The District of Columbia does not have a district-wide limit on the number of dogs one can own, but there are dog-related laws that dog owners must follow.

Written by Abbey Orzech

Reviewed by Melanie Reiff

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

Does D.C. have laws limiting how many dogs you can own?
Are there any dog breeds outlawed in D.C.?
What are the leash laws in D.C.?
Where to find affordable insurance in D.C.

There is no district-wide D.C. law in place for how many dogs you can own, but the specific law of each city and municipality may vary. If you own seven or more animals that are larger than a guinea pig, you must obtain an animal hobby permit.

Dogs can be the greatest companions of our lifetimes, so it's easy to see how you could want tons of them. Some places do have limits on the number of dogs one household can have, but there isn’t a blanket number that applies to all of D.C.

The county or city you live in will usually determine how many dogs are too many dogs, but Washington D.C. has other dog-related laws and regulations that owners need to adhere to, or else face civil penalties and fines.

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Does D.C. have laws limiting how many dogs you can own?

Although there is no district-wide limit on how many dogs you can own in D.C., limits are imposed in individual cities, counties, and municipalities. If you reside in the cityof

Alexandria

, for example, you are legally limited to owning no more than three dogs.

For the entirety of D.C., however, animal owners are not allowed to own seven or more animals larger than a guinea pig without acquiring an animal hobby permit. Although this does not only apply to dogs, most dogs are larger than a guinea pig and thus will be included in this count.

To obtain an animal hobby permit, the owner must:

Give a detailed description of the kind and number of the animals, and where they will be kept.

Prove that they can provide adequate care, food, water, space, shelter, and veterinarian care for the kept animals.

Ensure that no offensive smells, noises, or behavior bother the neighborhood.

Establish that the sole purpose of having the animals is not a commercial purpose like dedicated breeding. Selling the animals’ offspring is allowed if that is only an occasional occurrence.

While there is not a number limit specific to household dogs in D.C., there are other district-wide regulations that do apply to dogs.

MORE:

Tried and true ways to get rid of pet odor in your car

Are there any dog breeds outlawed in D.C.?

There are no specifications of D.C. law that outlaw particular breeds. However, there are legal restrictions regarding “dangerous dogs” or “potentially dangerous dogs” that injure or threaten to injure another person or domestic animal without provocation. These circumstances will qualify a dog as dangerous or potentially dangerous in the District of Columbia:

A dog that has attacked or inflicted severe injury on a person or domestic animal

A dog that has demonstrated or has been trained in threatening behavior against the safety of the public

A dog that has aggressively approached or attacked someone in public

A dog that has been running at large resulting in an animal control impound three or more times within a 12-month period

For a dog to be considered a “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous dog”, these circumstances must be unprovoked and reported. The local animal control authorities of the area the reported offense occurred will determine the dog’s dangerous or potentially dangerous status.

What are the leash laws in D.C.?

Try as we may to prevent it, any dog owner can tell you that a passing squirrel or a tempting car motor is enough for some dogs to try to escape the clutches of their leash. Unfortunately, they succeed sometimes and it will be on the owner to recover them and potentially pay the price.

Enacted through the

District of Columbia Municipal Regulations for Animal Control’s sections 900.3-900.4

, D.C. leash laws require:

Your dog must be leashed in public spaces other than dog parks, and the person holding the leash must be capable of restraining the dog.

The leash must be a maximum of four feet in length.

You could face financial or civil penalties for breaking leash laws in D.C., so it’s important to adhere to these.

Penalties for breaking dog laws in D.C.

The kind of penalties you’ll see for breaking D.C. dog laws are dependent on the specifics and severity of each situation.

You can see fines of up to $300 or imprisonment for up to 10 days for penalties against regulations like leash laws or “dangerous dog” behavior. Civil sanctions can also be placed upon dog owners that don’t pick up their dog’s excrements.

If your dog kills or gravely injures a person or a domestic animal unprovoked, you could be looking at a $10,000 fine as well as facing civil liabilities.

MORE:

Open container laws in the District of Columbia

Where to find affordable insurance in D.C.

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