Rockingham County, VA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Section 4-11 sets up the county's dangerous and vicious dog process: an animal control officer who has reason to believe a dog is dangerous or vicious applies to a magistrate for a summons, the general district court hears evidence, and the county must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Within that section, the ordinance states flatly that no canine may be found dangerous or vicious solely because of its breed, and that ownership of a particular breed cannot be prohibited, closing off any breed-specific ban or presumption at the county level.

The same subsection also protects a dog from a dangerous-dog finding when the injured person was committing a crime or trespass on the owner's property, was provoking or tormenting the animal, or when the dog was a police dog on duty or responding to pain or protecting itself, its offspring or its owner's property. Once a court does find a dog dangerous based on conduct, section 4-11(c) requires the owner to obtain a $150 registration certificate from the animal control officer within 45 days, renewable annually for $85, with a uniform tag the dog must wear; subsection (d) adds proof of rabies vaccination, an approved enclosure or muzzle-and-fenced-yard arrangement, warning signage, microchip identification, and at least $100,000 in liability insurance or a surety bond before a certificate issues. Subsection (e) requires indoor or securely enclosed confinement on the owner's property and a leash and muzzle off it.