Livestock such as cattle are governed by Prince William County's Zoning Ordinance (Ch. 32). Cattle are allowed on parcels of at least two acres within the Domestic Fowl Overlay District, at a rate of one head per acre after the first acre.
Larger livestock is a zoning-controlled use, not an as-of-right residential activity. Following a 2021 zoning amendment, cattle may be kept on parcels of two acres or more (down from a former ten-acre minimum) within the Domestic Fowl Overlay District, at a stocking rate of one head per acre after the first acre. Agricultural (A-1) parcels have broader livestock rights, while semi-rural residential parcels often need a Special Use Permit. Horses, goats, sheep, and swine are similarly tied to minimum lot sizes and acreage-based stocking under Ch. 32 agricultural-district standards. Animals must be fenced and not allowed to run at large; the county administers these limits through Zoning Administration.
Keeping cattle or other livestock below the required acreage, above the stocking rate, or outside a permitted district is a zoning violation. PWC Zoning Administration issues notices of violation and civil penalties and may order removal of the animals. Livestock
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