Charlotte, NC Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

Section 15-132(c), in Chapter 15's Article VI on Conduct in Public Parks, bans a list of specific acts against wildlife in any city park: hunting, molesting, harming, frightening, killing, trapping, chasing, teasing, shooting or throwing missiles at any animal, reptile or bird, and removing or possessing the young of any wild animal or the eggs, nest or young of any reptile or bird. The section carves out one exception: snakes known to be deadly poisonous, such as rattlesnakes, moccasins or coral snakes, may be killed on sight.

A second, separate prohibition in the same subsection bans giving or offering, or attempting to give, any animal or bird tobacco, alcohol or other known noxious substances. 'Park' is defined broadly in Section 15-131 to include any park, reservation, playground or other area or structure owned, leased or used by the city for active or passive recreation, including property under the department's jurisdiction that belongs to others, such as land used jointly with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. CMPD officers enforce the article and are authorized to eject from a park anyone violating it, alongside the civil and criminal penalties in Section 15-139.