Moving firewood in Virginia: the spongy moth quarantine rule, the regulated counties and the repealed lanternfly quarantine

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Virginia's quarantines are written by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) under the Virginia Pest Law. The Department of Forestry describes them for the forestry community and says VDACS regulates and enforces them.

2VAC5-330: the Virginia Gypsy Moth Quarantine

The full chapter on the Virginia Law site, run by the General Assembly, is titled "Rules and Regulations for Enforcement of the Virginia Pest Law - Virginia Gypsy Moth Quarantine". The chapter keeps the older name of the insect that VDACS calls the spongy moth. Its sections read as follows.

Regulated articles (section 20): the articles shall not be moved into or within Virginia except in compliance with the quarantine. The list includes trees and shrubs with roots, logs and pulpwood (except if moved to a mill operating under a compliance agreement), firewood, mobile homes and associated equipment, recreational vehicles and associated equipment moving from hazardous recreational vehicle sites, and cut Christmas trees. It also covers any other product or article, such as outdoor household articles, when an inspector determines that a life stage of the moth is close to it, the article presents a risk of spread, and the person holding it has been notified.
Regulated areas (section 30): any area of another state or the District of Columbia where the moth is known to occur and is regulated under the federal quarantine (7 CFR part 301) or a state quarantine, plus listed areas in Virginia. Those are whole counties listed from Accomack to York, and 36 listed independent cities from Alexandria to Winchester. The section's last amendment took effect April 5, 2017.
Movement (section 40): a regulated article may not be moved into or within the state from a regulated area unless a certificate or permit has been issued and attached to it.
Certificates and permits (section 50): an authorised inspector may issue a certificate when the article has not been exposed to infestation in the inspector's judgment, has been examined and found free, has been treated under the inspector's direction, or was grown, produced, stored or handled in a way that would not carry the moth. A permit may be issued for noncertified articles moved to specified destinations under conditions for limited handling, use, processing or treatment. A person who handles or moves regulated articles may be required to sign a compliance agreement.
Inspection and disposal (section 70): a properly identified inspector may stop and inspect, and seize, destroy or otherwise dispose of or require disposal of regulated articles and moths as provided in the Virginia Pest Law.

What VDACS says about the spongy moth quarantine

On its spongy moth page, VDACS says the goal of the quarantine is to prevent artificial movement of the moth from infested areas to areas that are not infested. It says the Office of Plant Industry Services surveys every year to decide when population levels warrant adding new localities, and that businesses moving regulated articles must make sure the articles are free of the moth. It says the Office can inspect or enter into compliance agreements with businesses so they can self-inspect and certify regulated articles. The page links a quarantine map in PDF form and the USDA interactive map.

Spotted lanternfly: repealed

The VDACS spotted lanternfly page says Virginia's spotted lanternfly quarantine was repealed as of March 27, 2025, so businesses moving regulated articles within Virginia no longer need a permit, and existing Virginia permits are no longer valid. It adds that other states keep lanternfly quarantines and may require businesses shipping from Virginia to hold a valid permit, obtainable through Pennsylvania's permit training program for businesses, and that VDACS can set up compliance agreements to meet other states' requirements.

What the Department of Forestry says

The Virginia Department of Forestry quarantines page says quarantines are a tool for slowing the spread of a new invasive pest, and that the ones touching the forestry community are regulated and enforced by VDACS. It names two: the red imported fire ant, with a quarantine in place since 2009, and the spongy moth. It links maps of both.

For other states see the table on moving wood and firewood.