In Fairfax City, companion animals age 4 months and older may be tethered for no more than one hour total between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Tethering is not permitted at night.

Animals may not be tethered under any circumstance nor for any amount of time:

• when sick or injured
• when younger than 4 months old
• during extreme weather, when ambient temperature in the tethering area is below freezing (32ºF) or more than 90ºF.

Tethering is defined as:

tying, fastening, chaining, restraining... a companion animal to any fixed or stationery object, device or structure, or to any other object designed to confine and limit the movement of the companion animal.

Penalties are $50 for the first violation and up to $250 for subsequent violations. Click here to read the City Code Chapter 6, Article 1, Section 6-3: Tethering, tying, or chaining of companion animals.

Report suspected tethering violations by calling 703-385-7924 (or, in case of an emergency, dial 911).

Information: email, 703-385-7925