Virginia Code Section 3.2-6503 requires every owner to provide adequate care for companion animals, with criminal penalties for neglect that often underpin hoarding cases.
Va. Code Section 3.2-6503 requires every owner of a companion animal to provide adequate feed, water, shelter, space, exercise, care, and veterinary treatment. Adequate care is defined in Section 3.2-6500. A violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor; subsequent violations escalate to Class 2 or 3 misdemeanors. Malicious deprivation of food, water, shelter, or emergency veterinary treatment causing serious harm can be a felony under Section 3.2-6570. These cruelty standards apply statewide to private owners, shelters, and rescues, and provide the legal basis for hoarding-related seizures.
Class 4 misdemeanor first offense; up to Class 6 felony for malicious cruelty.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged and tow...
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria EV chargers need an electrical permit (and possibly a structural permit) via APEX. In the two locally-regulated historic districts or on 100-Year-...
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria regulates overnight parking on public streets. Many areas restrict parking between certain hours or require permits for overnight street parking.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria requires pool barriers meeting safety codes to prevent drowning. Fences must be at least 4 to 5 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria requires permits for retaining walls above a certain height, typically 4 feet. Engineering review may be required for taller walls.
Alexandria, VA
Alexandria enforces the Virginia Statewide Building Code (USBC, 13VAC5-63), which adopts IRC 2018 Section R314. Smoke alarms are required in every sleeping r...
See how Alexandria's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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