{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/55.1-2810.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/55.1-2810.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/55.1-2810.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/55.1-2810.html"}],"law_id":369798,"edition_id":2,"section_id":369798,"structure_id":52673,"section_number":"55.1-2810","catch_line":"Damages for trespass by animals; punitive and double damages","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 8-874 through 8-876; 1977, c. 624, \u00a7 55-306; 1979, c. 486; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"A\n\nIf any domesticated livestock enters into any grounds enclosed by a lawful fence, as defined in §§ 55.1-2804 through 55.1-2807, the owner or manager of any such animal shall be liable for the actual damages sustained.\n\nB\n\nPunitive damages may be awarded but shall not exceed $20 in any case.\n\nC\n\nFor every second and subsequent trespass, the owner or manager of such animal shall be liable for double damages, both actual and punitive.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1379697,"text":"If any domesticated livestock enters into any grounds enclosed by a lawful fence, as defined in §§ 55.1-2804 through 55.1-2807, the owner or manager of any such animal shall be liable for the actual damages sustained.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1379698,"text":"Punitive damages may be awarded but shall not exceed $20 in any case.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1379699,"text":"For every second and subsequent trespass, the owner or manager of such animal shall be liable for double damages, both actual and punitive.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52673,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trespass in Crossing Lawful Fence","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":4,"parent_id":52669,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:02:54","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:33","permalink":{"id":1475237,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52673,"identifier":"4","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4","url":"\/55.1\/V\/28\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52669,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trespasses; Fences","identifier":"28","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52661,"metadata":{"child_laws":42,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:02:53","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:33","permalink":{"id":1475189,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52669,"identifier":"28","token":"55.1\/V\/28","url":"\/55.1\/V\/28\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52661,"edition_id":2,"name":"Miscellaneous","identifier":"V","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52600,"metadata":{"child_laws":165,"child_structures":20},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:02:42","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:31","permalink":{"id":1474773,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52661,"identifier":"V","token":"55.1\/V","url":"\/55.1\/V\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52600,"edition_id":2,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":120,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":875,"child_structures":101},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:20","permalink":{"id":1471771,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52600,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":369798,"structure_id":52673,"section_number":"55.1-2810","catch_line":"Damages for trespass by animals; punitive and double damages","url":"\/55.1-2810\/","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2810","metadata":false},{"id":369799,"structure_id":52673,"section_number":"55.1-2811","catch_line":"Lien on animals","url":"\/55.1-2811\/","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2811","metadata":false},{"id":369800,"structure_id":52673,"section_number":"55.1-2812","catch_line":"Impounding animals","url":"\/55.1-2812\/","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2812","metadata":false},{"id":369801,"structure_id":52673,"section_number":"55.1-2813","catch_line":"Duty to issue warrant when animal impounded","url":"\/55.1-2813\/","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2813","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":369799,"structure_id":52673,"section_number":"55.1-2811","catch_line":"Lien on animals","url":"\/55.1-2811\/","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2811","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-2810\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1977, chapter 624; in 1979, chapter 486; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":360510,"section_number":"34-3","catch_line":"Articles not exempt from taxes or levies or for their purchase price","order_by":null,"url":"\/34-3\/"},{"id":369799,"section_number":"55.1-2811","catch_line":"Lien on animals","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2811\/"},{"id":369822,"section_number":"55.1-2834","catch_line":"Owner of domesticated livestock liable for trespasses","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2834\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":369792,"section_number":"55.1-2804","catch_line":"Description of lawful fence","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2804\/"},{"id":369795,"section_number":"55.1-2807","catch_line":"Statutes declaring watercourses lawful fences continued","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2807\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1475239,"object_type":"law","relational_id":369798,"identifier":"55.1-2810","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2810","url":"\/55.1-2810\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-2810\/","token":"55.1\/V\/28\/4\/55.1-2810","dublin_core":{"Title":"Damages for trespass by animals; punitive and double damages","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-2810","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If any domesticated livestock enters into any grounds enclosed by a lawful fence, as defined in §§ 55.1-2804<\/a> through 55.1-2807<\/a>, the owner or manager of any such animal shall be liable for the actual damages<\/span> sustained. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Punitive damages<\/span> may be awarded but shall not exceed $20 in any case. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> For every second and subsequent trespass, the owner or manager of such animal shall be liable for double damages<\/span>, both actual and punitive. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDAMAGES FOR TRESPASS BY ANIMALS; PUNITIVE AND DOUBLE DAMAGES (\u00a7 55.1-2810)\n\nA. If any domesticated livestock enters into any grounds enclosed by a lawful\nfence, as defined in §§ 55.1-2804 through 55.1-2807, the owner or\nmanager of any such animal shall be liable for the actual damages sustained.\n\nB. Punitive damages may be awarded but shall not exceed $20 in any case.\n\nC. For every second and subsequent trespass, the owner or manager of such animal\nshall be liable for double damages, both actual and punitive.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 8-874 through 8-876; 1977, c. 624, \u00a7 55-306; 1979, c.\n486; 2019, c. 712.","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"}}