that submit separately). Missing: Rappahannock County
Data vintage	Locality submissions 2017-2026 (LASTUPDATE); most recent 2026-09
Terms	Public; attribution: VGIN and contributing localities
Fields	parcel number (PARCELID, PTM_ID, VGIN_QPID)
Not published	owner names, deed references, plat references
REST endpoint	`https://vginmaps.vdem.virginia.gov/arcgis/rest/services/VA_Base_Layers/VA_Parcels/FeatureServer/0`
Last verified	2026-10-19 with a live point and parcel-number query

Notes for GIS users

Geometry and ids only: no owner, situs or assessment attributes. PARCELID and PTM_ID are locality ids, unique only within FIPS. FIPS is 5-digit for counties/cities but 7-digit for the 4 separately submitted towns (Bedford, Colonial Beach, Culpeper, Farmville). Not edge-matched.

How to use it

QGIS: Layer > Data Source Manager > ArcGIS REST Server, add a connection with the service URL (the endpoint above without the final /0), then add the layer. Filter to your area before exporting.
ArcGIS Pro: Add Data > Data From Path, paste the endpoint.
Direct query: append /query?geometry=LON,LAT&geometryType=esriGeometryPoint&inSR=4326&spatialRel=esriSpatialRelIntersects&outFields=*&f=geojson to get the parcel at a point.
CAD: see getting a parcel into AutoCAD or Civil 3D.

Assessor parcel lines are for taxation and are often 5 to 50 ft off the legal boundary. Why.

Basesheet uses this to draw the parcel line on a base plan for any Virginia address, with LiDAR contours, soils, flood zones and wetlands.

Build a base plan