Animal Ordinances in Prince William County, VA (2026)

PWC Zoning Ordinance § 32-300.02.6(c)-(e)

6.Farm animals (such as cattle, pigs, hogs, goats, sheep, and other livestock, horses, mules and other equines, and similar utilitarian animals) shall not be permitted as an accessory use in any residential district or on lots of less than ten acres with a residential principal use in any agricultural district, except as follows: ... (c)Chickens and other fowl shall be permitted on all A-1 zone...

PWC Code Sec. 4-23

It is unlawful for a dog owner/custodian to allow their dog to run at large within the county. 'At large' means that the dog is off the property of its owner/custodian and not attached to that person by a leash.

PWC Code Sec. 4-12(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 phys...

PWC Zoning Ordinance Sec. 32-300.02

The keeping of honeybees in four beehives or less shall be permitted as an accessory use to a residential principal use on any lot. On any lot of 10,000 square feet in size or larger, more than four beehives may be kept, provided there is an additional lot area of 2,500 square feet for each hive.

PWC Code Sec. 4-71

No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild, exotic or vicious animal as a pet.

PWC Zoning Ordinance § 32-300.02.7, .9(a)

Small animals normally kept as pets (excluding farm animals as defined in subsection 6. above) shall be permitted as an accessory use in all agricultural and residential zoning districts, regardless of lot size, except that no more than four dogs, which are six months of age or older; shall be allowed unless zoning approval for a kennel has been obtained. Any dogs, when not kept in the dwelling...

PWC Code Sec. 4-62

It is unlawful for any person to own, keep or hold or harbor any dog or domesticated cat over the age of four months that do not have a current rabies vaccination administered by a veterinarian.

PWC Code Sec. 4-13(b)(1)

Within 30 days of the finding that an animal is a dangerous dog pursuant to county code sec. 4-12, the owner shall:(1)Provide documentation that the animal has been neutered or spayed;(2)Provide documentation that the animal has been implanted with electronic identification registered to the owner...

PWC Code Sec. 4-13(b)(2)

Within 30 days of the finding that an animal is a dangerous dog pursuant to county code sec. 4-12, the owner shall:...(2)Provide documentation that the animal has been implanted with electronic identification registered to the owner. The registration information shall be provided to the animal control officer...

PWC Zoning Ordinance § 32-300.16.3, .14, .15

3.Outside storage associated with the business shall be prohibited. Pet grooming services shall be permitted to use a portion of a rear or side yard, if blocked from view from adjacent properties by a six-foot high solid board fence, for use by not more than three pets at any time. ... 14.Provisions for disposal of waste generated by or associated with the home employment use shall be approved ...

PWC Zoning Ordinance § 32-301.04(35)

The following uses shall be permitted in the A-1 district on existing lots of any size with a Special Use Permit: 1.Adaptive reuse of a historic building, subject to the standards of section 32-300.07.2.Adult day center.3.Airport, heliport, private airstrip.4.Bed and breakfast, subject to the standards of section 32-300.15.5.Cemetery.6.Child care facility. ... 34.Travel trailer and camp park.35...