Charlottesville's off-leash spots are Azalea Park, Riverview Park trails Tuesday to Thursday and Darden Towe Park. Leash law, dog park rules and patios.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Rules come from Charlottesville Parks and Recreation’s Park Regulations page, which cites the city code. Business policies come from each business’s own website.

Charlottesville has a firm leash law and three places where dogs can run free: the fenced dog park at Azalea Park, designated trails at Riverview Park on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only, and the fenced area at Darden Towe Park. Everywhere else in city parks, on the trails, at schools and cemeteries and on the Downtown Mall, dogs must be on a leash. Two natural areas, Ivy Creek and Ragged Mountain, do not allow dogs at all.

Who to call

  • Animal Control (non-emergency): Emergency Communications Center, 434-977-9041
  • Emergency or a dangerous animal: 911
  • Dog bites: report every bite on a person to the Emergency Communications Center, 434-977-9041
  • Parks and Recreation: 434-970-3260

The leash law

The city’s park rules say dogs must be “firmly secured by a physical leash or lead” attached to a collar or harness, held by someone who can physically restrain them (city code, Section 4-40). The leash rule covers:

  • all city parks, including the Meadowcreek Golf Course
  • the city’s greenways and trails
  • all school grounds and city-owned cemeteries
  • the pedestrian Downtown Mall between the Ninth Street bridge and Ridge-McIntire Road, and the side streets between Water Street and Market Street that meet the Mall

Breaking the leash law is a Class 4 misdemeanor. Owners must also pick up after their dogs in parks, on trails, on the Downtown Mall (including the pavilion), on school property and on public streets and sidewalks (Section 4-41).

Off-leash areas

Place Where When
Azalea Park 304 Old Lynchburg Road, near I-64; fenced off-leash area Park hours, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Riverview Park 1909 Chesapeake St.; designated portions of the trails Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only
Darden Towe Park Fenced area about 200 feet east of the picnic shelter at the north end of the upper parking lot Park hours

Darden Towe Park is co-owned by the city and Albemarle County.

Dog park rules (Azalea and the other fenced areas):

  • Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated and wear a visible license and rabies tag.
  • No puppies under 4 months and no female dogs in heat.
  • Leash on when entering and leaving; close and latch the gates.
  • Take off pinch, prong or spike collars inside.
  • Handlers must be 16 or older and may bring no more than two dogs. Children 9 to 15 need an adult; children under 8 are not allowed inside.
  • No food, glass, bones or long-lasting treats; small training treats are allowed.
  • Aggressive dogs must be leashed and removed at the first sign of aggression.

Walks with a leashed dog

  • Rivanna River Trail: about 2.3 paved, accessible miles from Riverview Park north to River Road. Part of it crosses private property on a public right-of-way, so stay on the path.
  • Pen Park Nature Trail: a flat, wide 1.5-mile path along the Rivanna River in Pen Park, 1300 Pen Park Road. Leashed dogs are welcome, but not on the golf course.
  • Greenbrier Park Trail: a stone-dust path with boardwalks along Meadow Creek.
  • John Warner Parkway trail: paved, from the U.S. 250 Bypass at McIntire Park north to Rio Road.

More on each is in walking and biking trails and our parks and trails guide.

No dogs: Ragged Mountain Natural Area and Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Patios and businesses

We list a business as dog friendly only when it says so on its own website.

  • Kardinal Hall, 722 Preston Ave., says it is dog friendly in its beer garden (website). It is closed Mondays.

Restaurant patios set their own pet rules; ask before you sit down. Own a dog-friendly patio, brewery or shop? Send us the page on your website that says so.

Where dogs are not welcome

  • Winter Wander at Boar’s Head Resort does not allow pets on the light trail.
  • City pools and spray grounds are for people only.
  • Service animals are allowed at city events where pets are not, such as the Grand Illumination in 2025.

Adopt or get help

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, 3355 Berkmar Drive, holds adoption hours from noon to 6 p.m. daily and runs spay and neuter services (caspca.org, 434-973-5959). For a stray, injured or loose dog in the city, call the Emergency Communications Center at 434-977-9041; the city’s Animal Control officer works 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and is on call for major incidents.

What this means for you

  • Off-leash at Riverview only Tuesday to Thursday; the rest of the week, leash up.
  • Bring your dog’s license and rabies tags to the dog park.
  • Leave the dog home for Ragged Mountain and Ivy Creek.

Related guides: parks and trails, walking and biking trails and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the dog park in Charlottesville?

The city’s fenced off-leash area is at Azalea Park, 304 Old Lynchburg Road. Darden Towe Park, co-owned with Albemarle County, also has a fenced off-leash area about 200 feet east of the picnic shelter at the north end of the upper parking lot.

Can dogs be off leash at Riverview Park?

Yes, on designated portions of the trails at Riverview Park on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only. The rest of the week, and everywhere else in the park, dogs must be leashed.

Are dogs allowed on the Downtown Mall?

Yes, on a leash. The city’s leash rule covers the pedestrian Downtown Mall between the Ninth Street bridge and Ridge-McIntire Road and the side streets between Water and Market streets.

Where are dogs not allowed in Charlottesville?

Dogs are not allowed at Ivy Creek Natural Area or Ragged Mountain Natural Area.

What happens if my dog is off leash in Charlottesville?

Breaking the city’s leash law is a Class 4 misdemeanor under the city code, Section 4-40.