Animal Ordinances in Stafford County, VA (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated Stafford County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Stafford County does not regulate backyard chickens through a numeric standard, but Sec. 5-4 governs swine: keeping pigs is unlawful and a Class 4 misdemeanor unless done in an agriculturally zoned area with the enclosure at least 200 feet from any inhabited building, well, spring, stream, creek or brook, or in a residential dwelling with the neighbors' written lifetime consent.
Stafford County Backyard Swine Rules
Significant RestrictionsStafford County Code § 5-4
It shall be unlawful and a class 4 misdemeanor for any person to keep swine within the county except in agriculturally zoned areas in accordance with the following requirements: (1)Swine shall be kept in an enclosure that is at least two hundred (200) feet from any inhabited building or residence, or wells, springs, streams, creeks or brooks; or(2)Swine may be kept within a residential dwelling...
Dog Leash Laws
Stafford County requires every dog to be leashed, penned, or confined from April through September under § 5-23, and separately bans dogs from running at large in any subdivision or mobile home park year-round under § 5-24. Destructive or annoying dogs must stay leashed or confined at all times under § 5-25.
Stafford County Dog Leash Requirements
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code §§ 5-23, 5-24(a)
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit such dog to run at large within the county during the months of April, May, June, July, August and September of any year. During such months, all dogs shall be restricted by leash or pen or be kept confined to the premises of their owners. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit such dog to run at large within any subdi...
Breed Restrictions
Stafford County does not ban any dog breed. Under County Code §§ 5-56 through 5-58, an animal control officer or law enforcement officer who believes a dog is dangerous or vicious applies to a magistrate for a summons, and a General District Court judge decides after a hearing. Dogs found dangerous must be registered; dogs found vicious face court-ordered euthanasia.
Stafford County Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 5-57(b), (d)
No canine or canine crossbreed shall be found to be a dangerous dog solely because it is a particular breed, nor is the ownership of a particular breed of canine or canine crossbreed prohibited. ... The owner of any animal found to be a dangerous dog shall, within forty-five (45) days of such finding, obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from the local animal control officer or treas...
Beekeeping
Stafford County allows keeping up to four honeybee hives as an accessory use on R-1 residential lots, but only with a zoning permit. Hive count is tied to lot size, hives must sit at least 15 feet from every property line, and beekeepers must provide an on-site water source and a flight-path barrier when hives face nearby lots.
Stafford County Beekeeping and Apiary Rules
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 28-39(aa)
(aa)Special provisions applicable to apiary as an accessory use in the R-1, Suburban Residential District.(1)The keeping of honeybees in four (4) hives or less shall be permitted as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling subject to the issuance of a zoning permit.(2)Hives shall be located in the rear yard and shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from all property lines.(3)Minimum lot s...
Exotic Pets
Stafford County flatly bans keeping any wild or exotic animal as a pet. Sec. 5-77 makes it unlawful to keep monkeys, raccoons, skunks, wolves, foxes, big cats, venomous reptiles and crocodilians for pleasure, and anyone already keeping one when the 2005 ordinance passed had five years to dispose of it and 60 days to register it with animal control.
Stafford County Wild Animal Pet Ban
Heavy RestrictionsStafford County Code §§ 5-74, 5-77
Wild or exotic animal shall mean any live monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal, venomous reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate which can normally be found in the wild state, or any other member of crocodilian, including but not limited to alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gavials. ... No person shal...
Pet Limits
Stafford County sets no blanket cap on pets, but County Code Sec. 5-1 draws a line: a place keeping five or more dogs, cats or hybrids for breeding, training, boarding or sale is a "kennel," and a household with six or more dogs or cats over six months old becomes a "noncommercial kennel" under the zoning ordinance.
Stafford County Pet Kennel Threshold
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code §§ 5-1, 28-25
Kennel means any establishment in which five (5) or more canines, felines, or hybrids of either are kept for the purpose of breeding, hunting, training, renting, buying, boarding, selling, or showing. ... Noncommercial kennel means a place in which six (6) or more dogs or cats more than six (6) months of age are kept and maintained by a householder, within or adjoining a private residence. Occa...
Cat Rules
Stafford County requires every cat over four months old to carry a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian, with the vaccine tag worn on the collar at all times off the owner's property, under Sec. 5-66. The county has no separate cat-licensing tax like it does for dogs, but rabies vaccination is mandatory and enforceable.
Stafford County Cat Vaccination Rule
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 5-66
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, hold or harbor any dog or domesticated cat over the age of four (4) months within the county, unless such dog or cat shall have a current rabies vaccination administered by a currently licensed veterinarian. ... Any person transporting a dog or cat into the county from some other jurisdiction shall conform with this section within thirty (30) da...
Pet Store Rules
Stafford County does not ban retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats, but Sec. 5-40 requires any pet shop, boarding establishment, commercial dog breeder, commercial kennel or animal dealer to hold a $50 annual permit from the county treasurer, renewed each January, with revocation possible for fraud or inhumane treatment after a Board of Supervisors hearing.
Stafford County Pet Shop Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code § 5-40
Any person operating a pet shop, operating a boarding establishment, operating as a commercial dog breeder, operating as a commercial kennel, or operating as a dealer in companion animals shall obtain a permit in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) from the treasurer on or before January 1 and not later than January 31 of each year. ... If it is determined that permittee is found to be engaged...
Pet Groomer Rules
Stafford County has no standalone pet-groomer license, but Sec. 5-1 defines a "groomer" as anyone who cleans, trims, brushes or treats an animal for a fee, and Sec. 5-6 extends the county's mandatory animal-care standards, covering feed, water, shelter, space, exercise and veterinary care, to every groomer along with pet shops, kennels and boarding establishments.
Stafford County Pet Groomer Care Duty
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code §§ 5-1, 5-6
Groomer means any person who, for a fee, cleans, trims, brushes, makes neat, manicures, or treats for external parasites any animal. ... Each owner shall provide for each of his companion animals:(1)Adequate feed;(2)Adequate water;(3)Adequate shelter that is properly cleaned;(4)Adequate space in the primary enclosure for the particular type of animal depending upon its age, size, species and we...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Stafford County's Table 3.1 permits a veterinary clinic without boarding facilities by right in the A-1 Agricultural district, while a veterinary clinic with boarding facilities needs a special exception from the Board of Supervisors under Stafford County Code Section 28-35.
Stafford County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsStafford County Code §§ 28-25, 28-35 (Table 3.1, A-1 Agricultural District)
Veterinary clinic. A facility staffed with medical personnel licensed in the State of Virginia for the purpose of attending to the medical needs of various animals. ... (a)Uses permitted by right: ... Veterinary clinic without boarding facilities. ... (c)Special exception: ... Veterinary clinic with boarding facilities.
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