Virginia Code 15.2-2288 and 15.2-2288.3 limit how localities may zone agricultural land, preserving by-right production and restricting special use permit requirements for bona fide farms.
Virginia Code 15.2-2288 prohibits counties, cities, and towns from requiring special exceptions or special use permits for production agriculture and silviculture activities on lands zoned for agricultural use. Code 15.2-2288.3 protects agritourism and farm-related events including weddings, wineries, breweries, and distilleries from undue local regulation while permitting reasonable conditions on noise, traffic, and lighting. Localities retain authority to address public health and safety but must accommodate the customary uses of agricultural lands and cannot effectively prohibit by-right farming.
Localities adopting ordinances that effectively prohibit production agriculture or unreasonably restrict farm-related events may face declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, and potential damages. Affected farmers can seek judicial review and demand ordinance amendments to comply with state zoning preemption.
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk prohibits habitual barking that disturbs neighbors under City Code Chapter 6 (Animals). A dog barking continuously for 20 minutes or intermittently f...
Norfolk, VA
Amplified music in Norfolk is prohibited if plainly audible at 50 feet from the source or inside another residence. Granby Street, Waterside District, and Gh...
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk enforces quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM weekdays and 11 PM to 8 AM weekends under City Code Chapter 26. Plainly audible standard applies at 50 feet o...
Norfolk, VA
Virginia has no statutory shared-fence cost law. Norfolk property owners are individually responsible for fences on their own land. Boundary-line fences requ...
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk requires all dogs off their owner's property to be leashed under City Code Chapter 6. Town Point Park, Ocean View Beach, and most city parks require ...
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk limits households to a combined total of 4 dogs and cats over 4 months old without a kennel license. Kennel licenses require zoning approval. Militar...
See how Norfolk's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.