Animal Ordinances in Henrico County, VA (2026)
9 rules for unincorporated Henrico County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Henrico County Code Article V regulates swine: no hog pen may sit within 400 feet of any lot in a residential district, and no more than 20 hogs may be kept in a pen at one time. Other livestock keeping is governed by the County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 24).
Henrico Hog Pens: 400-Foot Setback, 20-Hog Cap (Sec. 5-224)
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 5-224
No hog pen may be constructed or maintained within 400 feet of any lot in any residential district, or within 200 feet of any other lot occupied by a dwelling other than the farm dwelling, or by any school or church or any institution for human care not located on the same lot with such uses or buildings.
Dog Leash Laws
Henrico County Code Sec. 5-29(6) prohibits any dog (except hunting dogs) from running at large countywide, year-round. A dog is 'at large' when off the owner's property and not under the owner's or custodian's immediate control. Violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Henrico County Dogs May Not Run at Large (Sec. 5-29)
Heavy RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 5-29(6)
It is prohibited for any dog ... to run at large within the county at any time during any month of the year. For the purposes of this subsection, a dog is deemed to run at large while roaming or running off the property of its owner or custodian and not under its owner's or custodian's immediate control.
Breed Restrictions
Virginia law, which Henrico's animal control enforces countywide, forbids a court from labeling any dog dangerous solely for its breed. A dog can only be found dangerous after a specific attack or bite, following a magistrate summons, a hearing, and defenses for provoked or duty-bound dogs.
Henrico Bars Breed Bans in Dangerous-Dog Findings
Some RestrictionsCode of Virginia § 3.2-6540(K)(1)
K. No animal shall be found by the court to be a dangerous dog: 1. Solely because it is a particular breed; 2. If the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who was (i) committing at the time a crime upon the premises occupied by the animal's owner; (ii) committing at the time a willful trespass upon the premises occupied by the animal's owner; or (iii) provoking, tormenting, or ph...
Beekeeping
Henrico County Code has no beekeeping ordinance, so keeping honeybees is generally allowed, subject to zoning. Virginia Code Sec. 3.2-4411.1 shields a beekeeper who operates an apiary reasonably, follows local zoning, and uses state best management practices from injury and property-damage liability.
Beekeeping Allowed in Henrico County; State Protects Beekeepers
Few RestrictionsVa. Code Sec. 3.2-4411.1(B)
A person who operates an apiary in a reasonable manner, in compliance with local zoning restrictions, and in conformance with the written best management practices as provided by regulation of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall not be liable for any personal injury or property damage that occurs in connection with his keeping and maintaining of bees.
Exotic Pets
Henrico County Code Sec. 5-199 makes it unlawful to confine or keep any fox, skunk or raccoon as a pet or otherwise, and bans importing or selling them in the county. These rabies-vector species are prohibited outright; other exotics are also governed by Virginia's restricted-species permitting.
Henrico Bans Foxes, Skunks and Raccoons as Pets (Sec. 5-199)
Heavy RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 5-199
The transportation or importation of foxes, skunks and raccoons from other jurisdictions into the county, and the sale of foxes, skunks and raccoons in the county, is prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to confine or keep any fox, skunk or raccoon as a pet or otherwise.
Pet Limits
Henrico County Code has no ordinance using the word 'hoarding,' but Sec. 5-5 establishes a public county animal-cruelty registry for felony cruelty convictions, and Virginia Code Sec. 3.2-6570 makes deprivation of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary care a Class 1 misdemeanor. The kennel threshold also limits accumulation.
Henrico Cruelty Registry Plus State Neglect Law (Sec. 5-5)
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 5-5(a)
There is hereby established an animal cruelty registry to provide public access to information concerning persons who have been convicted in the county on or after July 1, 2024, of felony violations of (1) Cruelty to animals, as provided by Code of Virginia 3.2-6570; (2) Animal fighting, as provided by Code of Virginia 3.2-6571.
Cat Rules
Henrico County does not license or leash cats, but Sec. 5-90 makes it unlawful to keep any dog or cat four months or older without a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian. Feral cats without identification may be handled by Animal Protection under Sec. 5-154.
Henrico Cats: Rabies Shot Required, No License or Leash
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code Sec. 5-90(a)
It is unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any dog or cat four months of age or older within the county unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated with a species-appropriate vaccine approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by a licensed veterinarian.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Henrico only requires spaying or neutering when a dog or cat comes from a releasing agency, such as the county shelter. New owners must sterilize the animal within 30 days of adoption, or within 30 days after it turns six months old if it wasn't sexually mature yet, or sign an agreement to do so before taking it home.
Henrico Requires Sterilizing Shelter-Adopted Pets
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code § 5-114
Sec. 5-114. Sterilization required. (a) Duty of new owner. Every new owner of a dog or cat adopted from a releasing agency must cause such dog or cat to be sterilized pursuant to the agreement required by subsection (b)(2) of this section. (b) Requirements for release of animal. A dog or cat may not be released for adoption from a releasing agency unless: (1) The animal has already been sterili...
Bird Protection
Henrico designates three specific neighborhoods, Lakeside, Three Chopt Elementary's grounds, and Old Westham, as bird sanctuaries. Inside them it's unlawful to trap, shoot, hunt or molest any bird or rob a nest, though nuisance starlings can be destroyed with the property owner's written approval.
Henrico's Three Bird Sanctuaries Bar Hunting Birds
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code § 5-250
Sec. 5-250. Bird sanctuaries. ... (d) It is unlawful in any areas designated in this section to willfully and maliciously trap, shoot, hunt, or attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wild fowl or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests. However, if starlings or similar birds are found to be congregating in such bird sanctuaries so that they constitute a nuisance or menace to health o...
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