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Virginia Beach, VA Cannabis Regulations: Personal Cultivation Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

Plant limit
Four per household
Minimum age
21 years
Location
Primary residence only
State law
VA Code §4.1-1101

Summary

Adults 21 and older in Virginia Beach may grow up to four marijuana plants per household for personal use, following Virginia Code §4.1-1101 statewide cultivation rules.

§ 4.1-1101 . Home cultivation of marijuana for personal use; penalties.

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (c) of § 18.2-248.1 , a person 21 years of age or older may cultivate up to four marijuana plants for personal use at their place of residence; however, at no point shall a household contain more than four marijuana plants. For purposes of this section, a "household" means those individuals, whether related or not, who live in the same house or other place of residence. A person may only cultivate marijuana plants pursuant to this section at such person's main place of residence. A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as follows:

1. For possession of more than four marijuana plants but no more than 10 marijuana plants, (i) a civil penalty of $250 for a first offense, (ii) a Class 3 misdemeanor for a second offense, and (iii) a Class 2 misdemeanor for a third and any subsequent offense;

2. For possession of more than 10 but no more than 49 marijuana plants, a Class 1 misdemeanor;

3. For possession of more than 49 but no more than 100 marijuana plants, a Class 6 felony; and

4. For possession of more than 100 marijuana plants, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $250,000, or both.

B. A person who cultivates marijuana for personal use pursuant to this section shall:

1. Ensure that no marijuana plant is visible from a public way without the use of aircraft, binoculars, or other optical aids;

2. Take precautions to prevent unauthorized access by persons younger than 21 years of age; and

3. Attach to each marijuana plant a legible tag that includes the person's name, driver's license or identification number, and a notation that the marijuana plant is being grown for personal use as authorized under this section. Any person who violates this subsection is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $25. The penalty for any violations of this section by an adult shall be prepayable according to the procedures in § 16.1-69.40:2 .

C. A person shall not manufacture marijuana concentrate from home-cultivated marijuana. The owner of a property or parcel or tract of land may not intentionally or knowingly allow another person to manufacture marijuana concentrate from home-cultivated marijuana within or on that property or land.

Source: Virginia Code §4.1-1101View official code

Full Breakdown

Virginia Code §4.1-1101 (enacted 2021 via SB 1406) allows adults 21+ to cultivate up to four cannabis plants per household, not per person, at their primary residence. Plants must be tagged with the grower's name, ID number, and a notation that they are for personal use. They must not be visible from public ways and must be kept secure from individuals under 21. Virginia Beach has not enacted local restrictions beyond state law, but plants visible from streets may trigger zoning or property-maintenance complaints under Virginia Beach Zoning Ordinance.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding four plants, growing at non-primary residences, or failing to tag plants violates Virginia Code §4.1-1101 and may result in civil penalties up to $250 or criminal charges for larger grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can each adult in the home grow four plants?
No. The four-plant cap applies per household, not per person. Two adults sharing a Virginia Beach residence still share the same four-plant maximum under Virginia Code §4.1-1101.
Do my plants need to be hidden from neighbors?
Yes. Plants must not be visible from any public road, sidewalk, or right-of-way. Virginia Beach code-enforcement officers respond to complaints of openly visible cannabis plants.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Virginia Beach

All Virginia Beach rules

Compare Virginia Beach to another location·View the Virginia cannabis regulations overview

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