Animal Ordinances in Newport News, VA (2026)

Newport News City Code § 6-6(a)-(b)

No person shall permit any livestock owned or controlled by such person to run at large within the city limits. Any livestock found running at large in violation of this section shall be taken up by the animal control officer or other officer and impounded at a place provided by the city for such purpose. Such animal shall be held for a period of five (5) days, during which time the owner may r...

Va. Code § 3.2-6538 (Locality May Prohibit Dogs from Running at Large)

Any locality may by ordinance prohibit the running at large of all or any category of dogs, except dogs used for hunting, in all or any designated portion of such locality during such months as it may designate. Any such locality may also require that dogs be confined, restricted, or penned up during such periods. For the purpose of this section, a dog shall be deemed to run at large while roam...

Va. Code § 3.2-6540.1(C) (Vicious Dogs — No Breed-Specific Determination)

C. No canine or canine crossbreed shall be found to be a vicious dog solely because it is a particular breed, nor is the ownership of a particular breed of canine or canine crossbreed prohibited. No animal shall be found to be a vicious dog if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who was (i) committing, at the time, a crime upon the premises occupied by the animal's owner or ...

Newport News City Code § 45-518(2)

(2)Beehives maintained as a hobby for household use and non-commercial purposes shall be allowed provided the following criteria are met:a.No beehive may be placed or allowed to remain closer than three (3) feet from an adjoining property line.b.No beehive may be placed or allowed to remain closer than fifty (50) feet from any house, dwelling unit, apartment, hotel, motel, office, commercial es...

Newport News City Code § 6-8(a)-(b)

(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain any wild animal within the city limits, except as herein provided. It shall also be unlawful to maintain pigeons within the city limits which are at large and not under the control of the owner.(b)Wild animals may be kept in proper enclosures for public display as an accessory use to a public or private park, animal shelter, or nature related e...

Newport News City Code § 6-33; § 6-25(b)

Sec. 6-33. License required. It shall be unlawful for any person to own a dog or cat four (4) months old or older in this city, unless such dog or cat is licensed under the provisions of this division. Each day such animal is allowed to go unlicensed shall be considered a separate offense. Second and subsequent violations shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. ... Sec. 6-25(b): It shall be unl...

Newport News City Code § 6-12(a)

Every person residing in the city receiving a dog or cat placed to or with such person by any animal shelter located in the city or receiving funding of any kind from the city shall, within thirty (30) days of receiving such dog or cat... have such dog or cat spayed or neutered by a duly licensed veterinarian. Each day such animal is allowed to go unsterilized shall be considered a separate off...

Newport News City Code § 29-39

No person shall injure, molest or disturb any animals or birds, their homes or their young; nor shall any person give, make suffer or attempt to give any such animal or bird any noxious, injurious or disagreeable food, article or substance. (Ord. No. 172, § 11; Code 1961, § 26-16; Ord. No. 2909-82; Ord. No. 6977-13, § 1) Editor's note— Formerly, § 29-37. Cross reference— Animal and wel...

Newport News City Code § 6-8(c)

(c)Wild animals may be kept in the city by any person licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator by the Commonwealth of Virginia. No such wildlife rehabilitator shall keep more than four (4) such animals, unless such animals are from the same litter, at any one (1) time; nor shall any such animal be kept by a wildlife rehabilitator for more than one hundred twenty (120) days or until the animal is re...