The DEQ animal waste program is regulated under both the Virginia Pollution Abatement Permit Regulation (VPA) Program and the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit Regulation (VPDES) Program. A decision tree for the VPA and VPDES permits can assist a farm owner or operator with which permit coverage is required for his/her animal feeding operation.
An Animal Feeding Operation (AFO) is defined as a lot or facility where animals are stabled or confined for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period, and where crops or vegetative growth is not maintained in the normal growing season over the lot or facility.
Animal Feeding Operations that confine more than 300 animal units of livestock and handle liquid manure are required to obtain coverage under either a Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) general or individual permit. These facilities may apply for coverage by submitting the registration statement for the Virginia Pollution Abatement General Permit for Animal Feeding Operations (see Livestock AFOs below for additional information).
Poultry operations that confine more than 20,000 chickens or 11,000 turkeys must register for coverage under the VPA General Permit for Poultry Waste Management (see Poultry AFOs below for additional information).
The VPA Regulation and General Permit for Poultry Waste Management governs the management of poultry waste at confined poultry feeding operations and poultry waste utilized or stored by poultry waste end-users or poultry waste brokers.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) may be required to register for coverage under a VPDES individual permit (see CAFOs below for additional information).
In addition, a site specific nutrient management plan must be developed by a Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia and approved by the DCR.
Small Animal Feeding Operations Evaluation and Assessment Strategy: DEQ and VDACS have collaborated on the development of this strategy by which small animal feeding operations (AFOs) will be evaluated for site-specific risks or impacts to water quality. AFOs classified as “small” are operations that fall below the animal numbers that require a VPA permit. It is the agencies’ intention to be flexible when addressing these concerns. This strategy complements the regulatory Animal Waste Program of DEQ and the complaint-based Agriculture Stewardship Act Program of VDACS. More information can be found in Virginia's Small Animal Feeding Operations Evaluation and Assessment Strategy Factsheet.
Livestock AFOs (Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Swine)
General Permit Information
Permit Application and Instructions
Forms
Guidance
Related Links
Poultry AFOs (Chickens, Turkeys)
General Permit Information
Permit Application and Instructions
Forms
Guidance
Related Links
CAFOs (Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Swine, Chickens, Turkeys)
Permit Information
Permit Application and Instructions
- Application and instructions for the VPDES Individual Permit for CAFOs: EPA Form 1 and EPA Form 2B
- If you plan to sell or have recently purchased a permitted operation you must notify the DEQ regional office of the ownership change? Please contact your regional office to obtain a copy of a Change of Ownership Agreement Form.
Related Links