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Change to a county ordinance

County Code change: repeal and replace the County’s Vicious Dog’s Ordinance

  1. Board hearing (county’s record, Feb 12, p. 27)Feb 12

  2. Board decides (county’s record, Feb 12, p. 27)Adopted, 5-0 · Feb 12

A step the records show opens the record itself.

About the Board of Supervisors

In plain words

The Board of Supervisors considered an amendment to the county's ordinance on vicious dogs (Chapter 34, Article II of the Northumberland County Code), to repeal and replace the County's Vicious Dog's Ordinance.1,2 County Attorney Eric Gregory said the change is "an update to get the local ordinance in compliance with the revised state code regarding comprehensive animal care," and he recommended moving forward.3 At a public hearing, Ms. Tonya Henry urged the Board to adopt the ordinance, and Ms. Marie Smith asked how it would handle dogs running at large.3 On February 12, 2026, the Board voted 5-0 to repeal and replace the ordinance as presented, with James M. Long, James W. Brann, Chip Williams, AC Fisher, Jr. and Keith Harris voting yes.4,5

Summarized from the county’s records, October 12.

Where each sentence comes from
  1. “Article II of Chapter 34 is titled "Vicious Dogs"”Northumberland County Code · table of contents, read Oct 12, 2026
  2. “To consider an amendment to Chapter 34, Article II of the Northumberland County Code to repeal and replace the County’s Vicious Dog’s Ordinance”The matter as the records title it
  3. “this repeal and replace is an update to get the local ordinance in compliance with the revised state code regarding comprehensive animal care” … “Ms. Tonya Henry urged the Board to adopt this ordinance” … “Ms. Marie Smith asked how this ordinance will handle the dogs running at large.”To consider an amendment to Chapter 34, Article II of the Northumberland County · full text
  4. “To consider an amendment to Chapter 34, Article II of the Northumberland County Code”Feb 12, 2026 · Board of Supervisors · On the agenda
  5. “Vote 5-0: yes, James M. Long, James W. Brann, Chip Williams, AC Fisher, Jr., Keith Harris; no, none.”Feb 12, 2026 · Board of Supervisors · Motion carried, 5-0

Written automatically from the county’s records. Each sentence has to quote the record it comes from, word for word, or it’s left out. The records have the final say.

The official wording

To consider an amendment to Chapter 34, Article II of the Northumberland County Code to repeal and replace the County’s Vicious Dog’s Ordinance

What’s happened

  1. Thu12Feb

    Board of Supervisors · a vote

    AdoptedThe Board’s vote

    Motion to repeal and replace the County’s Vicious Dog’s Ordinance with the updated ordinance consistent and compliant with the current applicable State Code provisions as presented.

    Moved by Fisher, seconded by Williams

    Minutes, Feb 12, p. 27Open it in the meeting →

Meeting by meeting, newest first, in the records’ own words. Each vote names the minutes it’s written in.

The records

Gathered from Northumberland County’s agendas, minutes and notices. Checked October 26.

Something wrong here?

If you know something on this page is wrong, say so. A person at County Voice reads each one. One that checks out is corrected here, with the date. The county’s and the state’s own records aren’t changed.

Never shown on the site, and not used for anything else.

Disagreeing with a decision isn’t a correction. To be heard on one, see what’s coming up.

How a county ordinance is changed

The County Code is made of ordinances. The Board of Supervisors amends or repeals one the same way it adopts one: by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a lawful meeting, with each member's vote recorded.

Before the vote, the county must advertise its intention twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county: first no more than 28 days before the meeting, and again no less than seven days before it. The full text is kept on file at the county administrator's office or the circuit court clerk's office.

The law: Va. Code § 15.2-1427 (Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances). This describes the general process, not this decision.