Reston, VA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Research in progress
We are currently verifying Reston's specific local ordinance for chickens & livestock. In the meantime,Virginia state law generally applies, and below you'll find guidance for finding the official rules and links to related Reston ordinances we've already verified.
Virginia State Law Context
Virginia state law provides the baseline framework for chickens & livestock across all municipalities in the state. Individual cities like Reston may adopt additional local rules on top of state requirements, which is what makes checking your specific city ordinance important. For Reston residents, the safest approach is to follow state law as a baseline and contact City Hall for any additional local requirements.
You can browse all Virginia animal ordinances to see how cities across the state regulate this topic.
How to find official Reston Chickens & Livestock rules
- Search for "Reston VA municipal code" to find your city's online code portal (Municode, eCode360, or American Legal Publishing are the most common).
- Look for chapters covering animal ordinances, zoning, nuisance, or property maintenance — that's where most chickens & livestock rules live.
- Contact Reston City Hall's code enforcement, planning, or community development department for clarification.
- Check with your HOA if applicable — many HOAs have stricter rules than the city itself.