Arlington County, Virginia

§ 2-6.1. Tethering of Dogs.
1. Except when a dog’s owner, guardian or custodian is physically within reach of the dog, it shall be unlawful for any person to tether a dog to a chain, rope or line of any kind that is too short to enable the dog easily to stand, sit, lie down, turn about, and make all other normal body movements in a comfortable, normal position for the animal, and reach shade as necessary, for more than three (3) hours cumulatively within any twenty-four (24) hour period, regardless of whether the tethered dog has been provided adequate space during parts of such period. For the purposes of this section, “adequate space” shall have the meaning given to it in Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia. When the same dog is observed to be tethered in the same location that it was in after an initial observation of the dog in that location, then there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the dog has been continuously tethered in that location since the initial observation.

2. Notwithstanding any other part of this section, a dog may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system that allows it to reach shelter and water as necessary, except that no dog may be confined to such a running cable line or trolley system for more than twelve (12) hours cumulatively within any twenty-four (24) hour period. When the same dog is observed to be tethered in the same location on a least two (2) subsequent occasions in the twenty-four (24) hour period that follows an initial observation of the dog in that location, then there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the dog has been tethered in that location for more than twelve (12) hours cumulatively in the twenty-four (24) hour period since the initial observation. A running cable line or trolley system is defined as one that is at least 20 feet in length and is mounted at least four (4) feet, but no more than seven (7) feet, above the ground. Under no circumstances shall a dog be attached to a running cable line or trolley system unless the tether attaching it to the running cable line or trolley system is at least ten (10) feet in length or three (3) times the length of the animal, as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, whichever is longer.