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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>356952</law_id><section_number>29.1-356</section_number><catch_line>Reporting damages; filing and adjudicating claims</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="72" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="3">Licenses</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="3" identifier="3">Stamps</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any person suffering damage pursuant to the provisions of this article shall report the damage to a locally designated official whose duty it shall be to have the damage investigated. The claim for damage shall be filed under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> and in a manner and form as may be prescribed by the local governing body.</p><p>If the claimant and the designated local official agree as to the amount of damage, the local governing body may approve the amount and <span class="dictionary">order</span> payment thereof from the special damage stamp fund established by this article. No claim for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> shall be paid to any person who does not permit the hunting of big <span class="dictionary">game</span> or elk by licensed hunters on his property. However, the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> that a landowner places reasonable restrictions on the number of licensed hunters who are permitted to hunt big <span class="dictionary">game</span> or elk on his property shall not disqualify him from filing a claim for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> pursuant to this section. In the event that no agreement as to the amount of <span class="dictionary">damages</span> can be reached, the claimant may initiate an action in the general district <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county in which the damage occurred.</p></section></text><history>1981, c. 16, &#xA7; 29-92.5; 1987, c. 488; 1988, cc. 375, 385; 2003, c. 137.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
