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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75887</law_id><section_number>3.2-6538</section_number><catch_line>Governing body of any locality may prohibit dogs from running at large; civil penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6546</reference><reference>32.1-48.3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Domestic Animals</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="65">Comprehensive Animal Care</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6">Authority of Local Governing Bodies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any locality may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> prohibit the running at large of all or any category of dogs, except dogs used for hunting, in all or any designated portion of such locality during such months as it may designate. Any such locality may also require that dogs be confined, restricted, or penned up during such periods. For the purpose of this section, a dog shall be deemed to run at large while roaming or running off the property of its <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or custodian and not under its <span class="dictionary">owner</span>&#x2019;s or custodian&#x2019;s immediate control. Any person who permits his dog to run at large or remain unconfined, unrestricted, or not penned up shall be deemed to have violated an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section. Such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall provide that the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or custodian of any dog found running at large in a pack shall be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> in an amount established by the locality not to exceed $100 per dog so found. For the purpose of such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, a dog shall be deemed to be running at large in a pack if it is running at large in the company of one or more other dogs that are also running at large. Any civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> collected pursuant to such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall be deposited by the <span class="dictionary">treasurer</span> of the locality pursuant to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Disposition of funds" href="/3.2-6534/">3.2-6534</a>.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 492, &#xA7; 29-213.63; 1987, c. 488, &#xA7; 3.1-796.93; 2008, c. 860; 2019, c. 562.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
