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

York County's dangerous-dog scheme in Secs. 4-37 through 4-37.6 turns entirely on a dog's conduct, not its breed. Sec. 4-37.1(j) lists circumstances where a court cannot find a dog dangerous, starting with 'solely because it is a particular breed,' and also protecting dogs that were provoked, defending their owner's property, or acting as police dogs. A dangerous-dog finding requires proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the dog killed or seriously injured a companion animal or caused serious injury to a person (Sec. 4-37.1(g)). A law-enforcement or animal control officer who suspects a dangerous dog applies to a magistrate for a summons, and the owner cannot dispose of the dog except by surrender or euthanasia while the case is pending (Sec.

4-37.1(a)-(c)). Once a court adjudicates a dog dangerous, Sec. 4-37.2 imposes ongoing obligations within 30 days: the owner must have the dog spayed or neutered, implant it with registered electronic identification, present at least $100,000.00 in liability insurance or an equivalent surety bond covering bites, pay the county a $150.00 registration fee, and post visible warning signs at every entrance to the property. Outdoors, the dog must be confined in a secure locked enclosure, or leashed and securely muzzled by a responsible adult. The county also runs a separate, harsher track for vicious dogs (Sec.

4-37.5), which can end in court-ordered euthanasia, and repeat attacks after a dangerous-dog finding raise the charge to a Class 2 or Class 1 misdemeanor under Sec. 4-37.6.