Animal Ordinances in Arlington County, VA (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Arlington County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Arlington County lets residents keep chickens and other fowl but makes it unlawful for an owner, possessor, or manager to let them trespass onto another person's land. Pigs, hogs, shoats, and sows are banned outright anywhere in the County under the same chapter.
Arlington County Fowl and Livestock Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code §§ 2-2, 2-3
§ 2-2. Same--Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for the owner, possessor or manager of any fowl to permit the same to go upon and trespass upon the lands in the County owned, occupied or leased by any other person. (9-14-35) ... § 2-3. Keeping Pigs, Hogs, Etc. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, or to permit to be kept or maintained, any pig, shoat, sow, hog or other porcine ...
Dog Leash Laws
Arlington County requires every dog to be kept on a leash and under an owner's control, or confined to the owner's property, and separately bans letting a dog run at large anywhere in the County. Owners must also pick up their dog's droppings off their own land.
Arlington County Dog Leashing and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 2-6
§ 2-6. Leashing Dogs. All dogs shall be kept secured by a leash or lead, and under the control of the owner or other responsible person, or within the real property limits of its owners. A waiver to this requirement for a specific time and place may be obtained from the animal Control Officer's office for such activities as off-lead training, obedience matches and trials, when the dog has a ski...
Breed Restrictions
Arlington County has no breed-specific ban: § 2-10 expressly states no dog can be found dangerous or vicious solely because of its breed. Instead, a court must find a dog dangerous or vicious based on its own conduct before registration, confinement, and muzzling duties apply.
Arlington County Dangerous Dog Rules, No Breed Ban
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 2-10
C. Exceptions. No animal shall be found to be a dangerous or vicious dog solely because it is a particular breed. No animal shall be found to be a dangerous or vicious dog if the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person who was: 1. Committing, at the time, a crime upon the premises occupied by the animal's owner or custodian; 2. Committing, at the time, a willful trespass or other tor...
Exotic Pets
Arlington County bans keeping or breeding any live wild or exotic animal, a list that covers primates, raccoons, foxes, big cats, venomous snakes, and several spider and scorpion genera, subject only to narrow exceptions for accredited zoos, licensed rehabilitators, and research facilities.
Arlington County Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsArlington County Code § 2-20(A)
A. No person shall keep or permit to be kept, breed or permit to be bred, any live wild or exotic animal as defined in §2-18. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological animal exhibitions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA); nature centers operated by Arlington County or Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority; animal programs operated by Arlington Public...
Cat Rules
Arlington County makes it unlawful to keep a cat six months or older for more than 14 days without a USDA-licensed rabies vaccination. The requirement is tied to a rabies emergency the County declared in 1982 and that stays in force until the District Health Officer determines it no longer exists.
Arlington County Cat Rabies Vaccination Rule
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 2-8.2
§ 2-8.2. Rabies Vaccination of Cats. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or have in his custody or control a cat six (6) months old or older, for longer than fourteen (14) days unless such cat has been vaccinated with a rabies vaccine licensed for use by the United States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Biologics Section. This section shall remain in effect for as long as ...
Microchipping
Arlington County requires every constricting snake weighing more than 25 pounds to carry an ISO-standard microchip registered to its owner. The rule sits inside the broader reptile-housing standards for constricting snakes in § 2-19 of the animal code.
Arlington County Constricting Snake Microchip Rule
Light RestrictionsArlington County Code § 2-19(F)(2)(c)
2. For snakes weighing over 25 pounds, the following apply: a. Each enclosure shall contain only one snake. b. Each enclosure shall be labeled clearly and visibly with the scientific name, common name, and owner's identifying information. The enclosure must be of such strength and type of construction to prevent escape. A written safety protocol and escape recovery plan shall be within sight of...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Arlington County bans transporting, harboring, or selling foxes, skunks, and raccoons during a declared rabies emergency, but exempts a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries who is rehabilitating those animals under applicable state regulations.
Arlington County Wildlife Rehabilitator Exemption Rule
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 2-8.3
§ 2-8.3. Transportation, Harboring, and Sale of Foxes, Skunks and Raccoons Prohibited. For as long as a rabies emergency shall exist, in accordance with § 2-8.1, the transportation, importation, translocation, harboring, and sale of foxes, skunks, and raccoons is prohibited except that a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries may be allowed to ha...
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