Suffolk's code recognizes which small animals may be kept in a residence, including fish, cats, small birds, rodents, and non-poisonous snakes and lizards, while Virginia requires a state Wildlife Resources permit to possess most wild and nonnative exotic animals. UDO Sec. 31-702(d).
Suffolk Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 31-702(d)(2) treats small animals kept within a residence, including fish, cats, small birds such as parakeets and parrots, rodents, and non-poisonous snakes and lizards, as ordinary household pets, which by implication leaves venomous reptiles and larger wild species outside what a home may keep. Possession of most wild and nonnative exotic animals is controlled by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: Va. Code Sec. 29.1-542 and regulation 4VAC15-30-40 require a special permit to import or possess species the state declares predatory or undesirable, and native mammals such as raccoons, foxes, and skunks cannot be kept as pets.
Possessing a prohibited or unpermitted wild or exotic animal can bring charges and seizure by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, plus local zoning penalties for keeping animals not allowed in the district.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Suffolk does not regulate holiday decorations or lights, and no permit is required. The UDO's sign rules reach a display only if it carries a message and cou...
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Suffolk treats garage-sale signs as temporary yard signs: no permit needed, up to 8 square feet and 4 feet tall on residential property. Signs may not be pla...
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Suffolk regulates political signs as content-neutral temporary yard signs with no permit. In residential districts a yard sign may be up to 8 square feet and...
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Suffolk runs a rental inspection district program. In about 30 named neighborhoods, every residential rental unit needs a city certificate of occupancy after...
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Suffolk has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Under the VRLTA a landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy without giving a reason on 30 days' written notice....
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Suffolk has no rent control, and it cannot adopt one. Virginia is a Dillon's Rule state that grants no locality power to cap rent, so landlords set market ra...
See how Suffolk's exotic pets rules stack up against other locations.
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