Stafford County, VA Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Chapter 5's definitions section, Sec. 5-1, defines a "kennel" as any establishment in which five or more canines, felines, or hybrids of either are kept for breeding, hunting, training, renting, buying, boarding, selling or showing, and a "noncommercial kennel" as a place where six or more dogs or cats older than six months are kept and maintained by a householder within or adjoining a private residence, noting that occasional sales do not turn the place into a commercial kennel. The zoning ordinance carries a matching definition at Sec.

28-25, which describes "Kennel, noncommercial" as any establishment where six or more canines, felines or hybrids over six months old are kept by the resident as an accessory use, and requires that all kennels comply with the accessory structure and use regulations for the district. That zoning tie matters because a noncommercial kennel is listed among the by-right accessory uses only in the county's agricultural districts, such as A-1 and A-2, and is not listed among the by-right uses for the county's residential districts. In practice, a household can keep up to five dogs or cats without triggering either kennel definition; at six or more, the property must meet the accessory-use standards for its zoning district.

Chapter 5's care-of-animals provision, Sec. 5-6, separately requires every owner to provide adequate feed, water, shelter, space, exercise and veterinary care for each companion animal regardless of how many are kept, with violations charged as a Class 4 misdemeanor and repeat violations elevated to Class 2 or Class 3.