Henrico County, VA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Henrico County Code § 5-114 requires every new owner of a dog or cat adopted from a releasing agency to have it sterilized under an agreement signed at adoption. Section 5-114(b) bars a releasing agency from releasing an animal for adoption unless it has already been sterilized, or the adopter signs an agreement to sterilize it within 30 days if the animal is already sexually mature, or within 30 days after the animal turns six months old if it was not yet mature at adoption.

A veterinarian's written report that sterilization could jeopardize the animal's life or health lets the releasing agency grant a 30-day extension, and the agency, vet and new owner can separately agree to sterilize an immature animal early. Section 5-115 then requires the new owner to deliver or mail written veterinarian confirmation of the completed sterilization to the releasing agency within seven days of the procedure, describing the animal and including the owner's information. 2-6574; it is not a blanket spay/neuter mandate on every dog or cat owner in the county, and privately acquired or bred animals fall outside this division entirely.

The animal protection police supervisor, an investigator, or the state veterinarian's designee can petition the district court to order a noncompliant new owner to comply, a remedy that stacks on top of, rather than replaces, the civil penalty.