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Hampton, VA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Who posts closures
City manager or designee
Animal defined to include
Mammals, birds, fish
Entering posted area
Class 1 misdemeanor
Killing/harming nest or eggs
Class 1 misdemeanor
Adopted
Ord. No. 10-0002, Feb. 2010

Summary

Hampton's city manager can post nesting areas -- expressly covering birds -- as closed, and entering a posted zone or killing or injuring the animals, nests, or eggs there is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

The city manager or his designee is authorized to identify and post as "closed" animal nesting areas within the city identified by a resource management plan. For the purposes of this article animal includes all mammals, birds and fish. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to kill or injure any animal or destroy or injure the nest or eggs of any animal in an area posted "area closed" ... pursuant to section 5-110 of this article.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 5, Article VIII (adopted by Ord. No. 10-0002, 2-10-10) lets the city manager identify and post as "closed" any animal nesting area named in a resource management plan; the article defines "animal" to include all mammals, birds and fish (Sec. 5-110). Entering or letting an animal enter a posted closed area is unlawful (Sec. 5-111), and killing or injuring any animal, or destroying or injuring a nest or eggs, within a posted closed area is separately unlawful (Sec. 5-112). Both offenses carry the same top-tier misdemeanor penalty.

Violations & Fines

Entering a posted "area closed" nesting zone is a Class 1 misdemeanor (Sec. 5-111); killing or injuring an animal or destroying/injuring a nest or eggs in a posted closed area is a separate Class 1 misdemeanor (Sec. 5-112).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hampton have a bird protection ordinance?
Yes. Chapter 5, Article VIII lets the city post nesting areas as "closed," and it is a Class 1 misdemeanor to enter, or to kill, injure, or destroy a nest or eggs there -- birds are expressly included.
How do I know which areas are protected?
Only areas the city manager has identified from a resource management plan and physically posted "area closed" are covered; there is no citywide bird-nest protection outside posted zones.

Sources & Official References

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All Hampton rules

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