Are bal pythons illegal in Virginia?

Ok so in a future i plan to move to Va and ive tried to read up on the laws but they seem vague at worst and complicated at best. Some counties say reptiles are prohibited "at large", term which i googled and ended up even more confused as it can be a very vague term seemingly up for interpretation in some cases? I own 2 ball pythons.

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*ball pythons sorry for thr typo

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IMO if the laws aren't clear, they are rarely enforced. Keep your snakes inside and no one should nose around enough to find them and report you. (Unless you will live in a county/gated community that has established rules.) Here's a link to some Virginia laws. Looks like Bps are identified as wild animals and may require a permit. http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/herplaw/

At the state level ball pythons are legal. Some Virginia cities have their own ordinances regarding exotic animals, Arlington in particular is currently looking at changing theirs to ban all snakes longer than four feet.

In addition some HOA's have CCR's about home-based businesses so breeding and selling as a business would be a no-no but doing it as a hobby would be fine.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

At the state level ball pythons are legal. Some Virginia cities have their own ordinances regarding exotic animals, Arlington in particular is currently looking at changing theirs to ban all snakes longer than four feet.

In addition some HOA's have CCR's about home-based businesses so breeding and selling as a business would be a no-no but doing it as a hobby would be fine.

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Wow, I had no idea Arlington is considering bans. I love the city and that really makes me sad. :( Luckily, male BP's likely won't exceed four feet, though it might be pushing it a bit.

There are ball pythons all over Virginia. So are retics, burms, boas and hots so ball pythons would probably be one of the last snakes I'd worry about. Although it doesn't hurt to look at the specific city and county you plan on moving to. As far as state law they are legal

I wouldn't sweat it.

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Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

Wow, I had no idea Arlington is considering bans. I love the city and that really makes me sad. :( Luckily, male BP's likely won't exceed four feet, though it might be pushing it a bit.

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I went ahead and put the USARK alert in the legislation forum.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...gton-County-VA

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I went ahead and put the USARK alert in the legislation forum.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...gton-County-VA

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I noticed. Thanks for telling me. It's really too bad that these bans are being enacted.

4 feet doesn't make sense either. Common corn and king snakes get bigger than that, and they are by no means a public danger. You can tell the people writing this sort of legislation have no idea what they're doing.

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

4 feet doesn't make sense either. Common corn and king snakes get bigger than that, and they are by no means a public danger. You can tell the people writing this sort of legislation have no idea what they're doing.

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They just don't want to put in the effort to actually research anything. If people are scared of it, they ban it. Really it's ridiculous. I'm sure the difference between a five foot and four foot animal is life and death. :rolleyes:

Heck, most 7-8 foot snakes wouldn't even menace a chihuahua unless they were really hungry or it was a very small chihuahua (one of those sad little teacup monstrosities).

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

4 feet doesn't make sense either. Common corn and king snakes get bigger than that, and they are by no means a public danger. You can tell the people writing this sort of legislation have no idea what they're doing.

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Sadly this is true. It is what happens when you legislate with your "feelings" instead of your head, or worse yet legislating to appease some fringe activist group.

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

Heck, most 7-8 foot snakes wouldn't even menace a chihuahua unless they were really hungry or it was a very small chihuahua (one of those sad little teacup monstrosities).

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Ugh please don't get me started on teacup dogs. I wouldn't mind if my snakes ate one of those...:D jk...sort of

That's what they should REALLY ban. The snakes don't bother anyone except existing as a concept. Teacup animals are unhealthy horrors created through inhumane breeding practices and sold for a higher price because of "cuteness" while they suffer a short, miserable life. It's sickening. I consider anyone who produces them on the same level ethically as puppy mills. Ruining animals in the name of the almighty dollar.

Sadly trying to educate these people would take so much time and effort and patience... The pure frustration would drive off most attempting it. Its sad how the movies and animal planet "documentaries" along with religion (no problems against it, just the deep fear it can give people of snakes) have given the general public such a terrible veiw of snakes that it becomes extremely difficult to help them understand how tame and beautiful these animals can really be. Also the general public sees it more through the eyes of news and media that label everything in a very negative way for the ratings.

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Originally Posted by LiadanCroft

Sadly trying to educate these people would take so much time and effort and patience... The pure frustration would drive off most attempting it. Its sad how the movies and animal planet "documentaries" along with religion (no problems against it, just the deep fear it can give people of snakes) have given the general public such a terrible veiw of snakes that it becomes extremely difficult to help them understand how tame and beautiful these animals can really be. Also the general public sees it more through the eyes of news and media that label everything in a very negative way for the ratings.

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Exactly. Stories of dogs consistently mauling children daily are old news, but one snake killing someone just feeds fear. And fear is exactly what the media relies on.

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

That's what they should REALLY ban. The snakes don't bother anyone except existing as a concept. Teacup animals are unhealthy horrors created through inhumane breeding practices and sold for a higher price because of "cuteness" while they suffer a short, miserable life. It's sickening. I consider anyone who produces them on the same level ethically as puppy mills. Ruining animals in the name of the almighty dollar.

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Some only live a few years because of all sorts of problems, from spleen and heart issues to delicate bone structure. I prefer "real" dogs.

Alright peeps lets stay on topic here :gj:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Alright peeps lets stay on topic here :gj:

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Heheh, oops. Sorry about that OP!

Give me a working line herding or working group mutt any day. None of this AKC bull, either, I don't want a deformed animal that can barely walk or breath just because it "looks right". A sick dog will never look right, only like it wants to be put out of it's misery. :rage:

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Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

Give me a working line herding or working group mutt any day. None of this AKC bull, either, I don't want a deformed animal that can barely walk or breath just because it "looks right". A sick dog will never look right, only like it wants to be put out of it's misery. :rage:

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Hmmm Hello Topic being SNAKE LEGISLATION in VA not dog not dog laws, thank you.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Alright peeps lets stay on topic here :gj:

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Sorry, was in the middle of reply when your first post went up XD

Well if your BP exceeds 4', then I would say "Yes", it is illegal according to those laws.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Well if your BP exceeds 4', then I would say "Yes", it is illegal according to those laws.

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Except OP doesn't plan on living in Arlington...as far as we know.

I believe it would be at or near Alexandria

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Oh sorry, I was thinking for some reason you were living Arlington lol. In that case I have no idea. Goggle your county laws and read up on it. You should be able to find them in your counties fish and game regulations. Be sure to check your county though as for example I live in King County where anything is legal except venomous or crocodilea or crocodile monitors yet in the city of seattle, anything over 8' is illegal and in Everett city limits any kind of retic is illegal period.

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Originally Posted by LiadanCroft

I believe it would be at or near Alexandria

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I would definitely check the specific ordinances there. Call, look online, shoot someone high up there an email. Fish and Game may be able to give you some information as well. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Oh sorry, I was thinking for some reason you were living Arlington lol. In that case I have no idea. Goggle your county laws and read up on it. You should be able to find them in your counties fish and game regulations. Be sure to check your county though as for example I live in King County where anything is legal except venomous or crocodilea or crocodile monitors yet in the city of seattle, anything over 8' is illegal and in Everett city limits any kind of retic is illegal period.

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Oops, you beat me to it! We posted at the same time.

I would stay out of an incorporated city like Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax (City of), etc. Find a home in the county.