Norfolk's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Norfolk, Virginia, there are 10 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Pet Groomer Rules

Anyone running a grooming salon, pet shop, or companion-animal dealership in Norfolk must hold a $50 annual permit from the animal control officer, submit to unannounced inspections, and display the permit publicly, or face a class 1 misdemeanor per day.

Key details: Permit issuer: Norfolk animal control officer. Annual fee: $50.00 per year. Renewal deadline: January 31 each year. Inspections: Unannounced, no notice required. Appeal body: Animal welfare board of review.

Operating a grooming salon, pet shop, or companion-animal dealership after a permit has been revoked, or without ever obtaining one, is a class 1 misdemeanor for each day of operation under § 6.1-9(e). Fraudulent applications or inhumane treatment findings can trigger denial or revocation under § 6.1-9(c) and (d), and unannounced inspection refusals put the permit itself at risk.

Chickens & Livestock

Norfolk bans all livestock and poultry other than chickens citywide. Keeping chickens requires a Department of Public Health permit, caps the flock at six hens with no roosters, and sets minimum lot size and setback rules for the coop.

Key details: Permit issuer: Department of Public Health. Flock cap: 6 hens, no roosters/capons. Minimum lot size: 5,000 square feet. Structure setback: 15 ft from lines/buildings. Drainage easement setback: 20 feet.

Failing to maintain any listed condition is a violation of § 6.1-7 and grounds for permit revocation. Keeping chickens without a permit, or any other livestock or poultry, is unlawful under the same section. Chapter 6.1's general penalty at § 6.1-1 makes an unpermitted or noncompliant offense a class 1 misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense, plus possible court-ordered restitution to the city for enforcement costs.

Pet Limits

Norfolk limits any dwelling unit or premises to four adult dogs and four adult cats. A narrow grandfather clause protects owners who already held licenses for more animals before October 1, 1999, but the exemption cannot transfer to replacement pets.

Key details: Dog limit: 4 adult dogs per premises. Cat limit: 4 adult cats per premises. Grandfather cutoff: Licensed before Oct. 1, 1999. Rabbit limit (§ 6.1-8.1): 4 adult rabbits. Exempt operations: Kennels, shelters, licensed pet shops.

Keeping more than four adult dogs or four adult cats without a valid pre-October-1999 grandfathered license is a violation of § 6.1-8. Chapter 6.1's general penalty section, § 6.1-1, makes an unexempted violation a class 1 misdemeanor, with each day the excess animals remain in the household charged as a separate offense, and the court may also order restitution for any city costs of investigating or housing seized animals.

Exotic Pets

Norfolk requires a permit from the animal control officer to keep or exhibit any wild, exotic, or poisonous animal, with a detailed affidavit, a $50,000 insurance or surety bond, and annual renewal, on top of any state or federal permit.

Key details: Permit issuer: Norfolk animal control officer. Application window: 10 working days after acquisition. Initial fee: $25.00 per address. Renewal/add-animal fee: $15.00. Insurance/bond required: $50,000 minimum.

Keeping or exhibiting a wild, exotic, or poisonous animal without a valid permit, letting one escape or contact the public, releasing one into the wild, or submitting false permit information are all violations of § 6.1-10, exposing the owner to permit revocation, impoundment of the animal pending a court's disposition order, and a class 1 misdemeanor under the chapter's general penalty at § 6.1-1. Failing to post the required placard is a separate violation of § 6.1-10(j).

This is one of the stricter rules in Norfolk's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Bird Protection

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.

Key details: 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.

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.

This is one of the stricter rules in Norfolk's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Wildlife Feeding

Norfolk makes it unlawful to feed native Virginia wildlife anywhere in the city except in areas the city designates for that purpose, though ordinary backyard bird feeders are specifically carved out of the ban.

Key details: Governing section: Norfolk Code § 6.1-13. General rule: No feeding native VA wildlife. Exception: Bird feeders specifically exempt. Where feeding is allowed: City-designated areas only. Enforcement: Animal protection unit, Norfolk PD.

Feeding native Virginia wildlife outside a city-designated area is a violation of § 6.1-13. Chapter 6.1's general penalty at § 6.1-1 makes an unexempted violation a class 1 misdemeanor, with each day the feeding continues charged as a separate offense, and a court may order restitution for city costs tied to responding to a resulting wildlife concentration.

This is one of the stricter rules in Norfolk's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Cat Rules

Norfolk regulates free-roaming cat colonies through a caregiver program under Code of Ordinances Sec. 6.1-101 rather than banning them. Anyone feeding or managing a colony must keep the cats on private property with permission, run them through Trap-Neuter-Return, and document rabies vaccination and sterilization for every cat in their care.

Key details: Governing section: Norfolk Code § 6.1-101. Feeding limit: No more than twice daily. Night feeding window: Food out no more than 30 minutes. TNR requirement: Sterilized, vaccinated, ear-tipped. Location rule: Must feed on private property.

Sec. 6.1-101 does not list its own penalty, so the animal chapter's general penalty in Sec. 6.1-1 controls: unless another penalty is specified, violating any provision of the animal chapter is a class 1 misdemeanor, with each day the violation continues charged as a separate offense. A judge can also order restitution to the city for costs of investigating, handling, housing, or providing medical care to the cats involved.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter

Norfolk does not require every pet owner to spay or neuter, but Code of Ordinances Sec. 6.1-86 bars the SPCA, the city's animal care and adoption center, humane societies, and shelters from releasing a dog or cat for adoption unless it is already sterilized, unless sterilizing it now would endanger its health.

Key details: Governing section: Norfolk Code § 6.1-86. Applies to: Shelter and SPCA adoptions only. Sterilization deadline: 30 days from agreement date. Confirmation deadline: 7 days after procedure. Deposit: Equal to shelter's sterilization cost.

Failing to meet the sterilization agreement is a class 4 misdemeanor under Sec. 6.1-86(b), and failing to send the required veterinary confirmation under Sec. 6.1-88, or to report a lost, stolen, or dead animal under Sec. 6.1-89, is also a class 4 misdemeanor. Giving false information on the adoption paperwork, including misrepresenting whether the animal was sterilized, is a class 1 misdemeanor under Sec. 6.1-86(d).

Dog Leash Laws

Norfolk bans letting a dog, cat, or other animal run at large anywhere in the city under Code of Ordinances Sec. 6.1-79. An animal is at large the moment it leaves its owner's property without a leash, lead, or secured carrier. Dogs and other animals are barred from trailer coach parks, mobile home parks, and apartment complexes unless a lease allows them, and every animal is banned from public swimming pools.

Key details: Governing section: Norfolk Code § 6.1-79. First offense: Class 4 misdemeanor. Repeat offense: Class 3 then class 2 misdemeanor. Off-leash permit: Requires certified obedience class. Banned location: Public swimming pools citywide.

A first at-large violation is a class 4 misdemeanor. A second violation involving the same animal steps up to a class 3 misdemeanor, and any further violation on that same animal is a class 2 misdemeanor under Sec. 6.1-79(e). Three citations on one animal let the animal control officer impound the animal or require it be spayed or neutered, with the owner or custodian paying every cost of the procedure.

Breed Restrictions

Norfolk has no breed-specific legislation. VA Code 3.2-6540.1 expressly preempts localities from banning dogs by breed. Norfolk relies on the behavior-based dangerous-dog framework under VA Code 3.2-6540.

Key details: State Preemption: VA 3.2-6540.1. Banned Breeds: None. Dangerous Dog: VA 3.2-6540. Military Housing: DoD rules apply. HOA: May restrict privately.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Norfolk gives residents more flexibility on breed restrictions.

The Bottom Line

Norfolk is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Norfolk, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Norfolk's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.