Animal Ordinances in Fairfax County, VA (2026)

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 4102.7.J(3)-(3)(a)

(3) The keeping of livestock or poultry, excluding roosters, is allowed as an accessory use on any lot of two acres or more in size. Roosters are only permitted as part of a bona fide agricultural operation. The keeping of permitted livestock or poultry must be in accordance with the following: (a) The number of livestock kept on a given lot may not exceed the ratio of ...

Fairfax County Code § 41.1-2-4

(a)No dog shall run unrestricted, as defined in Section 41.1-1-1, in the County. Any person who is the owner of a dog found unrestricted in the County shall be in violation of this Section. ... (b)Any dog found unrestricted in violation of subsection (a) shall be impounded, except that if the rightful owner of the dog can be immediately ascertained and located, then that owner shall be allowed ...

Va. Code § 3.2-6540.1

"Vicious dog" means a canine or canine crossbreed that has (i) killed a person, (ii) inflicted serious injury to a person, or (iii) continued to exhibit the behavior that resulted in a previous finding by a court or, on or before July 1, 2006, by an animal control officer as authorized by ordinance that it is a dangerous dog, provided that its owner has been given notice of that finding. No ca...

Fairfax County Code § 41.1-4-1

No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild, exotic or vicious animal, as those terms are defined in Section 41.1-1-1, for any purposes, except that this prohibition shall not apply to (i) a single certified service animal in a household, (ii) zoological parks, (iii) traveling animal exhibitions, (iv) circuses or (v) individuals, organizations, or veterinary clinics that are properly lic...

Fairfax County Code § 41.1-2-19

(a)The feeding of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and any crossbreeds or hybrids of these birds, is hereby prohibited in the area of the County described in subsection (b). (b)This prohibition is applicable to parcels of land contiguous to Little Hunting Creek, except that no provisions of this section shall be applicable on lands within a national or st...

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance § 4102.7.J(2)(a)

(a) The total number of dogs on-site must comply with the limits shown in the table below. These limits apply regardless of the ownership of any of the dogs. Only dogs six months or older in age are counted towards these limits. Maximum Number 2 ... No requirement ... 4 ... 10,000 square feet ... 6 ... 12,500 square feet ... More than 6 ... 25,000 square feet plus 5,000 square feet for each dog...

Fairfax County Code § 41.1-2-1

Unless exempt pursuant to Virginia law, the owner or custodian of each dog and domesticated cat 4 months of age and older shall have it currently vaccinated against rabies. For the purposes of this section, currently vaccinated means the animal was (i) vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premise...

Fairfax County Code § 41.1-3-2

When a pet shop or the premises of a dealer is hereafter constructed or extensively remodeled or when an existing structure is converted for use as a pet shop, properly prepared plans and specifications for such construction, remodeling or alteration, showing all details as to layout, entrances, partitions, window openings, ventilation, animal enclosures, storerooms, grooming areas, toilets, wa...

Fairfax County, VA, Zoning Ordinance subsec. 4102.5.C

Standards applicable to all veterinary hospitals: (1) The construction and operation of all facilities must be approved by the Health Department before any building permit or Nonresidential Use Permit is issued. (2) The emission of odor and noise must be mitigated through the provision of ventilation and soundproofing in accordance with all County and State standards. Standards when permitted b...