Excerpts from Fairfax County Code, Article 2 section 41.1

Section 41.1-2-6. - Animals causing unsanitary conditions.

It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal or animals to keep such animal or animals in such a manner as to cause unsanitary conditions. The owner or custodian of any dog shall be responsible for the removal of excreta deposited by such dog on the property of another, including public places. (26-04-41.1.)

Section 41.1-2-4. - Unrestricted dogs prohibited; leash law.

(a)

No dog shall run unrestricted, as defined in Section 41.1-1-1, in the County. Any person who is the owner of a dog found unrestricted in the County shall be in violation of this Section. This Section shall not apply to any person who uses a dog under his direct supervision while lawfully hunting, while engaged in a supervised formal obedience training class or show, during formally sanctioned field trials, while a dog is in an area owned, leased, controlled, or operated by Fairfax County designated by resolution of the Board of Supervisors as an off-leash dog exercise area, or while a dog is in an area owned, leased, controlled, or operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority and designated by resolution of the Fairfax County Park Authority as an off-leash or dog exercise area, or while a dog is in an area, leased, controlled, or operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and designated by resolution of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Board as an off-leash or dog exercise area, or if a dog is a service animal whose handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal's safe effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler's control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means). It is a violation of this Section for any owner of a dog to place such dog or allow it to be placed into custody of any person not physically capable of maintaining effective control of restricting such dog.

(b)

Any dog found unrestricted in violation of subsection (a) shall be impounded, except that if the rightful owner of the dog can be immediately ascertained and located, then that owner shall be allowed to have custody of the animal, but shall be subject to issuance of a summons for violation of this Section. (26-04-41.1; 10-11-41.1.)