Virginia's Right to Farm Act limits how localities can restrict livestock and poultry kept as production agriculture in agriculturally zoned districts.
Under Virginia Code Section 3.2-301, no locality may require a special exception or special use permit for production agriculture (which includes livestock and poultry housing under Section 3.2-6500) in areas zoned agricultural. Localities may impose setbacks, minimum lot size, and reasonable health and safety regulations, but cannot unreasonably restrict farm structures or practices. Outside agricultural zones, residential keeping of chickens and livestock is regulated entirely by local zoning. Dillon's Rule applies, so cities only have powers expressly granted.
Local zoning enforcement actions; nuisance citations vary by locality.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Newport News, VA
Newport News prohibits oversized vehicles from parking on residential streets overnight. Vehicles exceeding 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, or 8 feet tall are ban...
Newport News, VA
Newport News regulates retaining walls under Chapter 13 (Buildings and Building Regulations) and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Retaining wall...
Newport News, VA
Newport News regulates fence materials under Chapter 13, Article VI of the City Code. Certain hazardous materials are restricted or prohibited in residential...
Newport News, VA
Newport News enforces the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), which requires property owners and occupants to cut and remove weeds, grass, vines,...
Newport News, VA
Newport News defines "landscape" as living plants, natural features, or structural features under Chapter 45 (Zoning Ordinance). No express ban on artificial...
Newport News, VA
Newport News Code Ch. 33.02 requires a landscaped green area as part of all site plans. The city officially encourages use of native and drought-tolerant pla...
See how Newport News's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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