Virginia SB 742: Dogs or cats; rental or lease prohibited, civil penalty, exception.

Bill Text

Bill Tracking - 2020 session > Legislation 

• 
• 

• Virginia General Assembly
• LIS Home
• LIS Help
• Privacy Statement
• Live Help 

• LIS Classic
• Login

SEARCH SITE

QUICK LINKS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Log in 
LIS Home 
General Assembly Home 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Session Tracking: 
Bills & Resolutions 
Members 
Committees 
Meetings 
Calendars 
Communications 
House Minutes 
Senate Minutes 
Statistics 
Lobbyist-in-a-Box 
Personal lists 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Search: 
Code of Virginia 
Administrative Code 
Bills & Resolutions 
Summaries 

OTHER SESSIONS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
2024 Session 
2023 Session 
2023 Special Session I 
2022 Session 
2022 Special Session I 
2021 Session 
2021 Special Session I 
2021 Special Session II 
2020 Session 
2020 Special Session I 
2019 Session 
2019 Special Session I 
2018 Session 
2018 Special Session I 
2018 Special Session II 
2017 Session 
2016 Session 
2015 Session 
2015 Special Session I 
2014 Session 
2014 Special Session I 
2013 Session 
2013 Special Session I 
2012 Session 
2012 Special Session I 
2011 Session 
2011 Special Session I 
2010 Session 
2009 Session 
2009 Special Session I 
2008 Session 
2008 Special Session I 
2008 Special Session II 
2007 Session 
2006 Session 
2006 Special Session I 
2005 Session 
2004 Session 
2004 Special Session I 
2004 Special Session II 
2003 Session 
2002 Session 
2001 Session 
2001 Special Session I 
2000 Session 
1999 Session 
1998 Session 
1998 Special Session I 
1997 Session 
1996 Session 
1995 Session 
1994 Session 
1994 Special Session I 
1994 Special Session II 

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code 

• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts 

• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required) 
SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
session legislation
• Bill Summaries
session summaries 

• Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents 

• Legislative Liaisons
State agency contactsACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994 
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2020 SESSION

• history | 
hilite | 
pdf | 
print version 

CHAPTER 630 

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section 
numbered 3.2-6513.2, relating to rental or leasing of dog or cat prohibited; 
civil penalty. 

[S 742] 

Approved April 2, 2020 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section 
numbered 3.2-6513.2 as follows:

� 3.2-6513.2. Rental or lease of dog or cat prohibited; 
civil penalty.

A. As used in this section, "covered person" 
means any pet shop, commercial dog breeder, pet dealer, firm, or other pet 
selling business.

B. The rental or leasing of a dog or cat to a Virginia 
consumer, including by a purported sale of the animal in such a manner as to 
vest less than full equity in the consumer at the time of the 
purported sale, is prohibited.

C. No covered person shall offer in Virginia an agreement 
for the transfer or sale of a dog or cat to the consumer in which 
the animal is subject to repossession in any manner upon default of the 
agreement by the consumer.

D. No financial institution, as defined in � 6.2-100, shall 
offer in Virginia a loan or financing agreement for the rental, lease, or sale 
of a dog or cat where the animal is subject to repossession upon default under 
the terms of the financing agreement.

E. Any violation of this section shall also constitute a 
prohibited practice under � 59.1-200 and shall be subject to the enforcement 
provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (� 59.1-196 et seq.). In 
addition, any covered person that violates any provision of this section may 
have its business license, retail license, or local pet shop permit issued 
pursuant to � 3.2-6537 suspended or revoked after a hearing by the issuing 
authority. The court may also suspend or revoke the retail license of any 
business found to be in violation of this section.

F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the 
temporary rental or lease of any of the following animals, so long as the 
animal is used in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local animal 
protection laws:

1. A purebred dog that is rented for the express purpose of 
breeding pursuant to a written lease that sets out a specific time period, 
contains a firm end date, and is recorded with a national purebred dog 
registry;

2. A dog or cat that is used in spectator events, shows, 
exhibitions, motion pictures, or other entertainment, including animal 
exhibitions, racing events, field trials, polo matches, rodeo events, or any 
audiovisual media; or

3. A service dog as defined in � 51.5-40.1, guide or leader 
dog as defined in � 3.2-6588, security dog, police or law-enforcement dog, 
military working dog, or certified facility dog as defined in � 18.2-67.9:1.

2. That the p