Virginia's home food exemption lets Norfolk residents make and sell shelf-stable foods like baked goods, jams, and candy from a home kitchen without a state food-establishment permit or inspection, as long as each product is labeled. Va. Code section 3.2-5130 controls.
Norfolk kitchens operate under Virginia's private-home food exemption in Va. Code section 3.2-5130, expanded effective July 1, 2023. It covers not-potentially-hazardous, shelf-stable foods: candies, jams and jellies, dried herbs, nuts, vinegars, popcorn, dried pasta, roasted coffee, cereals, and baked goods, items that need no time or temperature control. These may be sold directly to individuals in Virginia for personal use, not for resale, without a food-establishment permit or state inspection. Each product must be labeled with the preparer's name and address and carry the statement "NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION." Foods needing refrigeration are excluded. A Norfolk business license still applies.
Selling foods outside the exemption, such as items needing refrigeration, or omitting the required label lets the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services order sales stopped and require full food-establishment permitting.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk lets residents put up holiday decorations on private property without a permit. Displays just cannot block sidewalks or sight lines, create fire or e...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk allows small temporary signs to advertise a yard or garage sale on private property, but bars them from the public right-of-way, utility poles, and t...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk treats political yard signs as temporary signs under its zoning ordinance and cannot regulate their message. Signs are allowed on private property wi...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk runs rental inspection districts under Va. Code 36-105.1:1 and City Code Chapter 36.1. Rental homes in designated older neighborhoods must pass a cod...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk follows the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, not a local just-cause law. Landlords must give written notice and sue in court; a month-to...
Norfolk City, VA
Norfolk has no rent control, and it legally cannot enact any. Virginia is a strict Dillon's Rule state, so no locality may cap rent without the General Assem...
See how Norfolk City's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.