Animal Ordinances in Albemarle County, VA (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Albemarle County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Albemarle County's Zoning Ordinance defines "agriculture" to include the keeping of livestock or poultry, and County Code § 18-10.2.1 permits agriculture by right in the Rural Areas (RA) district covering most of Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville. No zoning permit is required to raise chickens or livestock on RA land, but County Code § 4-304 bars letting horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats or cattle roam beyond your property line.
Keeping Chickens and Livestock in Albemarle County
Few RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 18-3.1, 18-10.2.1
Agriculture. ... "Agriculture" means an agricultural operation, the keeping of livestock or poultry, or both, regardless of whether the keeping of livestock or poultry qualifies as an agricultural operation. The term includes accessory processing facilities for agricultural products grown or raised solely on the farm on which the agriculture is located, such as fruit packing plants and dairies....
Dog Leash Laws
Albemarle County bars owners from letting a dog run at large: off its owner's property without a leash, lead, or a responsible handler physically able to restrain it. County Code § 4-225(A) says an electronic collar never counts as a leash, and a loose, unlicensed dog can be seized on sight.
Dogs Running at Large Prohibited in Albemarle
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 4-225(A), (C)
An owner shall not allow his dog to run at large in the County, subject to the following: A.When a dog is deemed to run at large. For the purposes of this section, a dog is deemed to "run at large" while roaming, running, or self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian and the dog is not firmly secured by a physical leash or lead attached to a collar or harness and under the control ...
Breed Restrictions
Albemarle County will not declare a dog dangerous or vicious based on breed alone. County Code §§ 4-212(B) and 4-223(A) say ownership of a particular breed is not prohibited, so any dangerous-dog finding must rest on an actual bite, attack, or injury, not the animal's breed.
No Breed-Specific Dog Bans in Albemarle
Few RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 4-212(B)
An animal shall not be found to be a dangerous dog if any of the following apply: ... B.Particular breed. Solely because the dog is a particular breed. The ownership of a particular breed of dog is not prohibited.
Beekeeping
Albemarle County's Zoning Ordinance regulates beekeeping directly at Sec. 18-5.1.63, capping how many hives a lot can hold and how close a beehive can sit to a property line. In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, hives must stay at least ten feet from a lot line or right-of-way, and the number of colonies allowed rises with lot size, from two on a half-acre lot to unlimited on parcels over five acres.
Albemarle County Urban Beekeeping Limits
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 18-5.1.63(a), (j)
a.It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, place, or allow a beehive to remain:1.Closer than ten feet to a public right-of-way or to the lot line of an adjoining lot not owned by the person maintaining the beehive; or2.Closer than 30 feet to any structure other than the structure of the person maintaining the beehive. ... j.No person may keep more than the following numbers of bee colonies ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Albemarle County does not mandate spay or neuter for pets generally, but a dog judicially declared dangerous cannot be registered without it. County Code § 4-214(B)(2) requires proof the dog has been spayed or neutered before the Director of Finance will issue the $150 dangerous-dog registration certificate.
Spay/Neuter Required for Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 4-214(B)(2)
B.Requirements to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate. In order to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate, the owner shall pay a fee of $150.00, in addition to other fees that may be authorized by law, and present to the Director of Finance satisfactory evidence of all of the following: ... 2.Spayed or neutered. The dog has been spayed or neutered.
Microchipping
Albemarle County requires permanent electronic implantation for any dog a court finds to be dangerous. County Code § 4-214(B)(4) makes microchipping, registered to the owner and reported to animal control, a condition of the dangerous-dog registration certificate before the Director of Finance can issue it.
Microchip Rule for Dangerous Dogs in Albemarle
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 4-214(B)(4)
B.Requirements to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate. In order to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate, the owner shall pay a fee of $150.00, in addition to other fees that may be authorized by law, and present to the Director of Finance satisfactory evidence of all of the following: ... 4.Dog identified by electronic implantation. The dog has been permanently identified...
Pet Groomer Rules
Albemarle County defines a groomer under Code § 4-103 as anyone who cleans, trims, or treats an animal for a fee, and folds groomers directly into the required-care duties of Code § 4-300, the same standard applied to kennels, pet shops, and boarding establishments.
Albemarle County Pet Groomer Care Requirements
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 4-103, 4-300
Groomer means any person who, for a fee, cleans, trims, brushes, makes neat, manicures, or treats for external parasites any animal. ... A.Required care. Each owner, public or private animal shelter, other releasing agency, foster care provider, dealer, pet shop, exhibitor, kennel, groomer, and boarding establishment shall provide all of the following for any companion animal:1.Food. Adequate f...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A veterinary service, office or hospital, animal hospital or animal shelter in Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville must keep animal confinement areas 500 feet from any agricultural or residential lot line unless soundproofed and air-conditioned, and must hold noise to 55 decibels at the property line.
Veterinary Hospital Zoning, Albemarle County
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 18-5.1.11
Sec. 5.1.11 - Commercial kennel, veterinary service, office or hospital, animal hospital, animal shelter. Each commercial kennel, veterinary service, office or hospital, animal hospital and animal shelter shall be subject to the following: a.Except where animals are confined in soundproofed, air-conditioned buildings, no structure or area occupied by animals shall be closer than 500 feet to any...
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