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Do I need a fishing license in Virginia?

Virginia's license age rule, quoted from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, checked against your age and residency, plus its free fishing days.

The rule in Virginia

Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.

"No license shall be required of resident or nonresident persons under 16 years of age to fish."

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Code of Virginia § 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements, checked October 2026.

Free fishing days

"No fishing license shall be required in any inland waters of the Commonwealth on free fishing days. The Board shall designate no more than six free fishing days in any calendar year."

Source: Code of Virginia § 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements.

Fishing License CheckVirginia

Where will you fish?

Do you live there?

Your age

It depends on your age.

The rule

Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license.

"No license shall be required of resident or nonresident persons under 16 years of age to fish."

Source: Code of Virginia § 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements, checked October 2026.

Seniors and exemptions

"An annual license at a fee of $1 shall be required of a resident person 65 years of age or older to fish in any inland waters of the Commonwealth"

"No license shall be required of landowners, their spouses, their children and grandchildren and the spouses of such children and grandchildren, or the landowner's parents, resident or nonresident, to hunt, trap and fish within the boundaries of their own lands and inland waters"

"A guest of the owner of a private fish pond shall not be required to have a fishing license to fish in such pond."

"No license to fish shall be required of legally blind persons."

"No license to fish, except for trout ... shall be required of a member of the armed forces of the United States, on active duty, who is a resident of the Commonwealth while such person is on official leave, provided that person presents a copy of his leave papers upon request."

Free fishing days in Virginia

No more dated free days are published for this year yet.

"No fishing license shall be required in any inland waters of the Commonwealth on free fishing days. The Board shall designate no more than six free fishing days in any calendar year."

Source: Code of Virginia § 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements.

A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.

Each state's own rule, quoted
Residents and visitors
Free fishing days by date

Fishing in Virginia

25 guides, charters and outfitters listed in Virginia.

See Virginia fishing guides

Common questions

Fishing license questions

Residents and nonresidents 16 and older need a license. Source: Code of Virginia § 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements.

It depends on the state. Across the 48 states we have checked, a resident needs one from age 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 depending on the state. Nonresidents often start at a different age. Pick your state in the tool for its exact rule, quoted from the state's own page.

A day or weekend when the state lets anyone fish without a license. 41 of the states we have checked publish them. The next ones: New York, Nov 11, 2026; Oregon, Nov 27 to 28, 2026; North Dakota, Dec 26 to 27, 2026. Size, bag and season limits still apply.

In some coastal states, yes; in others the same license covers both, or saltwater anglers sign a free registry instead. Pick a coastal state in the tool to see its own wording.

Yes. It is free, needs no account, and links every answer to the state page it comes from. Always read the state's current rules before you fish.

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