Customs clearance at Norfolk and the Port of Virginia

Norfolk files under CBP port code 1401. The Port of Virginia is state owned and runs its terminals as one system, which makes it structurally different from a harbour like New York where several private operators compete. For an importer that means one set of rules across the terminals, and one place to escalate.

CBP port code: 1401
CBP district: 14
Official CBP name: Norfolk, Virginia

The deepest channel on the East Coast

Norfolk Harbor was deepened to 55 feet, with construction completed in early 2026, which makes it the deepest commercial channel and harbour on the US East Coast.

For most importers that is background rather than a decision factor: it matters to the carriers choosing which vessels to deploy, and it shows up in your life as service options rather than as a number you ever think about.

One operator across the terminals

Because the port is operated as a single state owned system, gate rules, appointment arrangements and escalation are consistent across its terminals. That is a genuine operational advantage over ports where every berth is a separate company with separate rules.

It is also why the answer to which terminal matters less here than it does at New York or Los Angeles.

Your trucker needs a pass before the box lands

Norfolk runs a truck reservation system and requires an RFID tag for terminal access. A drayman without one does not get in, and that is not a same day fix.

This catches new importers regularly, and it produces the most frustrating category of delay there is: a container with a customs release that nobody can collect. Confirm your drayage provider is registered and tagged before the vessel arrives.

Rail is a bigger share here than almost anywhere on the coast

The port has on dock rail with regular double stack service and moves an unusually high proportion of its cargo by rail compared with other East Coast ports.

As everywhere, that turns into a real question for you: clear at the coast, or move in bond inland. Tell us the final destination and we will work out which is cheaper before the vessel arrives.

Services

FAQ

What is the CBP port code for Norfolk?

1401. CBP's Schedule D lists it as Norfolk, Virginia, and the port markets itself as the Port of Virginia across several terminals.

Is Norfolk the deepest port on the East Coast?

Yes. The harbour was deepened to 55 feet with construction completed in early 2026, making it the deepest commercial channel and harbour on the US East Coast. Charleston, deepened to 52 feet in 2022, is the other contender people mention.

Why can my trucker not get into the terminal?

Most likely because they are not registered in the port's truck reservation system or do not hold the required RFID tag. Neither is arranged on the day. A cleared container with an unregistered drayman still sits, and it is one of the more common delays here.

Does it matter which Virginia terminal my container is on?

Less than it would at New York or Los Angeles. The port is state owned and operated as one system, so the rules are consistent across terminals rather than set separately by competing private operators.

Is your trucker registered?

At Norfolk that question delays more containers than customs does. Send us the bill of lading and we will tell you what the entry needs and what your drayman needs.

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