Chesterfield County, VA Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum age
- 4 months or older
- Who can vaccinate
- Licensed veterinarian or supervised technician
- Proof required
- Rabies vaccination certificate on demand
- Cat impoundment fee
- $12 first 24 hrs, $6/day after
- Penalty
- Class 4 misdemeanor, $75 minimum fine
- Governing statute
- Virginia Code § 3.2-6521(A)
Summary
Chesterfield County requires every dog and cat four months or older to carry a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian, under Virginia Code § 3.2-6521(A). Owners must keep the vaccination certificate and produce it on demand from an animal control officer, humane investigator, or county health official. Unvaccinated cats picked up by the animal warden cannot be released from the shelter, and violators face criminal penalties under the county's rabies control ordinance.
A. The owner or custodian of all dogs and cats four months of age and older shall have such animal currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises unless otherwise provided by regulations. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall provide the owner or custodian of the dog or the cat with a rabies vaccination certificate or herd rabies vaccination certificate and shall keep a copy in his own files. The owner or custodian of the dog or the cat shall furnish within a reasonable period of time, upon the request of an animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, State Veterinarian's representative, or official of the Department of Health, the certificate of vaccination for such dog or cat. The vaccine used shall be licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in that species. At the discretion of the local health director, a medical record from a licensed veterinary establishment reflecting a currently vaccinated status may serve as proof of vaccination.
Full Breakdown
2-6521(A), which Chesterfield's own rabies control ordinance (County Code § 4-51) implements, makes it unlawful for an owner or custodian to keep a dog or cat four months of age or older that has not been currently vaccinated for rabies. S. Department of Agriculture for that species. After each vaccination the supervising veterinarian issues a rabies vaccination certificate (or herd certificate) and keeps a copy on file; the owner must retain the certificate and produce it within a reasonable time when an animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, a State Veterinarian's representative, or a Department of Health official asks to see it.
A currently-vaccinated medical record from a licensed veterinary establishment can substitute for the certificate at the local health director's discretion. The Board of Health can, by regulation, exempt an animal whose underlying medical condition makes vaccination life-threatening, but that exemption does not remove the animal from the state's rabid-animal exposure procedures. 00 for each additional day. Cats transported into the county from elsewhere must already be vaccinated or get vaccinated immediately upon entry under § 4-52. State law also requires local health departments to hold a rabies clinic serving the county at least once every two years.
Violations & Fines
Chesterfield charges an unvaccinated dog or cat as a class 4 misdemeanor under County Code § 4-29(a)(9), carrying a minimum fine of $75.00 for any violation of the rabies control article (§§ 4-51 through 4-55). Vaccinating after receiving a summons does not excuse the owner from fines or court costs already incurred. Cats and dogs impounded without proof of vaccination stay in the shelter, at the owner's expense, until a current certificate is produced and impoundment fees are paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chesterfield County require cats to be vaccinated against rabies?
What happens if my unvaccinated cat is picked up by animal control?
Is there a medical exemption from the vaccination requirement?
What is the penalty for not vaccinating a cat in Chesterfield County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesterfield County
Compare Chesterfield County to another location·View the Virginia animal ordinances overview
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