Dog Tethering

Unattended tethering is prohibited.


Newport News Code Section 6-78. Unattended tethering of dogs prohibited; exceptions.

  1. It shall be unlawful to tether any unattended dog. For the purposes of this section, a dog is attended only if the owner or custodian is both outdoors and within sight of the dog.
  2. When a dog is tethered, it must have adequate space as defined in Section 6-1.1.
  3. Any owner, whose dog has a valid license pursuant to Section 6-33 as of February, 1 2015, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section as it relates to each dog owned and licensed prior to February 1, 2015. The exemption provided by this subsection shall be forever forfeit for any dog whose license is not renewed by February 1 of any subsequent year.
  4. Violations of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Healthy alternatives to tethering are:

  • Bring your dog inside. This is the ideal situation for your dog to become a part of the family.
  • Spay and Neuter. A neutered male is less likely to try to escape a fence or ‘mark’ in the home. A spayed female dog will not go into heat, so she will not roam to look for a mate. Also, spaying reduces unwanted litters of puppies, helping to decrease the number of strays in our communities.
  • Install a fence. A secure fence, at the appropriate height, gives your dog limited freedom and makes house training easier, allowing quick access to the outdoors. Fencing can be cheap and easy to put up. We are glad to provide information on organizations that will help you build or improve fences and dog runs in your yard.

Resource documents about tethering and tethering alternatives:

For further information contact Newport News Animal Services at 757-595-7387.






Dog Photo