Stafford County, VA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Stafford County's leash rules run on two tracks. From April through September every year, § 5-23 requires every dog in the county to be restricted by leash, kept in a pen, or confined to its owner's premises; letting a dog run loose during those six months is unlawful regardless of the neighborhood. Year-round, § 5-24 bans any dog from running at large inside a subdivision or mobile home park, which covers most of Stafford's residential development. The code defines 'run at large' as roaming or self-hunting off the owner's property while not under the control of the owner, custodian, or an agent by leash, cord, or chain; an owner who lets a dog remain unconfined, unrestricted, or unpenned has violated the section even without direct proof the dog wandered.

The subdivision rule exempts dogs in a supervised obedience class or show, formally sanctioned field trials, and lawful hunting during open season, but it is separately unlawful to hand a dog off to someone not physically capable of controlling it. Section 5-25 layers on a standing rule for destructive or annoying dogs: they must be kept confined to the owner's premises or on a leash and 'held in check' at all times, in every month of the year. Animal control or another county officer who finds a dog running at large in violation of the article can capture and impound it under § 5-28, with disposition following state procedure.