{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/3.2-6403.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/3.2-6403.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/3.2-6403.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/3.2-6403.html"}],"law_id":358245,"edition_id":2,"section_id":358245,"structure_id":51233,"section_number":"3.2-6403","catch_line":"Domesticated animal premises; liability for domesticated animal pathogen","history":"2020, c. 453.","full_text":"A\n\nFor purposes of this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Domesticated animal pathogen” or “pathogen” means a microorganism, biological agent, or toxin that (i) causes disease, illness, or death to a human and (ii) is primarily transmitted by human contact with a domesticated animal or manure or other excretions or body fluids from a domesticated animal.\n\n\t\t\t“Domesticated animal premises” or “premises” means a place at a petting zoo, fair, or agricultural exhibition at which a domesticated animal is regularly kept for three or more consecutive hours.\n\nB\n\nNo owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises shall be liable for damages arising from a claim by a person who visits such premises, including a participant or spectator, alleging injury or death caused by a domesticated animal pathogen transmitted at such premises, regardless of whether a domesticated animal is present at the premises when such pathogen is transmitted, if such owner or operator took reasonable precautions to prevent the transmission of such pathogen.\n\nC\n\nSubsection B shall not apply to the extent that the person proves that no warning sign was posted at a conspicuous place at the premises as required in subsection D or that no hand-washing station was available as required in subsection E. Subsection B shall not apply if the transmission of the domesticated animal pathogen occurred due to the gross negligence, willful and wanton conduct, or intentional act of the owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises.\n\nD\n\nA warning sign shall be posted at a conspicuous place at any premises so that it is clearly visible to a person visiting the premises for the first time. Such sign shall have a white background and display a notice printed in black letters a minimum of one inch high in the following form:\n\t\t\t“WARNING\n\n\t\t\tDOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES\n\n\t\t\tUnder Virginia Code § 3.2-6403, the owner or operator of these premises is not liable for a domesticated animal pathogen transmitted from these premises. Take necessary sanitary precautions, including not touching your face or consuming any food or drink until you have thoroughly washed and dried your hands after your visit. As soon as possible after your visit, thoroughly wash your hands using an appropriate soap and water, and thoroughly dry your hands after washing.”\n\nE\n\nEach domesticated animal premises shall provide a working hand-washing station with soap, water, and a means of drying the hands located at a conspicuous place at such premises.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1332852,"text":"For purposes of this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Domesticated animal pathogen” or “pathogen” means a microorganism, biological agent, or toxin that (i) causes disease, illness, or death to a human and (ii) is primarily transmitted by human contact with a domesticated animal or manure or other excretions or body fluids from a domesticated animal.\t\t\t“Domesticated animal premises” or “premises” means a place at a petting zoo, fair, or agricultural exhibition at which a domesticated animal is regularly kept for three or more consecutive hours.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1332853,"text":"No owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises shall be liable for damages arising from a claim by a person who visits such premises, including a participant or spectator, alleging injury or death caused by a domesticated animal pathogen transmitted at such premises, regardless of whether a domesticated animal is present at the premises when such pathogen is transmitted, if such owner or operator took reasonable precautions to prevent the transmission of such pathogen.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1332854,"text":"Subsection B shall not apply to the extent that the person proves that no warning sign was posted at a conspicuous place at the premises as required in subsection D or that no hand-washing station was available as required in subsection E. Subsection B shall not apply if the transmission of the domesticated animal pathogen occurred due to the gross negligence, willful and wanton conduct, or intentional act of the owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1332855,"text":"A warning sign shall be posted at a conspicuous place at any premises so that it is clearly visible to a person visiting the premises for the first time. Such sign shall have a white background and display a notice printed in black letters a minimum of one inch high in the following form:\n\t\t\t“WARNING\t\t\tDOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES\t\t\tUnder Virginia Code § 3.2-6403, the owner or operator of these premises is not liable for a domesticated animal pathogen transmitted from these premises. Take necessary sanitary precautions, including not touching your face or consuming any food or drink until you have thoroughly washed and dried your hands after your visit. As soon as possible after your visit, thoroughly wash your hands using an appropriate soap and water, and thoroughly dry your hands after washing.”","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1332856,"text":"Each domesticated animal premises shall provide a working hand-washing station with soap, water, and a means of drying the hands located at a conspicuous place at such premises.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51233,"edition_id":2,"name":"Domesticated Animal Pathogen Liability","identifier":"64.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":4,"parent_id":51220,"metadata":{"child_laws":1,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:39:34","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:44","permalink":{"id":1425455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51233,"identifier":"64.1","token":"3.2\/V\/64.1","url":"\/3.2\/V\/64.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51220,"edition_id":2,"name":"Domestic Animals","identifier":"V","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":51103,"metadata":{"child_laws":207,"child_structures":28},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:39:26","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:43","permalink":{"id":1425135,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51220,"identifier":"V","token":"3.2\/V","url":"\/3.2\/V\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51103,"edition_id":2,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":5,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1194,"child_structures":151},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:37:33","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:27:27","permalink":{"id":1420941,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51103,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":358245,"structure_id":51233,"section_number":"3.2-6403","catch_line":"Domesticated animal premises; liability for domesticated animal pathogen","url":"\/3.2-6403\/","token":"3.2\/V\/64.1\/3.2-6403","metadata":false}],"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-6403\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 453<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":358245,"section_number":"3.2-6403","catch_line":"Domesticated animal premises; liability for domesticated animal pathogen","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6403\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":358245,"section_number":"3.2-6403","catch_line":"Domesticated animal premises; liability for domesticated animal pathogen","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6403\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1425457,"object_type":"law","relational_id":358245,"identifier":"3.2-6403","token":"3.2\/V\/64.1\/3.2-6403","url":"\/3.2-6403\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-6403\/","token":"3.2\/V\/64.1\/3.2-6403","dublin_core":{"Title":"Domesticated animal premises; liability for domesticated animal pathogen","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-6403","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> For purposes of this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Domesticated animal pathogen<\/span>” or “pathogen” means a microorganism, biological agent, or toxin that (i) causes disease, illness, or death to a human and (ii) is primarily transmitted by human contact with a domesticated animal or manure or other excretions or body fluids from a domesticated animal.

\t\t\t“Domesticated animal premises<\/span>” or “premises” means a place at a petting zoo, fair, or agricultural exhibition at which a domesticated animal is regularly kept for three or more consecutive hours. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises<\/span> shall be liable for damages<\/span> arising from a claim by a person who visits such premises, including a participant or spectator, alleging injury or death caused by a domesticated animal pathogen<\/span> transmitted at such premises, regardless of whether a domesticated animal is present at the premises when such pathogen is transmitted, if such owner or operator took reasonable precautions to prevent the transmission of such pathogen. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Subsection B shall not apply to the extent that the person proves that no warning sign was posted at a conspicuous place at the premises as required in subsection D or that no hand-washing station was available as required in subsection E. Subsection B shall not apply if the transmission of the domesticated animal pathogen<\/span> occurred due to the gross negligence<\/span>, willful and wanton conduct, or intentional act of the owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A warning sign shall be posted at a conspicuous place at any premises so that it is clearly visible to a person visiting the premises for the first time. Such sign shall have a white background and display a notice printed in black letters a minimum of one inch high in the following form:\n\t\t\t“WARNING

\t\t\tDOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES<\/span>

\t\t\tUnder Virginia Code § 3.2-6403<\/a>, the owner or operator of these premises is not liable for a domesticated animal pathogen<\/span> transmitted from these premises. Take necessary sanitary precautions, including not touching your face or consuming any food or drink until you have thoroughly washed and dried your hands after your visit. As soon as possible after your visit, thoroughly wash your hands using an appropriate soap and water, and thoroughly dry your hands after washing.” <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Each domesticated animal premises<\/span> shall provide a working hand-washing station with soap, water, and a means of drying the hands located at a conspicuous place at such premises. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES; LIABILITY FOR DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PATHOGEN (\u00a7\n3.2-6403)\n\nA. For purposes of this chapter, unless the context requires a different\nmeaning:\n\t\t\t“Domesticated animal pathogen” or “pathogen” means a\nmicroorganism, biological agent, or toxin that (i) causes disease, illness, or\ndeath to a human and (ii) is primarily transmitted by human contact with a\ndomesticated animal or manure or other excretions or body fluids from a\ndomesticated animal.\t\t\t“Domesticated animal premises” or\n“premises” means a place at a petting zoo, fair, or agricultural\nexhibition at which a domesticated animal is regularly kept for three or more\nconsecutive hours.\n\nB. No owner or operator of a domesticated animal premises shall be liable for\ndamages arising from a claim by a person who visits such premises, including a\nparticipant or spectator, alleging injury or death caused by a domesticated\nanimal pathogen transmitted at such premises, regardless of whether a\ndomesticated animal is present at the premises when such pathogen is\ntransmitted, if such owner or operator took reasonable precautions to prevent\nthe transmission of such pathogen.\n\nC. Subsection B shall not apply to the extent that the person proves that no\nwarning sign was posted at a conspicuous place at the premises as required in\nsubsection D or that no hand-washing station was available as required in\nsubsection E. Subsection B shall not apply if the transmission of the\ndomesticated animal pathogen occurred due to the gross negligence, willful and\nwanton conduct, or intentional act of the owner or operator of a domesticated\nanimal premises.\n\nD. A warning sign shall be posted at a conspicuous place at any premises so that\nit is clearly visible to a person visiting the premises for the first time. Such\nsign shall have a white background and display a notice printed in black letters\na minimum of one inch high in the following form:\n\t\t\t“WARNING\t\t\tDOMESTICATED ANIMAL PREMISES\t\t\tUnder Virginia Code §\n3.2-6403, the owner or operator of these premises is not liable for a\ndomesticated animal pathogen transmitted from these premises. Take necessary\nsanitary precautions, including not touching your face or consuming any food or\ndrink until you have thoroughly washed and dried your hands after your visit. As\nsoon as possible after your visit, thoroughly wash your hands using an\nappropriate soap and water, and thoroughly dry your hands after washing.”\n\nE. Each domesticated animal premises shall provide a working hand-washing\nstation with soap, water, and a means of drying the hands located at a\nconspicuous place at such premises.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 453.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}