{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-422.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-422.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-422.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-422.html"}],"law_id":82096,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82096,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-422","catch_line":"Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 18.1-364, 18.1-367; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1986, c. 19; 2010, cc. 262, 420; 2014, c. 167.","full_text":"It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health emergency where the emergency declaration expressly waives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":294238,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health emergency where the emergency declaration expressly waives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15300,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Tending to Cause Violence","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14570,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:46","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:46","permalink":{"id":168077,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15300,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/9\/5","url":"\/18.2\/9\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14570,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Peace and Order","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","permalink":{"id":167995,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14570,"identifier":"9","token":"18.2\/9","url":"\/18.2\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63218,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-420","catch_line":"\"Clandestine organization\" defined","url":"\/18.2-420\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-420","metadata":false},{"id":58258,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-421","catch_line":"Information to be filed by clandestine organization with State Corporation Commission","url":"\/18.2-421\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-421","metadata":false},{"id":82096,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-422","catch_line":"Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions","url":"\/18.2-422\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-422","metadata":false},{"id":72550,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-423","catch_line":"Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent","url":"\/18.2-423\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-423","metadata":false},{"id":77995,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-423.01","catch_line":"Burning object on property of another or a highway or other public place with intent to intimidate; penalty","url":"\/18.2-423.01\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-423.01","metadata":false},{"id":86316,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-423.1","catch_line":"Placing Nazi symbol or emblem on certain property with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent","url":"\/18.2-423.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-423.1","metadata":false},{"id":78205,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-423.2","catch_line":"Displaying noose on property of another or a highway or other public place with intent to intimidate; penalty","url":"\/18.2-423.2\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-423.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58258,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-421","catch_line":"Information to be filed by clandestine organization with State Corporation Commission","url":"\/18.2-421\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-421","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72550,"structure_id":15300,"section_number":"18.2-423","catch_line":"Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent","url":"\/18.2-423\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-423","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-422\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 358; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1986, chapter 19; in 2010, chapters 262<\/a> and 420<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 167<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":168087,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82096,"identifier":"18.2-422","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-422","url":"\/18.2-422\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-422\/","token":"18.2\/9\/5\/18.2-422","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-422","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent<\/span> to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit<\/span> from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief<\/span> description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health emergency where the emergency declaration expressly waives<\/span> this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver<\/span>. The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITION OF WEARING OF MASKS IN CERTAIN PLACES; EXCEPTIONS (\u00a7 18.2-422)\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to\nconceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial\nportion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the\nwearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in\nthis Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof\nconsent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not\napply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in\nprofessions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks\nwhich are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other\npersons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade\nball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons\nupon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his\nperson an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical\nnecessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device\nwill no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device, or\n(b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in\nresponse to a public health emergency where the emergency declaration expressly\nwaives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and\nprovides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any provisions of this\nsection is a Class 6 felony.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 18.1-364, 18.1-367; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15;\n1986, c. 19; 2010, cc. 262, 420; 2014, c. 167.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}