Virginia § 5.1-5 - Registration of aircraft

§ 5.1-5. Registration of aircraft

A. Every resident of the Commonwealth owning a civil aircraft, every nonresident owning a civil aircraft based in the Commonwealth for more than 90 days during any 12-month period, and every owner of an aerial application aircraft operating within the Commonwealth or of a civil aircraft operated in the Commonwealth as a for-hire intrastate air carrier shall register such aircraft with the Department before such aircraft is operated in the Commonwealth. Any owner of an unmanned aircraft as defined in § 19.2-60.1 shall not be required to register such aircraft.

B. The Department shall provide for the issuance, expiration, suspension, and revocation of aircraft registration in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board. For the purposes of the tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 15 (§ 58.1-1500 et seq.) of Title 58.1, including any credit granted pursuant to § 58.1-1504 against such tax, such aircraft registration shall be considered the licensure required by such chapter. The Department shall furnish any necessary forms pursuant to the issuance of noncommercial single aircraft registration and may assess a fee for such issuance not in excess of $30 annually. The Department may offer multiyear noncommercial single aircraft registrations not to exceed three years. The total fee for two-year registrations shall not exceed $55, and the total fee for three-year registrations shall not exceed $70. The Department may, in lieu of issuing aircraft registration required by subsection A, issue commercial single aircraft or commercial fleet registration to air carriers and commercial dealers and issue to noncommercial dealers noncommercial dealer fleet registration, to cover all aircraft owned by such dealers and all aircraft for sale held by dealers on a consignment basis from an aircraft manufacturer. The Department may assess a fee not in excess of $75 annually for any such noncommercial dealer fleet registrations issued. The Department may offer multiyear noncommercial dealer fleet registrations not to exceed three years. The total fee for two-year registrations shall not exceed $125, and the total fee for three-year registrations shall not exceed $150. The Department may assess a fee not in excess of $150 annually for any such commercial fleet registrations issued. The Department may offer multiyear commercial fleet registrations not to exceed three years. The total fee for two-year registrations shall not exceed $250, and the total fee for three-year registrations shall not exceed $300. The fee for a commercial single aircraft registration shall not be in excess of $40 annually. The Department may offer multiyear commercial single aircraft registrations not to exceed three years. The total fee for two-year registrations shall not exceed $70, and the total fee for three-year registrations shall not exceed $95.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no aircraft shall be required to be registered if the aircraft is brought into the Commonwealth solely for major maintenance or major repair. An aircraft owner shall provide proof that the aircraft is based at an airport in another state, shown by evidence of a hangar or tie-down lease for a minimum of 12 months prior to the aircraft being brought into the Commonwealth, and proof of the work being performed in the Commonwealth, shown by presentation of invoices that describe such work.

Code 1950, § 5-5; 1966, c. 576; 1970, c. 717; 1974, c. 431; 1979, c. 272; 1980, c. 721; 2017, c. 793; 2020, c. 1255; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 45, 46, 372; 2025, cc. 54, 63.