Virginia Statewide Rule

Virginia Wildlife Feeding and Baiting Restrictions

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Virginia (2026)

Key Facts

Baiting statute: Va. Code 29.1-521
Deer feeding: Va. Code 29.1-527.2
Civil fine cap: $50
Enforcer: VA Dept. of Wildlife Resources

Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Summary

Virginia prohibits baiting wildlife for hunting and lets localities ban deer feeding, while bear feeding bans are addressed through hunting and Department regulations.

§ 29.1-527.2 . Localities may prohibit feeding of deer. Any city or town may, by ordinance, prohibit the feeding of deer within its jurisdiction. The Department shall make available to localities a model ordinance suggested for use by localities. The penalty for violating such an ordinance shall be a civil fine not to exceed $50. It shall be the duty of the governing body enacting an ordinance under this section to notify the Director by registered mail of the adoption of such an ordinance. Any such ordinance shall not apply to agricultural, commercial, noncommercial, or residential plantings; distribution of food to livestock; or wildlife management activities conducted or authorized by the Department. The ordinance shall not limit the authority of the Board to regulate feeding of wildlife consistent with this chapter. 2016, c. 376 . The chapters of the acts of assembly referenced in the historical citation at the end of this section may not constitute a comprehensive list of such chapters and may exclude chapters whose provisions have expired. Virginia Law Library The Code of Virginia, Constitution of Virginia, Charters, Authorities, Compacts and Uncodified Acts are available in both PDF and CSV formats. Helpful Resources Virginia Code Commission Virginia Register of Regulations U.S. Constitution For Developers The Virginia Law website data is available via a web service.

Source: Virginia Legislative Information SystemView official code

Full Breakdown

Va. Code Section 29.1-521 makes it unlawful to bait blinds or put out salt or food for taking wildlife. Section 29.1-527.2 authorizes any city or town to prohibit deer feeding by ordinance, with civil fines up to $50 (residential and agricultural plantings excluded). The Department of Wildlife Resources also enforces statewide bear-baiting prohibitions during seasons. Localities cannot legalize what state law forbids; they can only add stricter feeding bans for deer.

Violations & Penalties

Wildlife baiting is a Class 3 misdemeanor; deer-feeding ordinance violations carry up to $50 civil fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed deer in my Virginia backyard?

Only if your city or town has not adopted a feeding ban. Many localities have invoked Section 29.1-527.2 to prohibit deer feeding. Residential and agricultural plantings are exempt.

Is bear baiting legal in Virginia?

Hunting bears over bait is restricted under state hunting regulations. General feeding of bears is discouraged and may be prohibited by Department regulation due to public safety concerns.

Sources

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