Animal Ordinances in Spotsylvania County, VA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Spotsylvania County allows keeping domestic laying hens on R-1, R-2, R-3, R-R, V, PD-H, Ru and PRR lots under Sec. 23-5.3.2(f), starting at two hens and scaling up to a maximum of six, with roosters banned outright. Separately, Sec. 4-6 makes it unlawful countywide for any livestock or poultry to run at large beyond its owner's property.
Spotsylvania County Backyard Chicken Rules
Some RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code § 4-6; § 23-5.3.2(f)
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any livestock or poultry to permit the same to run at large beyond the limits of the boundaries of the lot or tract of land where such animal is confined. ... (f)Keeping of domestic laying hens shall be permitted in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-R, V, PD-H, Ru, and PRR zoned lots, subject to the following:(1)Keeping of domestic laying hens on lots in the R-1, R-2, R-3, ...
Dog Leash Laws
Spotsylvania County bans letting a dog run at large off its owner's property without immediate control, with escalating misdemeanor penalties and a $100-per-dog civil fine for dogs found running loose in a pack.
Spotsylvania County Dogs-at-Large Law
Some RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code § 4-21
No dog, other than those listed in subsection (c) below, shall run at large in the county. Any person who is the owner or custodian of a dog found running at large in the county shall be in violation of this section. ... a dog shall be deemed to be "running at large" while roaming, running off the property or premises of its owner or custodian and not under the immediate control of the owner or...
Breed Restrictions
Spotsylvania County has no breed ban. A dog can only be declared dangerous after a court hearing based on what it actually did, such as seriously injuring a person or another companion animal, never solely because of its breed.
Spotsylvania Dangerous Dog Declaration Rule
Some RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code § 4-31
Any law enforcement officer or animal control officer who (i) has reason to believe that an animal is a dangerous dog and (ii) the animal resides in, or act is committed in the County may apply to a magistrate for the issuance of a summons requiring the owner, if known, to appear before the general district court at a specified time. ... The court shall determine that the animal is a dangerous ...
Exotic Pets
Spotsylvania County bans keeping any wild or exotic animal as a pet outright, and requires sellers to post a notice listing prohibited species by name, from monkeys and raccoons to tigers and alligators.
Spotsylvania County Wild Animal Pet Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code §§ 4-81, 4-82, 4-83
No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild or exotic animal as a pet. ... "No person may lawfully keep or permit to be kept in Spotsylvania County any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal, poisonous snake or tarantula, crocodile or alligator, which can normally be found in the wild state...
Pet Limits
Spotsylvania County caps dog ownership at 50 dogs four months or older per person or entity, no matter how many parcels the dogs are kept on, and licensing does not raise that ceiling.
Spotsylvania County Dog Ownership Cap
Light RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code § 4-29
It shall be unlawful for any person(s) or entity to own, keep or harbor more than fifty (50) dogs, four (4) months of age or older regardless of parcel size and regardless of whether they are kept on one (1) or more tax map parcels. ... This section shall control and limit the number of dogs which may be owned, kept or harbored regardless of the number of dogs for which licenses are purchased a...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Spotsylvania County regulates veterinary practices through its zoning code rather than a separate animal-business ordinance. "Veterinary hospitals/services" is a defined zoning use, permitted by right in the county's general business districts and requiring a special use permit in the agricultural districts, with boarding allowed only as a secondary function.
Spotsylvania County Veterinary Hospital Zoning
Some RestrictionsSpotsylvania County Code § 23-2.1.4
Veterinary hospital/services shall not be deemed to be an office use. ... Veterinary hospitals/services means a place where animals are given medical care and may include the boarding of animals as a secondary use. This use includes veterinary clinics.
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