Henrico County, VA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hog pen setback
- 400 ft from residential
- Hog cap
- 20 per pen
- Code sections
- Sec. 5-222 to 5-228
- Hog defined
- Pig over ten weeks
- Other livestock
- Zoning Ordinance Ch. 24
Summary
Henrico County Code Article V regulates swine: no hog pen may sit within 400 feet of any lot in a residential district, and no more than 20 hogs may be kept in a pen at one time. Other livestock keeping is governed by the County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 24).
No hog pen may be constructed or maintained within 400 feet of any lot in any residential district, or within 200 feet of any other lot occupied by a dwelling other than the farm dwelling, or by any school or church or any institution for human care not located on the same lot with such uses or buildings.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5, Article V (Swine) is the county's specific livestock rule. Sec. 5-224 bars a hog pen within 400 feet of any residential-district lot, or within 200 feet of another lot with a dwelling, school, church or care institution. Sec. 5-227 caps a pen at 20 hogs at one time (except brief feeding periods), and Secs. 5-225 to 5-228 require clean pens, odor and fly control, and covered food containers. A 'hog' is any pig over ten weeks and a 'pen' is an enclosure of an acre or less. Cattle, horses, goats and sheep ('Livestock' under Sec. 5-1) are otherwise governed by the district-based Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 24), which ties keeping to lot size and zoning.
Violations & Fines
Swine violations under Article V are enforced by the county; nuisance odor, flies and sanitation are separately abatable. Livestock kept contrary to the Zoning Ordinance is enforced by Community Revitalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I raise hogs in Henrico County?
What about cows, horses or goats?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henrico County
How Henrico County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Henrico County to another location·View the Virginia animal ordinances overview
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