Henrico County has no breed ban. Virginia Code Sec. 3.2-6540(K) forbids a court from finding any dog dangerous 'solely because it is a particular breed,' so pit bulls, Rottweilers and other breeds are legal. Henrico handles dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed.
The County Code (Chapter 5) contains no breed-specific restriction. State law preempts one: Va. Code Sec. 3.2-6540(K) lists that no animal may be found a dangerous dog solely because of its breed, or for guarding, responding to pain, protecting its owner, or reacting to a trespasser or provoker. Henrico references a 'dangerous dog registration certificate' (Sec. 5-49) tied to that state framework, meaning individual dogs are declared dangerous through the court process in Sec. 3.2-6540 based on conduct. Private landlords and HOAs may still set breed terms in leases or covenants, which state preemption does not reach.
No breed offense exists. A dog adjudicated 'dangerous' under Va. Code Sec. 3.2-6540 must be registered, confined, leashed and muzzled in public; noncompliance carries misdemeanor penalties.
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Henrico County, VA
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See how Henrico County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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