Norfolk, VA Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Sanctuary area
- Entire City of Norfolk
- Protected
- All birds except three species
- Excluded species
- Starlings, pigeons, English sparrows
- Homing pigeon exception
- Protected if banded
- Nuisance removal
- Animal protection unit, humane methods
Summary
Norfolk designates its entire corporate area a bird sanctuary and makes it unlawful to kill or injure any bird, or damage a nest or eggs, with the sole exceptions of starlings, unbanded pigeons, and English sparrows.
(a)The entire area within the corporate limits of the City of Norfolk shall be a bird sanctuary for the protection of all birds, except starlings, pigeons and English sparrows. Signs stating that the city is a bird sanctuary may be erected in this city; provided, that the types of signs and locations thereof are first approved by the city manager.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person within the city to kill or injure any bird or to destroy or injure the nest or eggs of any bird, except starlings, pigeons (other than homing pigeons which are banded for identification) and English sparrows, and the nests or eggs thereof.(c)The animal control officer is hereby authorized to designate some member of the animal protection unit who shall, when so designated be then authorized to humanely remove or frighten from points of concentration on any property, any or all nuisance birds there harboring or concentrated.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
1-11(a) declares the entire area within the city's corporate limits a bird sanctuary for the protection of all birds, except starlings, pigeons, and English sparrows, and allows the city manager to approve signs announcing the sanctuary status. 1-11(b) then makes it unlawful for anyone in the city to kill or injure any bird, or to destroy or injure a bird's nest or eggs, again carving out starlings, pigeons other than banded homing pigeons, and English sparrows, plus their nests and eggs. The exception protects registered homing pigeons specifically: an unbanded pigeon gets no protection under the ordinance, but a banded homing pigeon is treated the same as any other protected species.
1-11(c) gives the animal control officer authority to designate a member of the animal protection unit to humanely remove or frighten off nuisance birds that concentrate on a property, which is the mechanism the city uses to deal with problem flocks without resorting to killing protected species. 1-12, which addresses pigeons flying at large and pigeon concentrations as a public nuisance rather than protecting the birds themselves.
Violations & Fines
Killing or injuring a protected bird, or destroying or damaging its nest or eggs, violates § 6.1-11(b) and is punishable under chapter 6.1's general penalty at § 6.1-1 as a class 1 misdemeanor, with each bird or nest affected potentially charged as a separate offense and each day of an ongoing violation treated as a distinct offense. The exemption for starlings, non-homing pigeons, and English sparrows is narrow and does not extend to any other species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to harm a wild bird in Norfolk?
Are pigeons protected under Norfolk's bird sanctuary rule?
What can I do about birds nesting in large numbers on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
Compare Norfolk to another location·View the Virginia animal ordinances overview
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