Burke County, NC Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Section 6-7 defines a dangerous dog as one that, without provocation, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person, or that the county's designated animal control authority determines is potentially dangerous based on listed behaviors, or any dog owned or trained for dog fighting (§ 6-7(b)(1)). A potentially dangerous dog is one that has inflicted a bite causing broken bones, disfiguring lacerations, or hospitalization; killed or severely injured a domestic animal off the owner's property; or approached a person off the owner's property in a vicious or terrorizing manner (§ 6-7(b)(2)).

The Burke County Animal Enforcement Supervisor makes the determination, must notify the owner in writing with reasons, and the owner may appeal within three business days to the county's dangerous dog appeal board, a five-member body including at least one veterinarian, which must hold a hearing within ten business days; further appeal goes to superior court within ten days (§ 6-7(d)-(e)). Owners must report a declared dog's attacks, bites, property damage, or escapes to Animal Services within 24 hours (§ 6-7(a)). Once declared, it is unlawful to leave the dog unattended outdoors unless confined indoors, in a securely enclosed locked pen, or another restraining structure, or to let it off the owner's property unless leashed and muzzled with a well-fitted basket muzzle (§ 6-7(f)).

Law enforcement dogs, lawful hunting dogs, and working herding or predator-control dogs are excluded, as are dogs that injured someone committing a trespass, tort, or crime against the dog (§ 6-7(c)).