Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's logo



DEQ Animal Waste Program

 

Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

Livestockchicken_photoTurkey_Photo

Animal Feeding Operations

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.

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.

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 Forms below).

Poultry operations that confine more than 20,000 chickens or 11,000 turkeys must register for coverage under the Virginia Pollution Abatement General Permit for Poultry Waste Management (see Poultry AFOs below).

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) may be required to register for coverage under a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) individual permit (see CAFOs below).

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.

 

     Poultry AFOs (Chickens, Turkeys)

       Poultry Feeding Operations

    Permit Application and Instructions
  • Application for coverage under the VPA General Permit for Poultry Waste Management
  • Did you know that 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.

 

     Livestock AFOs (Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Swine)

       Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs)

  

     Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) (Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Swine, Chickens, Turkeys)

       Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

          Permit Information

          Permit Application and Instructions

  • Application and instructions for the VPDES Individual Permit for CAFOs: EPA Form 1 and EPA Form 2B
  • Did you know that 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 
    Forms
    Check back for updates

          Guidance

          Check back for updates

          Related Links