Fairfax County, VA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 2 acres
- Density limit
- 1 animal unit per acre
- 1 animal unit
- 2 cattle or 3 horses
- Roosters
- Only on bona fide farms
Summary
Fairfax County zoning allows livestock and poultry, except roosters, only as an accessory use on lots of two acres or more, capped at one animal unit per acre.
(3) The keeping of livestock or poultry, excluding roosters, is allowed as an accessory use on any lot of two
acres or more in size. Roosters are only permitted as part of a bona fide agricultural operation. The keeping of permitted livestock or poultry must be in accordance with the following:
(a) The number of livestock kept on a given lot may not exceed the ratio of one animal unit per one
acre, with an animal unit identified as follows:
Number of Livestock Equivalent Animal Unit 2 head of cattle 1 animal unit 5 sheep 1 animal unit 3 horses 1 animal unit
https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/fairfaxcounty-va/doc-viewer.aspx#secid--1 247/545 8/18/26, 9:54 PM Document Viewer | Zoning Ordinance
Number of Livestock Equivalent Animal Unit 5 swine 1 animal unit 5 goats 1 animal unit 5 llamas 1 animal unit
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published.
Full Breakdown
Under Section 4102.7.J(3), livestock or poultry may only be kept as an accessory residential use on a lot of two acres or larger; roosters are barred unless part of a bona fide agricultural operation. The number of livestock on a lot cannot exceed one animal unit per acre, with the ordinance defining an animal unit as two head of cattle, five sheep, three horses, five swine, five goats, or five llamas or alpacas. Smaller residential lots cannot keep livestock at all.
Violations & Fines
Keeping livestock on an undersized lot or exceeding the one-animal-unit-per-acre ratio is a zoning infraction, carrying a $200 civil penalty for a first offense and $500 for each repeat violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens or goats on a normal residential lot in Fairfax County?
How is an 'animal unit' counted for livestock limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
How Fairfax County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Fairfax County to another location·View the Virginia animal ordinances overview
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