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

Section 4-13 designates the Animal Services Department Head as the official who determines whether a dog is a 'dangerous dog' or 'potentially dangerous dog' as those terms are defined in G.S. 67-4.1, and designates the Board of Adjustment as the body that hears appeals under G.S. 67-4.1(c). Once a dog is declared, the owner must, within 20 days: permanently identify the dog with a tattoo on the inside thigh or an electronic implant, paid for by the owner, so Animal Services can verify the dog's identity; post a 'Beware of Dog' sign visible from every common entrance to the property, including the driveway, plus a sign on the dog's pen; have the dog spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's full expense; and build a secure outdoor enclosure with a floor, sides and a top the dog cannot escape, made of at least nine-gauge, six-foot chain link with a fence or solid top, and, if the floor is dirt, an eight-foot perimeter fence buried two feet or a 24-inch-wide, four-inch-thick concrete pad along the inside of the fence to stop digging.

Even inside that enclosure, Animal Services may inspect the property as it deems appropriate to confirm compliance. Off the owner's premises, the dog must be on a secure collar and leash no longer than six feet, muzzled, and handled by a competent person. The owner must notify Animal Services at least three working days before relocating the dog, and must report the dog's death. These county-added conditions apply on top of, not instead of, any state-law requirements for dangerous dogs under G.S. Chapter 67.