Richmond, VA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- First offense
- Class 4 misdemeanor
- Repeat offense
- Class 3 misdemeanor
- Electronic collars
- Do not count as restraint
- Exercise areas
- Leash may be removed if posted
- State authority
- Va. Code § 3.2-6538
Summary
Richmond bars any dog from running at large off its owner's property without a fence, tether, lead or leash; electronic collars do not count, and a first offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor, rising to Class 3 on repeat.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large. For purposes of this section, a dog shall be deemed to run at large while roaming, running, or self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian and not under its owner's or custodian's immediate control. The term "immediate control," for purposes of this section, means physical restraint or confinement of the dog by a fence, tether, lead or leash. An electronic collar or other similar electronic device does not qualify as a leash, lead, or other means of physical restraint. Any person who permits such person's dog to run at large shall be deemed in violation of this section and, upon conviction thereof, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor, and shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor upon conviction of a second or subsequent violation of this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
1, codified as Sec. 4-243, makes it unlawful for any dog to run at large, defining that as roaming, running, or self-hunting off the owner's or custodian's property and outside their immediate control. The ordinance defines 'immediate control' narrowly as physical restraint or confinement by a fence, tether, lead or leash, and expressly states that an electronic collar or other similar electronic device does not qualify as a leash, lead, or other means of physical restraint, closing off invisible-fence-only compliance. Two carve-outs let the leash come off: inside a City-designated and posted dog exercise area, and on private property other than the owner's own, where the property owner or person in control has permitted the dog to be present unleashed.
2-6538. The section sits alongside Sec. 4-244, which separately addresses dogs that are a public nuisance or lack adequate care and control, and Sec. 4-246, which requires restraint of dogs specifically within City parks, so a loose dog in a park can implicate more than one section at once.
Violations & Fines
A first at-large violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor, and a second or later conviction is a Class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 4-243(d), both enforced by Richmond Animal Care and Control officers or police who may issue a summons; an unleashed dog can also trigger separate nuisance or park-restraint citations under Sec. 4-244 or Sec. 4-246 if those facts apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an invisible fence satisfy Richmond's leash law?
What is the penalty for a dog running at large in Richmond?
Where can a dog be off-leash in Richmond?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richmond
Compare Richmond to another location·View the Virginia animal ordinances overview
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