Supervisors consider broadening definition of allowable pets
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| An African pygmy hedgehog |
Fairfax County residents could soon be able to keep
hedgehogs, chinchillas, and hermit crabs as pets without a special permit.
hedgehogs, chinchillas, and hermit crabs as pets without a special permit.
The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 17 authorized a public
hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow those
animals to be considered “commonly accepted pets.”
hearing on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow those
animals to be considered “commonly accepted pets.”
A planning commission hearing is scheduled for Nov. 29 and a
Board of Supervisors hearing is set for Jan. 22
Board of Supervisors hearing is set for Jan. 22
The board resolution notes that the definition of “commonly
accepted pets” has not been revised since 1985 and that while hedgehogs,
chinchillas, and hermit crabs had once been considered exotic, they are now commonplace pets.
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| A chinchilla |
Over the past 10 years, the Board of Zoning Appeals has
reviewed only one application involving the keeping of a chinchilla, states a report
from the Department of Planning and Zoning on the proposed amendment. “In the
case of animals such as hedgehogs, chinchillas, and hermit crabs,” the report says, “it is likely
that most county residents are unaware of zoning and other county regulations
concerning these pets.”
reviewed only one application involving the keeping of a chinchilla, states a report
from the Department of Planning and Zoning on the proposed amendment. “In the
case of animals such as hedgehogs, chinchillas, and hermit crabs,” the report says, “it is likely
that most county residents are unaware of zoning and other county regulations
concerning these pets.”
While chinchillas and hermit crabs require a special permit, hedgehogs are actually prohibited, as they defined in the code as “wild or exotic.”
The existing zoning ordinance includes in the definition of
commonly accepted pets: “domesticated rabbits; hamsters, ferrets, gerbils;
guinea pigs; pet mice and pet rats; turtles; fish; dogs; cats; domestic
chickens, ducks and geese under two months old; birds such as canaries,
parakeets, doves and parrots; worm/ant farms; non-poisonous spiders; chameleons
and similar lizards; and non-poisonous snakes.”
The proposed zoning change would also replace the term
“non-poisonous” with “not venomous to people” in reference to spiders and
snakes.
“non-poisonous” with “not venomous to people” in reference to spiders and
snakes.
One response to “Supervisors consider broadening definition of allowable pets”
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I had a hermit crab in Fairfax County some time around 1979/80. They were sold in beach towns all up and down the coast as "souvenirs"…I don't think anyone anywhere near here considered them exotic!