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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71449</law_id><section_number>29.1-526</section_number><catch_line>Counties and cities may prohibit hunting or trapping near primary and secondary highways</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>29.1-521.3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Wildlife and Fish Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Hunting and Trapping</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The governing body of any county or city may prohibit by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> the hunting, with a <span class="dictionary">firearm</span>, of any <span class="dictionary">game</span> bird or <span class="dictionary">game</span> animal while the hunting is on or within 100 yards of any primary or secondary highway in such county or city and may provide that any violation of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. In addition, the governing body of any county or city may prohibit by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> the trapping of any <span class="dictionary">game</span> animal or furbearer within fifty feet of the shoulder of any primary or secondary highway in the county or city and may provide that any violation of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. No such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall prohibit such trapping where the written permission of the landowner is obtained. It shall be the duty of the governing body enacting an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> under the provisions of this section to notify the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> by registered mail no later than May 1 of the year in which the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> is to take effect. If the governing body fails to make such notice, the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be unenforceable.
		For the purpose of this section, the terms &#x201C;hunt&#x201D; and &#x201C;trap&#x201D; shall not include the necessary crossing of highways for the bona fide purpose of going into or leaving a lawful hunting or trapping area.</p></section></text><history>1962, c. 141, &#xA7; 29-144.5; 1964, c. 549; 1977, c. 377; 1982, c. 194; 1987, c. 488; 1989, c. 421.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
