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

Unincorporated Lee County regulates by conduct, not by breed. Sec. 4-33 defines 'dangerous animal' as one that, without provocation, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person, or that the animal services supervisor or an appeals panel determines is potentially dangerous because it 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-property in a vicious or terrorizing manner. No dog breed is named anywhere in Chapter 4.

Once an animal is deemed dangerous, Sec. 4-43(a) makes it unlawful for the owner to possess it unless restrained, and animal services may immediately impound an unrestrained dangerous animal at the owner's expense. As an alternative, Sec. 4-43(c)-(d) gives the owner 30 days to build a secure enclosure meeting Sec. 4-63's specs, at least 100 square feet with a concrete floor and six-foot, 16-gauge wire sides, and to post an approved 'dog deemed dangerous' sign. An owner may appeal the dangerous determination in writing within three business days to a three-member panel of the Lee County Consolidated Human Services Agency Board that includes a licensed veterinarian, which must hear the appeal within ten business days under Sec.

4-43(f). If the animal is confirmed dangerous, Sec. 4-43(f)(4) requires it to be altered and microchipped at the owner's expense, or, if still in the owner's custody, the owner must supply proof of alteration and microchipping within 30 days. Violating Sec. 4-43 is a misdemeanor under Sec. 4-194(b), punishable under G.S. 14-4, in addition to any civil penalty.