Codes & Ordinances
- City Hall
Through the online Virginia Beach City Code, users can search specific city regulations and ordinances. The link will open a new window to the Municipal Code Corporation (MCC) website where our online City Code is maintained. The left frame lists the chapters and appendices in the City Code. Click the + signs to expand the list or click the title to go to that location in the Code. You can also use the Search feature to find sections of the Code pertaining to a particular subject.
The following Development Ordinances are listed as appendices to the City Code:
- Appendix A - Zoning Ordinance
- Appendix 1- Oceanfront Resort District Form-Based Code
- Appendix B - Subdivision Regulations
- Appendix C - Site Plan Ordinance
- Appendix D - Stormwater Management
- Appendix E - Tree Planting, Preservation, and Replacement
- Appendix F - Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Ordinance
- Appendix G - Southern Watersheds Management Ordinance
- Appendix H - Storm Sewer System Discharge Ordinance
- Appendix I - Airport Noise Attenuation and Safety Ordinance
- Appendix J - Agricultural Reserve Program
Amendments to the City Code are usually included within two months of approval by the City Council.
Recent Amendments
| DATE | ORDINANCE AMENDMENT | CODE | DESCRIPTION |
| 11/21/2023 | ORD-3755 | Section Amended: § 38-9 | AN ORDINANCE TO ADD SECTION 38-9 TO 1 THE CITY CODE TO PROHIBIT WEAPONS AT 2 THE HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER |
| 11/21/2023 | ORD-3754 | Section Amended: § 21-502 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 21-502 OF 1 THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO PENALTY FOR 2 VIOLATION OF WEIGHT LIMITS |
10/17/2023 | ORD-3753 | Section Amended: § 35.3-10 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CITY CODE SECTION 35.3-10 1 TO EXTEND THE SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE 2 CHESOPEIAN COLONY AREA DREDGING SPECIAL 3 SERVICE DISTRICT |
| 09/21/2023 | ORD-3752 | Section Amended: § 21-407 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 21-407 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO CHARGES FOR TOWING AND STORAGE OF VEHICLES |
| 9/05/2023 | ORD-3751 | Section Amended: § 10-1 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 10-1 OF THE CITY CODE TO MOVE THE CENTRAL ABSENTEE PRECINCT FOR THE NOVEMBER 2023 AND MARCH 2024 ELECTIONS |
| 9/05/2023 | ORD-3750 | Section Amended: § 5-311, 5-500, 5-501, AND 5-520 through 5-529 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 5-311, 5-500, 5-501, AND 5-520 THROUGH 5-529 PERTAINING TO ANIMALS |
7/11/2023 | ORD-3749 | Section Amended: § 110 of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE TO 1 AMEND SECTION 110 OF APPENDIX F, CHESAPEAKE BAY PRESERVATION AREA ORDINANCE OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO NOTICE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY PRESERVATION AREA VARIANCE APPLICATIONS |
| 7/11/2023 | ORD-3748 | Sections Amended: §§ 1605 and 1609 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE 1 TO AMEND SECTIONS 1605 AND 1609 THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO NOTICE AND PERMITS FOR COASTAL PRIMARY SAND DUNE APPLICATIONS |
| 7/11/2023 | ORD-3747 | Sections Amended: §§ 1405 and 1409 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE 1 TO AMEND SECTIONS 1405 AND 1409 THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO NOTICE AND PERMITS FOR WETLANDS APPLICATIONS |
| 7/11/2023 | ORD-3746 | Section Amended: § 106 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE TO 1 AMEND SECTION 106 THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO NOTICE BY THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS |
| 6/20/2023 | ORD-3745 | Section Added: § 2-215.4 | AN ORDINANCE TO ADD SECTION 2-215.4 TO THE CITY CODE TO AUTHORIZE ALTERNATIVE BONDING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEFINITE DELIVERY OR QUANTITY CONTRACTS |
| 6/20/2023 | ORD-3744 | Section Added: § 35-14 | AN ORDINANCE TO ADD CITY CODE SECTION 35-14 TO ALLOW PRORATION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ELDERLY AND DISABLED TAX RATE |
| 6/6/2023 | ORD-3743 | Section Amended: § 102 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 102 THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE PEMBROKE SGA OVERLAY DISTRICT – WESTERN CAMPUS |
| 6/6/2023 | ORD-3742 | Section Added: Article 24 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE TO ADD ARTICLE 24 TO THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE TO ADD PEMBROKE SGA OVERLAY DISTRICTS/WESTERN CAMPUS |
| 6/6/2023 | ORD-3741 | Section Amended: § 202 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 202 OF THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO FLOOD ZONE HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS |
| 5/16/2023 | ORD-3740 | Section Amended: § 10-1.1 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 10-1.1 OF THE CITY CODE TO ADD THE KEMPSVILLE AREA LIBRARY AS A LOCATION FOR ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON |
| 5/16/2023 | ORD-3739 | Section Amended: § 5.3.7 of the Oceanfront Resort Form-Based Code | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 5.3.7 OF THE OCEANFRONT RESORT FORM-BASED CODE PERTAINING TO COMMERCIAL PARKING LOTS, TEMPORARY |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3738 | Sections Amended: 2-85; 2-104; 2-105; 2-106; 2-107; 2-109; 2-110; 2-111; 2-112; 2-116; 2-117; and 2-117.1 Sections Repealed: 2-83.1; 2-83.2; 2-83.3; 2-84; 2-113; 2-114; 2-115; and 2-119 | AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND UPDATE VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE TO MODERNIZE HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3737 | Sections Amended: City Code §§28-3.1, 28-4.1, 28-26, 37-7.01, 37-7.1, 37-16, and 37-47 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO THE WATER AND SEWER FEES |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3736 | Section Amended: § 31-39 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 31-39 OF THE CITY CODE REGARDING THE WASTE COLLECTION FEE TO INCREASE THE WASTE COLLECTION FEE FOR SUCH SERVICES COMMENCING JULY 1, 2023 |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3735 | Sections Amended: §§ 35-253 and 35-254 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 35-253 AND 35-254 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO LOCAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE TAXES |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3734 | Section Amended: § 21-240 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 21-240 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING T0 REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO DUIS AND RELATED INCIDENTS |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3733 | Sections Amended: § 2-411 | AN ORDINANCE AMEND SECTION 2-411 OF THE CITY CODE TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TO SET FORTH THE FUNCTIONS THEREOF |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3732 | Section Amended: § 37-7.1 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 37-7.1 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO WATER CAPITAL RECOVERY FEES |
| 5/9/2023 | ORD-3731 | Section Amended: §§ 35-64 AND 35-67 Section Added: § 35-69.1 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 35-64 AND 35-67 OF THE CITY CODE AND TO ADD SECTION 35-69.1 PERTAINING TO THE EXEMPTION OR DEFERRAL OF REAL ESTATE TAXES FOR ELDERLY OR DISABLED PERSONS |
| 4/4/2023 | ORD-3730 | Sections Amended: §§ 21-353 & 21-354 | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 21-353 AND 21-354 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS |
| 4/4/2023 | ORD-3729 | Section Repealed: 21-381 | AN ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE SUNSET DATE OF ARTICLE III, DIVISION 5 OF CHAPTER 21 OF THE CITY CODE PERTAINING TO RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING IN THE HISTORIC CAVALIER SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD. |
| 4/4/2023 | ORD-3728 | Section Amended: § 104 of the City Zoning Ordinance | AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 104 OF THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE USE OF CIVIL PENALTIES |
Paper and electronic copies of the Virginia Beach City Code and Development Ordinances are available for purchase from the Municipal Code Corporation website or by contacting MCC at the address, phone number, or email below:
Municipal Code Corporation
P.O. Box 2235
Tallahassee, FL 32316-2235
Email: info@municode.com
Phone: (850) 576-3171
Fax: (850) 575-8852