Hedgehogs, Turtles Become Legal Pets In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA—City of Falls Church residents have a few new pet options after action from City Council on Monday, June 24. The council voted 5-2 to allow turtles, tortoises, hermit crabs, hedgehogs and chinchillas as pets. Mayor David Tarter and Councilman Dan Sze spoke out and voted against the proposal.

The vote followed discussion about exotic animals being kept as pets and the humane treatment of animals. Fairfax County approved chinchillas, hedgehogs and hermit crabs as legal pets earlier this year. A student activist advocated in support of adding the animals to the legal pets list in Falls Church.

Under city law, residents cannot keep exotic animals unless they're specifically allowed. The allowed pets include dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, gold fish, aquarium fish, nonvenemous snakes that are less than eight feet in length, domestic rabbits, and mice or rats that were bred in captivity.

Residents can keep a maximum of seven pets per household. The limit for dogs over four months old is three and the limit for cats over four months old is four.