TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
BOARD OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Final Regulation
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Board of Wildlife Resources is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act pursuant to § 2.2-4002 A 3 of the Code of Virginia when promulgating regulations regarding the management of wildlife.
Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-20. Definitions and Miscellaneous: In General (amending 4VAC15-20-50, 4VAC15-20-65, 4VAC15-20-130, 4VAC15-20-155).
Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective Date: October 1, 2026.
Agency Contact: Aaron Proctor, Policy Manager, Department of Wildlife Resources, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 801-8199, or email aaron.proctor@dwr.virginia.gov.
Summary:
The amendments (i) update the incorporation by reference of the Department of Wildlife Resources List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia and the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List; (ii) adjust certain hunting, fishing, and trapping fees; (iii) add Roanoke Logperch as endangered and remove Emerald Shiner as state-threatened on the Virginia List of Endangered and Threatened Species; and (iv) establish a $10 fee for camping on Wildlife Management Areas and other department-owned or department-managed lands.
4VAC15-20-50. Definitions; "wild animal," "native animal," "naturalized animal," "nonnative (exotic) animal," and "domestic animal" of categories of "animal".
A. In accordance with § 29.1-100 of the Code of Virginia, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section when used in regulations of the board:
"Native animal" means those species and subspecies of animals naturally occurring in Virginia, as included in the department's 2024 2026 "List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia," with copies available in the headquarters and regional offices of the department.
"Naturalized animal" means those species and subspecies of animals not originally native to Virginia that have established wild, self-sustaining populations, as included in the department's 2024 2026 "List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia," with copies available in the headquarters and regional offices of the department.
"Nonnative (exotic) animal" means those species and subspecies of animals not naturally occurring in Virginia, excluding domestic and naturalized species.
The following animals are defined as domestic animals:
Domestic dog (Canis familiaris), including wolf hybrids.
Domestic cat (Felis catus), including hybrids with wild felines.
Domestic horse (Equus caballus), including hybrids with Equus asinus.
Domestic ass, burro, and donkey (Equus asinus).
Domestic cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus).
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries), including hybrids with wild sheep.
Domestic goat (Capra hircus).
Domestic swine (Sus scrofa), including pot-bellied pig and excluding any swine that are wild or for which no claim of ownership can be made.
Llama (Lama glama).
Alpaca (Lama pacos).
Camels (Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius).
Domesticated races of hamsters (Mesocricetus spp.).
Domesticated races of mink (Mustela vison) where adults are heavier than 1.15 kilograms or their coat color can be distinguished from wild mink.
Domesticated races of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).
Domesticated races of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).
Domesticated races of chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger).
Domesticated races of rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus).
Domesticated races of mice (Mus musculus).
Domesticated breeds of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. and any lineage resulting from crossbreeding recognized breeds. A list of recognized rabbit breeds is available on the department's website.
Domesticated races of chickens (Gallus).
Domesticated races of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).
Domesticated races of ducks and geese distinguishable morphologically from wild birds.
Feral pigeons (Columba domestica and Columba livia) and domesticated races of pigeons.
Domesticated races of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).
Domesticated races of peafowl (Pavo cristatus).
Domesticated morphs of red cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) visibly distinguishable from native red cornsnakes based on their unique colors and patterns.
"Wild animal" means any member of the animal kingdom, except domestic animals, including any native, naturalized, or nonnative (exotic) mammal, fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, or other invertebrate and any hybrid of these animals, except as otherwise specified in regulations of the board, or part, product, egg, or offspring of them, or the dead body or parts thereof.
B. Exception for red foxes and European rabbits. Domesticated red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) having coat colors distinguishable from wild red foxes and wild European rabbits possessed in captivity on July 1, 2017, may be maintained in captivity until the animal dies, but the animal may not be bred or sold without a permit from the department. Persons possessing domesticated red foxes or European rabbits without a permit from the department must declare such possession in writing to the department by January 1, 2018. This written declaration must include the number of individual animals in possession and date acquired, sex, estimated age, coloration, and a photograph of each fox or European rabbit. This written declaration (i) shall serve as a permit for possession only and (ii) is not transferable.
4VAC15-20-65. Hunting, trapping, and fishing license and permit fees.
In accordance with the authority of the board under subdivision 16 of § 29.1-103 of the Code of Virginia, the following fees are established for hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses and permits:
EDITOR'S NOTE: No changes from the proposed regulation, as published in 42:25 VA.R. 2234-2237 July 27, 2026, were made to the Virginia Resident License to Hunt, Virginia Resident Licenses for Additional Hunting Privileges, Virginia Nonresident Licenses to Hunt, Virginia Nonresident Licenses for Additional Hunting Privileges, Miscellaneous Licenses or Permits to Hunt, Virginia Resident and Nonresident Licenses to Trap, Virginia Resident Licenses to Fish, Virginia Nonresident Licenses to Fish, and Miscellaneous Licenses or Permits to Fish tables, so those tables are not being published.
4VAC15-20-130. Endangered and threatened species; adoption of federal list; additional species enumerated.
A. The board hereby adopts the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List, Endangered Species Act of December 28, 1973 (16 USC §§ 1531 through 1543), as amended as of October 10, 2024 [ April 6, 2026 July 21, 2026 ], and declares all listed species listed thereon to be endangered or threatened species in the Commonwealth. Pursuant to subdivision 12 of § 29.1-103 of the Code of Virginia, the director is hereby delegated authority to propose adoption of modifications and amendments to the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List in accordance with the procedures of §§ 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
EDITOR'S NOTE: No changes from the proposed regulation, as published in 42:25 VA.R. 2234-2237 July 27, 2026, were made to subsections B, C, D, and E of this section, so those subsections are not being published.
4VAC15-20-155. Camping on Wildlife Management Areas and other department-owned or department-managed lands.
A. Authorization. It shall be unlawful to camp at any time without purchasing a $10 camping authorization.
B. Camping periods. Unless otherwise posted or authorized, it shall be unlawful to camp for more than 14 consecutive nights, or more than 14 nights in a 28-day period on department-owned or controlled lands.
C. Allowed and prohibited locations. Back country camping is allowed. Adjacent to roadways, camping is allowed only in previously cleared areas. No vegetation may be cut, damaged, or removed to establish a campsite. Enclosed camping trailers or camping vehicles are allowed if they do not occupy the entire available parking area in that location. It shall be unlawful to camp within 300 feet of any department-owned lake, boat ramp, or other facility. It shall be unlawful to camp at other specific locations as posted. This section shall not prohibit active angling at night along shorelines where permitted.
D. Removal of personal property and refuse. Any person who establishes or occupies a camp shall be responsible for the complete removal of all personal property and refuse when the camping authorization has expired. Any personal property or refuse that remains after the camping authorization has expired shall be considered litter and punishable pursuant to § 33.2-802 of the Code of Virginia.
E. It shall be unlawful when camping on department-owned or department-managed lands to store or leave unattended any food (including food for pets and livestock), refuse, bear attractant, or other wildlife attractant unless it is (i) in a bear-resistant container; (ii) in a trunk of a vehicle or in a closed, locked, hard-sided motor vehicle with a solid top; (iii) in a closed, locked, hard-body trailer; or (iv) suspended at least 10 feet clear of the ground at all points and at least four feet horizontally from the supporting tree or pole and any other tree or pole. It shall be unlawful to discard, bury, or abandon any food, refuse, bear attractant, or other wildlife attractant unless it is disposed of by placing it inside an animal-resistant trash receptacle provided by the department.
F. Any violation of this section or other posted rules shall be punishable as a Class III misdemeanor, and the camping permit authorization shall become null and void. The permittee shall be required to immediately vacate the property upon summons or notification. A second or subsequent offense may result in the loss of camping privileges on department-owned or managed properties.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (4VAC15-20)
List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia, May 2024, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia, May 2026, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
VA.R. Doc. No. R26-8702; Filed August 26, 2026