The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), through its Office of Plant Industry Services, oversees the Nursery Inspection Program. This program is responsible for collecting annual registration fees, conducting inspections of nursery stock to prevent the spread of insect, weed, and disease pests, and issuing inspection certificates. Each year, the Office of Plant Industry Services inspects over 7,000 acres of nursery stock to detect pests and diseases.

The Plants and Plant Products Inspection Law requires the annual registration and inspection of all plant nurseries in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This law also authorizes the registration and inspection of retail establishments selling nursery stock.

The following lists are published annually for public view:

• Nursery Stock Dealers with Active Permits (Category 89) (pdf)
• Nursery Operations with Active Permits (Category 91) (pdf)

Annual License Fees

Virginia has more than 2,500 registered nurseries and nursery stock dealers license to operate within the state. To obtain a nursery license, applicants must complete the Nursery License Application and submit it along with the applicable fees by mail to the Office of Plant Industry Services. Licenses are valid for the calendar year (January 1 – December 31). License fees cannot be prorated.

The license fee applies to all plant nurseries including hops.

License & Late Fees:

• Ginseng Dealer License Fee: $10.00 per location
• Nursery Stock Dealer License Fee: $25.00 per location
• Nursery Operation Fee: $75.00 per location
• Late Fee:
• $15.00 late fee applies if a dealer fails to renew a license within 30 days after the expiration date.
• $50.00 late fee applies if a nursery operation fails to renew a license within 30 days after the expiration date.

License Expiration: All licenses expire on December 31st each year.

Accepted payment methods:

• Check
• Money Order

Cash is not accepted

Make checks or money orders payable to “Treasurer of Virginia”.

Mailing Address:

• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  
• Office of Plant Industry Services
  
• P.O. Box 526
  
• Richmond, VA 23218-0526
  

Annual Inspection Fee

Every licensed nursery operation is required to be inspected annually. The Nursery Inspection Program has regional representatives available for inspection based on county. The representative’s name, phone number and county details are located on the Nursery Inspector Contact Information & Territory Map.

• Inspection Certificate: No fee. The Inspection Certificate is provided upon inspection.

For every acre over 50, nurseries are required to pay an inspection fee of $1.50 per acre, in addition to the license fee.