DAILY PRESS (Hampton Roads, Virginia) 28 March 06 Snakes: Legal or not?
Q: Why is it illegal to have a snake in Newport News but Pet Stores sell them?
A: True, the Newport News city code prohibits residents from keeping snakes and other wild animals. However, the city generally does not have the power to regulate what stores in its city sell. This is because Virginia operates under the "Dillon Rule," a rule of law that limits the authority of local governments to that which is expressly granted by the state legislature and the Virginia Constitution. According to Kim Lee, Newport News spokesperson, the city has the authority to regulate animal ownership, but not the types of animals sold in stores.
Snakes: Legal or not?

