Newsracks; placement; maintenance and abandonment.
Norfolk City Code § 29-81
in effectSec. 29-81. - Newsracks; placement; maintenance and abandonment.
(a) It shall be unlawful to fail to maintain or abandon a newsrack upon city property or within the city's right-of-way; or place a newsrack upon city property or within the city's right-of-way in a manner contrary to this code section. For purposes of this section, a newsrack is any self-service or coin-operated box, container or other dispenser installed, used or maintained for the display, sale or distribution of newspapers or other written matter to the general public. For purposes of this section a newsrack is abandoned if it has remained empty or its contents have not been updated for a period of ten (10) continuous calendar days.
(b) Each newsrack shall be maintained in a neat and clean condition and in good repair at all times. Specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each news rack shall be serviced and maintained so that:
(1) It is reasonably free of dirt and grease;
(2) It is reasonably free of chipped, faded, peeling and cracked paint in the visible painted areas thereof;
(3) It is reasonably free of rust and corrosion in the visible unpainted metal areas thereon;
(4) The clear plastic or glass parts thereof, if any, through which the publications therein are viewed are unbroken and reasonably free of cracks, dents, blemishes and discoloration;
(5) The paper or cardboard parts or inserts thereof are reasonably free of tears, peeling or fading; and
(6) The structural parts thereof are not broken or unduly misshapen.
(c) Newsracks shall not be placed so as to obstruct driveways, bus stops and entrances to residences or businesses. Newsracks shall not be placed so as to prevent the sidewalk from meeting the width and obstruction requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. Newsracks shall not be attached to city poles or other property without the written permission of the city manager or his designee.
(d) Each newsrack placed on city property or within the city's right-of-way shall have fixed to it in a readily visible place, a notice identifying the name, address, email, and telephone number of the owner or distributor for the city to provide notice to the owner or distributor as required by this section. If the owner of a newsrack is not identified as required above, the city shall impound it for a period of fifteen (15) calendar days. If the owner or distributor comes forward within that period, the city will return the newsrack, and give the owner or distributor a copy of this ordinance. If the owner or distributor does not come forward within the time limit, the city will sell or destroy the newsrack.
(e) If a news rack is determined to be abandoned, improperly maintained or improperly placed, but the owner is identified as required above, the city shall provide written notice of the violation to the owner with the warning that if the newsrack is not repaired or removed within fifteen (15) calendar days, the city will remove and sell or destroy it.
(f) Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of this section. If any provision (including inter alia any exception, part, phrase or term) is for any reason held invalid, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, then the remainder of this section shall continue in full force and effect, and its application to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected.
(g) A violation of this section shall be a Class 4 misdemeanor.
(Ord. No. 45,141, § 1, 6-11-13)
Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH29OFIS_S29-81NEPLMAABFetched: 11/1/2026