Phone: (804) 646-5573
Fax: (804) 646-5586
Address:
1600 Chamberlayne Avenue
Richmond, VA 23222
Adoption Center Hours:
Monday: By appointment
Tuesday: By appointment
Wednesday: 12:00PM - 6:00PM
Thursday: 12:00PM - 6:00PM
Friday: 12:00PM - 6:00PM
Saturday: 12:00PM - 5:00PM
Sunday: 12:00PM - 4:00PM
Email Contacts:
Make a difference for homeless pets in need—donate to the RACC Foundation today and help save lives!
Pet License & Permits
All cats and dogs living in the City of Richmond are required to be licensed and have a current rabies vaccination. Your pet’s license is a legally required form of identification and is your best friend’s most valuable asset in getting them home safely. Each year, Richmond Animal Care & Control receives more than 3,000 animals, yet the vast majority of them have no form of identification to assist us in reuniting them with their families. Your pet can’t tell us where they live, so speak for them by purchasing a pet license today.
Pet licensing can save your pet and help the City prepare for community-wide emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, and the threat of terrorism. At a time when emergency preparedness is top priority in our lives, licensing your pet may result in the safe return of your beloved pet during life-threatening emergencies that may affect our entire community. The act of licensing your pet helps community officials know how many pets may need emergency care in the event of a disaster. If your licensed pet goes missing during a community-wide disaster, your pet wearing its license tag will be identified if found by strangers or taken to an animal shelter.
The cost of a pet license is $10 for each cat and/or dog and must be renewed annually. Purchase your license by clicking here.
All cats and dogs over the age of six months and living in the City of Richmond are required by law to be spayed or neutered unless the owner has obtained a breeder’s permit from the Division of Animal Care & Control. To be eligible for the breeder’s permit, the pet must have a current rabies vaccination and city license. The fee for a breeder’s permit is $200 per animal. The permit application is subject to review and approval by an Animal Control Officer. The breeder's permit is required to be renewed annually before its expiration date.
Permit applications are available at RACC.
You may also purchase your permit through the mail by clicking here to download the application.
The City of Richmond allows the keeping of up to six hens in all residential areas of the city for residents with the proper permit as issued by the Division of Animal Care & Control.
Owners shall provide a suitable coop, as well as a fenced pen, which must be in the rear of the property and meet all Zoning Division requirements. Chickens must be kept in the pen enclosure at all times and are not allowed to free-range. Chicken owners must either own their property or obtain the written approval of the property owner. Roosters and English Gamecocks are prohibited. For more details, click here for an informational brochure.
Permit applications are available at RACC.
You may also purchase your permit through the mail by clicking here to download the application.
Chicken Permit Application Details:
- Residents are advised to contact the Zoning Division by calling (804) 646-6701 or by email at dcdzoningadministration@rva.gov to obtain required yard (setback) information prior to applying for the permit.
- The non-refundable application fee is $60.00 and must be renewed annually.
- Submission of a site plan is required with the permit.
- A background investigation for prior cruelty or neglect violations will be conducted.
- Applicants are subject to on-site inspection of the chicken area and coop(s) by an Animal Control Officer prior to issuance of the permit.
