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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81133</law_id><section_number>28.2-634</section_number><catch_line>Nonresidents; taking, planting oysters prohibited; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="28.2">Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Tidal Fisheries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Planting Grounds</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Restrictions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If any person other than a <span class="dictionary">resident</span>, as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/28.2-200/">28.2-200</a>, takes or catches oysters or clams in any of the waters of this Commonwealth, or in any of the waters under the Commonwealth&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, for market or profit, he is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. If any person other than a <span class="dictionary">resident</span>, as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/28.2-200/">28.2-200</a>, or a corporation authorized to occupy and hold oyster-planting grounds, rents any oyster-planting grounds or plants oysters or clams in any of the waters of the Commonwealth, or waters under the Commonwealth&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, he is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, and such rental, lease or assignment is void. The <span class="dictionary">burden of proof</span> of residency under this section is the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s. This section shall not apply to any oyster-planting ground against which foreclosure proceedings have been instituted or title to which is acquired because of the lessee&#x2019;s death. Any property interest so acquired shall not extend longer than twelve months from the time the title vests.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 28-139; 1962, c. 406, &#xA7; 28.1-122; 1992, c. 836.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
