Pittsylvania County does not have a County-wide leash law. This means that in most areas, dogs, when equipped with an up-to-date dog tag and collar, are allowed to run free without a leash. 

A dog shall be deemed “to run at large” while roaming, running or self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian and not under its owner’s or custodian’s immediate control, including chasing motor vehicles on a highway. 

As long as the dog has a collar and an up-to-date tag then it is not considered a stray and is permitted to run at-large in most areas. However, there are some dog control areas where more than 75% of the area property owners filed a petition to restrict at-large dogs. While dogs are allowed to run at large beyond the limits of their own land, livestock owners must keep their animals on their own property.

A dog that is wearing an appropriate dog tag and collar is not a stray. Since dogs are considered personal property, you can be charged with theft if you take home a dog that you find. If you want to report a dog that you think is a stray or lost, please, notify Animal Control here.

Dog Control Areas

There are several dog control areas where dogs must remain on a leash. These dog control areas are mostly in subdivisions. A petition for a subdivision or other area to become a dog control area must include signatures from 75% of the homeowners in that area. The Board of Supervisors is ultimately responsible for approving or denying these applications.

You can review each of these dog control areas in Chapter 2 of the Pittsylvania County Ordinance. 

Nuisance Animals

Under the Lack of Control of Companion Animal Ordinance (Section 2-26 of Chapter 2 Pittsylvania County's Ordinance), someone can take an animal owner to civil court if their dog, cat, or other companion animal is a nuisance. Some examples where this statute would apply include: 

• An animal is repeatedly trespassing and damaging property
• An animal habitually runs at large in a restricted area
• An animal bothers people that are not located on the owner's property
• An animal poops in someone else's yard or in any public place not owned by the owner