Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-140 — Destruction of trees, shrubs, etc
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 6: Damage to Realty and Personalty Thereon, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-140
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
It shall be unlawful for any person to pick, pull, pull up, tear, tear up, dig, dig up, cut, break, injure, burn or destroy, in whole or in part, any tree, shrub, vine, plant, flower or turf found, growing or being upon the land of another, or upon any land reserved, set aside or maintained by the Commonwealth as a public park, or as a refuge or sanctuary for wild animals, birds or fish, or upon any land reserved, set aside or maintained as a public park by a park authority created under the provisions of § 15.2-5702 , without having previously obtained the permission in writing of such other or his agent or of the superintendent or custodian of such park, refuge or sanctuary so to do, unless the same be done under the personal direction of such owner, his agent, tenant or lessee or superintendent or custodian of such park, refuge or sanctuary.
Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor; provided, however, that the approval of the owner, his agent, tenant or lessee, or the superintendent or custodian of such park or sanctuary afterwards given in writing or in open court shall be a bar to further prosecution or suit.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is destruction of trees, shrubs, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Destruction of trees, shrubs, etc is a class 3 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-140.
Which Virginia statute covers destruction of trees, shrubs, etc?
Destruction of trees, shrubs, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-140 (Destruction of trees, shrubs, etc).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.