Codes & Ordinances
Users can search specific city regulations and ordinances online through Virginia Beach City Code.
City Charter Posting
The posting of the City Charter on municode.com is a convenience to the public. The Virginia Legislative Information Service (LIS) posts the City Charter and in the event of a discrepancy between the posting of the City Charter, the version posted by the LIS controls.
​​​​​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
Recent Amendments
-
Amendments to the City Code are typically incorporated within two months of approval by the City Council. The recent amendments are maintained on this page for six months.
Date
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Description
Date
July 14, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 10-1.1
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 10-1.1 of the City Code to Add the Princess Anne Area Library as a Location for Absentee Voting in Person and to Remove Meyera Oberndorf Central Library as a Location for Absentee Voting in Person
Date
July 7, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Add Article VI to Chapter 31
Description
An Ordinance to Add Article VI to Chapter 31 of the City Code Pertaining to the Use of Expanded Polystyrene Foodservice Containers.
Date
July 7, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 105
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 105 of the City Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Nonconforming Mobile Homes
Date
July 7, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 203
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 203 of the City Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Minimum Parking Requirements for Residential and Mixed Uses.
Date
July 7, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 207
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 207 of the City Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Building-Mounted Antennas, Small Wireless Facilities and Temporary Communication Towers
Date
July 7, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § § 501 and 502
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Sections 501 and 502 of the City Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Uses and Dimensional Requirements in the R-2.5 Zoning District
Date
July 7, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 401, 501, 901 and 1001
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Sections 401, 501, 901 and 1001 of the City Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Solar Facilities as a Conditional and Accessory Use in the Agricultural, Residential, Commercial and Industrial Districts
Date
June 16, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 4
Description
An Ordinance Amend Section 4 of The Site Plan Ordinance (Appendix C) Pertaining to Information Required on Site Development Plan
Date
June 16, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 7.1
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 7.1 Of The Subdivision Regulations Pertaining Plans and Specifications for General Improvements
Date
June 16, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 5.9 Erosion and Stormwater Management
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code An Ordinance To Amend Section 5.9 Of The City Code Appendix D, Erosion And Stormwater Management, Pertaining To Construction General Permit Fees 33-19 Pertaining to Hauling of Sand, Gravel, Topsoil, Fill, or Other Excavated Material off an Excavation Site
Date
June 16, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § § 33-19
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code Section 33-19 Pertaining to Hauling of Sand, Gravel, Topsoil, Fill, or Other Excavated Material off an Excavation Site
Date
June 16, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Chapter amended: 19
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code Chapter 19 Pertaining to Mobile Homes
Date
May 19, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 1001
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 1001 of the City Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Crematories in the Industrial District
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 2-83
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 2-83 of the City Code Pertaining to Holidays
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §§ 21-320 and 21-321
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code Sections 21-320 and 21-321 Regarding Parking and Parking Meters
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §§ 2-187.1 and 2-199
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code Sections 2-187.1 and 2-199 Regarding Budget Amendment Procedures
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §§ 2-7
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code Related to the Office of Volunteer Resources
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §§ 2-500 and 2-501
Description
An Ordinance to Add Sections 2-500 and 2-501 to the City Code to Create the Department of Emergency Communications and Citizen Services and to Set Forth the Functions Thereof
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § § 31-15 and 31-35
Description
An Ordinance to Update Various Sections of the City Code to Update Pricing on Automated Refuse Receptacles and Yard Waste Containers
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 37-7.1
Description
An Ordinance to Amend the City Code Pertaining to Water Capital Recovery Fees
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 28-4 -28-4.1
Description
An Ordinance to Amend the City Code Pertaining to Sewer Capital Recovery Fees
Date
May 12, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §§ 35-64 and 35-67
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Sections 35-64 and 35-67 of the City Code Pertaining to the Exemption or Deferral of Real Estate Taxes for Elderly or Disabled Persons
Date
May 5, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 18-108
Description
An Ordinance to Amend City Code Section 18-108 Pertaining to Temporary or Transient Businesses
Date
April 21, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §16-43
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 16-43 of the City Code to Reflect the ImagineVB 2040, City of Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan
Date
April 21, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: §§ 239.05, 283, 405, 500, 1500, 1501, 1502, 1507, 1520, 1521, 1524, 1526, 1804, 1810, 2106, 2211, and 2401Â
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Sections of the City Zoning Ordinance to Reflect the ImagineVB 2040, City of Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan
Date
April 21, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section added: § 208.1
Description
An Ordinance to add Section 208.1 of the City Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the Regulation of roll off containers
Date
March 17, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Section amended: § 21-202
Description
An Ordinance to Amend Section 21-202 to The City Code to Prohibit Through Trucks on Regent University Drive and to Require Signage of such prohibition on Regent University Drive
Date
March 3, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 2-3.1
Description
An Ordinance to amend City Code Section 2-3.1 pertaining to Boards and Commissions generally.
Date
Feb. 17, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 21-230
Description
An Ordinance to amend Section 21-230 of the City Code pertaining to traffic calming.
Date
Feb. 17, 2026
Ordinance Amendment
Code
Sections amended: § 23-2
Description
An ordinance to amend Section 23-2 of the city code pertaining to curfew for unaccompanied minors.
-
Appointive Agencies Independent Citizen Review Board (ICRB) Appointed Officials City Council Codes & Ordinances Municode Library Departments & Divisions Lighting Requests Local Election Districts Mayor's Office Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities Mayor's Commission on Aging Mayor's Committee for Veterans 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Mayor's Alternative Energy Taskforce Mayor's State of the City Address 2026 State of the City 2025 State of the City 2024 State of the City 2023 State of the City 2022 State of the City 2021 State of the City 2020 State of the City 2019 State of the City Mayor’s Task Force for a Safer Virginia Beach Process Improvement Steering Committee Speaker & Document Requests H.O.P.E. Open Data Portal Public Meetings Volunteer Resources