Chesterfield County, VA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large rule
- Prohibited countywide, year-round
- Minimum fine
- $50.00, class 4 misdemeanor
- Pack civil penalty
- $100.00 per dog
- County land leash rule
- Physical leash required off-designated areas
- Impoundment fee
- $30 first 24 hrs, $12/day after
Summary
No dog may run at large anywhere in Chesterfield County at any time of year. Off county land, a leash is not always required, but the dog must stay under the owner's immediate, obedient control; on county land, a physical leash is required outside posted off-leash areas.
For purposes of this section, a dog shall be deemed to run at large while roaming or running off the property of its owner or custodian and not under its owner's or custodian's immediate control. "Immediate control" is defined as a physical leash directly connecting the dog to the owner/custodian or under the direct control of the owner/custodian in which the dog is clearly obedient to commands and remains in close proximity to that person. While on county-owned land, a physical leash directly connecting the dog to its owner/custodian is required unless in a designated and posted dog exercise/off leash area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-23(a) makes it unlawful for any person to permit a dog to run at large in the county at any time during the year, and authorizes the animal warden and deputy wardens to catch and shelter loose dogs. Subsection (c) defines running at large as roaming or running off the owner's or custodian's property and not under the owner's or custodian's immediate control, where immediate control means either a physical leash connecting the dog to the person or direct control in which the dog is clearly obedient to commands and stays in close proximity.
On county-owned land specifically, a physical leash is required unless the dog is in a designated, posted dog exercise or off-leash area; the leash requirement does not apply in privately owned designated off-leash areas. K-9 working dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and hunting, training or field-trial dogs engaged with their owner during an authorized Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources season are exempt, provided the dog wears a collar tag with the owner's name, address and phone number. 2-6534. 00 per additional day, to redeem the animal under section 4-25(b).
Violations & Fines
A first violation of section 4-23(a) is a class 4 misdemeanor under section 4-29(a)(3), carrying a minimum fine of $50.00 specifically for this offense. Separately, an owner or custodian whose dog runs at large in a pack with other loose dogs faces a civil penalty of $100.00 per dog under section 4-23(b), on top of any misdemeanor fine, and impoundment fees of $30.00 for the first day and $12.00 per additional day apply before the dog is released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my dog required to be on a leash in Chesterfield County?
What's the fine for a loose dog in Chesterfield County?
Are hunting dogs exempt from Chesterfield's leash rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesterfield County
Compare Chesterfield County to another location·View the Virginia animal ordinances overview
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