General info:
A Dozen Tips to Help you Legalize Owning Chickens in Your Community: By Jono Miller, in Backyard Poultry Magazine
A Dozen Tips to Help you Legalize Owning Chickens in Your Community: By Jono Miller, in Backyard Poultry Magazine
Where to look up your local ordinances:
(Remember that HOA rules supersede local ordinances)
Chesapeake (legalized hens in November, 2012) Click here to view ordinance
See Facebook groups Hampton Roads Hens and 4 Chesapeake Hens for info
Gloucester (3/3/15: amended ordinance to legalize hens in SF-1 district) Click here to view ordinance
Hampton (legalized hens 8/14/13; expanded limit from 4 to 6 hens 9/14) Click here to view ordinance and permit application
(Chapter 5 - Animals; Article II. - Agricultural Animals, Features, Code of the City of Hampton):
https://library.municode.com/va/hampton/codes/code_of_ordinances
Isle of Wight County (March 2017: expanded chicken-keeping to residential areas; maximum of 6 hens, no roosters; documentation required). APPENDIX B.- ZONING; Article V. - Supplementary Use Regulations; Sec. 5-5002. - Supplementary use regulations for residential use types.
Click here to view ordinance.
(NOTE: Smithfield ordinance is separate; see below)
James City County (9/10/14: expanded chicken-keeping to R-1 and R-2 residential areas, with permit)
Click here to view ordinance and permit application
See Facebook group Save the Chickens JCC
New Kent County (According to Zoning Department's FAQ page, chickens are only allowed in A-1 districts)
2012: Petition started to request a change in regs: Click here to view
Newport News (5/26/15: voted to allow up to 6 hens on smaller lots with a 25' setback from property line, $25 permit. NOTE: nothing changed for those properties that have the larger setbacks listed in part (a), and those properties do not need a permit)
New rules went into effect 6/5/15.
Click here for brochure with summary of the rules (ordinance summary has been approved by NN Codes Compliance as accurate)
Click here to view ordinance (Section 6.2) and permit application
Click here to view other applicable sections
(Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6: Animals and Fowl, Article I: In General: Sec. 6-2, Sec. 6-5, Sec. 6-6, Sec. 6-7, Sec. 6-9):
https://www.municode.com/library/va/newport_news/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6ANFO
Facebook group for those wanting to change the Newport News regs: Newport News Backyard Chickens
Norfolk (legalized hens September 2013, ordinance revised October 2014) Click here to view ordinance
http://www.norfolk.gov/index.aspx?nid=2893
Portsmouth (legalized hens June 2013) Click here to view ordinance
(Code of Ordinances, Article 40.1-4: Use Standards. Section 40:1-4.4 Accessory Use Standards/Seubsection (C) Specific Standards for Certain Accessory Uses.)
See Facebook group Portsmouth Hen Keepers for info
Poquoson (Appendix A: Zoning. Article 1 - General Provisions. Section 1-17 - Keeping of Farm Animals):
https://www.municode.com/library/va/poquoson/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAZO_ARTIGEPR_S1-17KEFAAN
Smithfield (Part II - Code. Article III - Livestock. Section 18-202): Click here to view ordinance
(Within city limits, only allowed in areas zoned CC, Community Conservation)
Suffolk (Suffolk Unifed Development Ordinance, Article 7; Section 31 -702. Animal Regulations and Agricultural Production Operations and Facilities): Click here to view ordinance
("Agricultural animals and livestock shall be permitted in the A (Agricultural), RR (Rural Residential) and RE (Rural Estate) zoning districts and shall be prohibited in all other zoning districts.")
Virginia Beach: see Facebook group 4 Virginia Beach Hens for info
Williamsburg (Chapter 4 - Animals: Section 4-4, Fowl at large; Section 4-11, Noisy companion animals):
https://library.municode.com/va/williamsburg/codes/code_of_ordinances
York County Click here to view ordinance
***Change to rules for RR and RC districts enacted 10/21/14 requiring permits for new chicken keepers, and performance standards similar to R13 and R20 districts for lots under 2 acres.
(Chapter 24.1. Zoning; Article IV, Division 2, Sec. 24.1 - 414.1: Standards for domestic chicken-keeping as an accessory activity on residential property):
https://www.yorkcounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2073/County-Code?bidId=
(In November 2011, chicken-keeping rules were changed to allow chickens in all single-family residences, based on lot size)
Chesapeake (legalized hens in November, 2012) Click here to view ordinance
See Facebook groups Hampton Roads Hens and 4 Chesapeake Hens for info
Gloucester (3/3/15: amended ordinance to legalize hens in SF-1 district) Click here to view ordinance
Hampton (legalized hens 8/14/13; expanded limit from 4 to 6 hens 9/14) Click here to view ordinance and permit application
(Chapter 5 - Animals; Article II. - Agricultural Animals, Features, Code of the City of Hampton):
https://library.municode.com/va/hampton/codes/code_of_ordinances
Isle of Wight County (March 2017: expanded chicken-keeping to residential areas; maximum of 6 hens, no roosters; documentation required). APPENDIX B.- ZONING; Article V. - Supplementary Use Regulations; Sec. 5-5002. - Supplementary use regulations for residential use types.
Click here to view ordinance.
(NOTE: Smithfield ordinance is separate; see below)
James City County (9/10/14: expanded chicken-keeping to R-1 and R-2 residential areas, with permit)
Click here to view ordinance and permit application
See Facebook group Save the Chickens JCC
New Kent County (According to Zoning Department's FAQ page, chickens are only allowed in A-1 districts)
2012: Petition started to request a change in regs: Click here to view
Newport News (5/26/15: voted to allow up to 6 hens on smaller lots with a 25' setback from property line, $25 permit. NOTE: nothing changed for those properties that have the larger setbacks listed in part (a), and those properties do not need a permit)
New rules went into effect 6/5/15.
Click here for brochure with summary of the rules (ordinance summary has been approved by NN Codes Compliance as accurate)
Click here to view ordinance (Section 6.2) and permit application
Click here to view other applicable sections
(Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6: Animals and Fowl, Article I: In General: Sec. 6-2, Sec. 6-5, Sec. 6-6, Sec. 6-7, Sec. 6-9):
https://www.municode.com/library/va/newport_news/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH6ANFO
Facebook group for those wanting to change the Newport News regs: Newport News Backyard Chickens
Norfolk (legalized hens September 2013, ordinance revised October 2014) Click here to view ordinance
http://www.norfolk.gov/index.aspx?nid=2893
Portsmouth (legalized hens June 2013) Click here to view ordinance
(Code of Ordinances, Article 40.1-4: Use Standards. Section 40:1-4.4 Accessory Use Standards/Seubsection (C) Specific Standards for Certain Accessory Uses.)
See Facebook group Portsmouth Hen Keepers for info
Poquoson (Appendix A: Zoning. Article 1 - General Provisions. Section 1-17 - Keeping of Farm Animals):
https://www.municode.com/library/va/poquoson/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXAZO_ARTIGEPR_S1-17KEFAAN
Smithfield (Part II - Code. Article III - Livestock. Section 18-202): Click here to view ordinance
(Within city limits, only allowed in areas zoned CC, Community Conservation)
Suffolk (Suffolk Unifed Development Ordinance, Article 7; Section 31 -702. Animal Regulations and Agricultural Production Operations and Facilities): Click here to view ordinance
("Agricultural animals and livestock shall be permitted in the A (Agricultural), RR (Rural Residential) and RE (Rural Estate) zoning districts and shall be prohibited in all other zoning districts.")
Virginia Beach: see Facebook group 4 Virginia Beach Hens for info
Williamsburg (Chapter 4 - Animals: Section 4-4, Fowl at large; Section 4-11, Noisy companion animals):
https://library.municode.com/va/williamsburg/codes/code_of_ordinances
York County Click here to view ordinance
***Change to rules for RR and RC districts enacted 10/21/14 requiring permits for new chicken keepers, and performance standards similar to R13 and R20 districts for lots under 2 acres.
(Chapter 24.1. Zoning; Article IV, Division 2, Sec. 24.1 - 414.1: Standards for domestic chicken-keeping as an accessory activity on residential property):
https://www.yorkcounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2073/County-Code?bidId=
(In November 2011, chicken-keeping rules were changed to allow chickens in all single-family residences, based on lot size)
Local Zoning News:
Newport News:
A group of citizens are currently interested in getting the 2015 coop setbacks reduced from the current 25 feet from the property lines. If you are interested in joining that effort, contact us!
2015: May 26th City Council meeting, 7:00 p.m.: The chicken ordinance amendment passed unanimously! The ordinance allows up to 6 hens (no roosters), with a 25-foot setback from the property line, one-time $25 application fee required. If you were legal (i.e., had 175' between your coop and a neighboring residence, 250' from a church or school) before you are still fine with more than 6 and roos-- the amendment doesn't changing the existing rules for those with enough space.
Background: A group of residents circulated a petition to expand chicken-keeping and spoke before City Council. Council voted to have city staff come up with a draft. We then did a presentation before the Regulations Committee, and they made a few changes to the initial draft before sending it to the City Manager.
March 26th, it was been seen by the City Manager's office.
May 12th, the draft was discussed by City Council at their afternoon work session.
May 26th , ordinance amendment was passed at the City Council regular meeting.
5/26/15 Daily Press article
11/10/14 Daily Press article: "Will Newport News Be Next to Allow Backyard Chickens?"
A group of citizens are currently interested in getting the 2015 coop setbacks reduced from the current 25 feet from the property lines. If you are interested in joining that effort, contact us!
2015: May 26th City Council meeting, 7:00 p.m.: The chicken ordinance amendment passed unanimously! The ordinance allows up to 6 hens (no roosters), with a 25-foot setback from the property line, one-time $25 application fee required. If you were legal (i.e., had 175' between your coop and a neighboring residence, 250' from a church or school) before you are still fine with more than 6 and roos-- the amendment doesn't changing the existing rules for those with enough space.
Background: A group of residents circulated a petition to expand chicken-keeping and spoke before City Council. Council voted to have city staff come up with a draft. We then did a presentation before the Regulations Committee, and they made a few changes to the initial draft before sending it to the City Manager.
March 26th, it was been seen by the City Manager's office.
May 12th, the draft was discussed by City Council at their afternoon work session.
May 26th , ordinance amendment was passed at the City Council regular meeting.
5/26/15 Daily Press article
11/10/14 Daily Press article: "Will Newport News Be Next to Allow Backyard Chickens?"
