Animal Ordinances in Norfolk, VA (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Norfolk, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Norfolk Backyard Chicken Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-7
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to keep in any building or on any premises within the limits of the city any livestock or any poultry other than chickens. No chicken shall be kept within the limits of the city without a permit issued by the department of public health. ... (2)No permit allowing the keeping of chickens shall be issued when the property proposed for housing the chickens is...
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.
Norfolk Leash Law: Animals at Large
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-79
It shall be unlawful for the owner, custodian or other person in charge or control of any animal but not including free-roaming cat caregivers to permit or allow such animal to be at large within the city limits or to negligently fail to prevent such animal from being at large within the city limits. Animals are prohibited from being at large in trailer coach parks, mobile home parks, and apart...
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.
Animals: Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsVa. Code § 3.2-6540.1
§ 3.2-6540.1 . Vicious dogs; penalties. A. As used in this section: "Serious injury" means an injury having a reasonable potential to cause death or any injury other than a sprain or strain, including serious disfigurement, serious impairment of health, or serious impairment of bodily function and requiring significant medical attention. "Vicious dog" means a canine or canine crossbreed that ha...
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.
Norfolk Wild And Exotic Animal Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-10
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or exhibit or permit to be kept or exhibited upon any property within the city limits any wild, exotic, and/or poisonous animal without a permit from the animal control officer. In no case, however, shall any such wild, exotic, and/or poisonous animal(s) be exhibited, displayed, or kept in such a manner so as to permit said animal(s) to escape, be ...
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.
Norfolk Bans Feeding Native Wildlife
Significant RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-13
It shall be unlawful to feed any native Virginia wildlife within the city limits except in areas designated for that purpose. This section shall not apply to bird feeders.
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.
Norfolk Caps Dogs And Cats At Four Each
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-8
(a)No more than four (4) adult dogs and four (4) adult cats may be kept in any one dwelling unit or premises within the city limits.(b)Prior to October 1, 1999, any person owning or having custody of more than the allowable number of dogs or cats shall apply for licenses for each adult dog or cat and such person shall not be charged with a violation of this section for the period which the lice...
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.
Norfolk Free-Roaming Cat Caregiver Rules
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-101
Any person or group of persons providing care to a free-roaming cat must comply with the following requirements: (1)All managed free-roaming cats must be maintained on private property with appropriate permission.(2)All cats that are part of Trap-Neuter-Return must be sterilized, vaccinated against rabies and ear-tipped for easy identification.(3)Free-roaming cat caregivers are required to prov...
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.
Norfolk Shelter Adoption Sterilization Rule
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-86
A dog or cat shall not be released for adoption from the SPCA, the animal care and adoption center, any humane society or animal shelter unless the animal has already been sterilized, except that an individual may adopt an animal before it has been sterilized if its health may be jeopardized by sterilization. (a)Should the animal not be sterilized for the exception allowed in this section, the ...
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.
Norfolk Pet Groomer And Pet Shop Permits
Some RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-9
(a)Any person operating a pet shop or grooming salon, operating as a dealer in companion animals, or offering for sale any companion animal, is required to obtain a permit from the animal control officer no later than January 31 of each year. The animal control officer shall inspect the facility prior to permit issuance. Such permit will be renewable each January 31 thereafter subject to the ap...
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.
Norfolk Bird Sanctuary Protection Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsNorfolk Code of Ordinances § 6.1-11
(a)The entire area within the corporate limits of the City of Norfolk shall be a bird sanctuary for the protection of all birds, except starlings, pigeons and English sparrows. Signs stating that the city is a bird sanctuary may be erected in this city; provided, that the types of signs and locations thereof are first approved by the city manager.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person within th...