Lynchburg, VA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

City Code Sec. 7-36 states plainly that it is unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow it to run at large within the city, even though the dog is both lawfully licensed and vaccinated, meaning licensing does not exempt an owner from the leash requirement. ' Sec. 7-33 defines 'run at large' as roaming or running off the owner's or custodian's property while not under immediate physical or voice control, and specifies that physical control includes confinement by fence, chain, leash, or other physical restraint, or the owner's physical presence; a narrow exception exists for a dog put down for lawful hunting, field trials or training that becomes temporarily out of the handler's control or is returning from the hunt.

Sec. 00 per dog, with proceeds deposited into the same account as dog license revenue. A related provision, Sec. 7-37, separately bars any bitch in heat from being at large and requires her to be confined indoors or in a secure enclosure, or kept on a leash at all times off the owner's property.