Showing ordinances that apply to Reston, VA
Reston is an unincorporated community (population 63,226) in Fairfax County, Virginia. Because Reston is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Fairfax County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The livestock rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Livestock (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, pigs) in Fairfax County require at least 2 acres of land, with additional acreage required per animal. Pigs face especially strict rules. Most of the county's R-1 through R-20 residential zones prohibit livestock entirely.
Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance restricts livestock to lots of 2 acres or larger, with additional per-animal acreage requirements that effectively limit livestock to larger estate lots, agricultural zones (R-A and R-E districts), and the few remaining farms in the county's western and southern portions. Horses typically require 2 acres for the first horse and 1 additional acre per additional horse, with stables and manure storage set back 100 feet from any dwelling and 50 feet from property lines. Cattle, sheep, and goats face similar acreage-based formulas. Pigs are subject to even more stringent setbacks (often 200+ feet from neighboring dwellings) due to odor concerns, and potbellied pigs kept as pets have been a recurring interpretation issue - currently classified as livestock regardless of pet intent unless specifically approved as an assistance animal. Most of Fairfax County's residentially zoned land (R-1 through R-20 districts) prohibits livestock entirely. Areas such as Clifton, Great Falls, and parts of Lorton/Fort Belvoir area have working farms, horse properties, and some livestock. Violations can result in abatement orders requiring removal of animals. Virginia Code §3.2-6500 et seq. governs livestock welfare independently.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Reston's livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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