Apex, NC Animal Ordinances: Cat Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Restraint standard
- Leash no longer than ten feet off-property
- Adopted by
- Wake County Animal Control Ordinance, 1994
- Applies to
- Any animal, including cats
- Default penalty
- $100 civil penalty per day
- Apex-specific text
- Definitions of 'at large' and 'restraint' only
Summary
Apex adopted the Wake County Animal Control Ordinance as its own animal law in 1994. A cat is 'at large' unless restrained: on the owner's property under control, on a leash of ten feet or less off-property, or confined in a vehicle, enclosure, or the home.
At large means any animal shall be deemed at large when it is not under restraint as defined by this section. Restraint means an animal is under restraint if, and only if, it is either: (1) On the property of the owner or possessor and controlled by means of a chain, leash, or other like device; (2) Controlled by a leash of not greater than ten feet in length if the animal is off the property of the owner or possessor; (3) Within a secure vehicle being driven or parked; (4) Within a secure enclosure; or (5) Within the dwelling house of the owner or possessor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Apex Town Code § 4-2 states that by ordinance dated April 15, 1994, the Wake County Animal Control Ordinance was adopted as Apex's own animal-control law; Apex supplies only its own definitions of 'at large' and 'restraint' for enforcing it locally. Those terms apply to 'any animal,' which includes cats. A cat counts as restrained only if it is on the owner's property under a chain, leash, or similar control; off-property on a leash no longer than ten feet; or confined in a secure vehicle, enclosure, or the owner's home. Apex's own code contains no separate cat-licensing or feral-colony provision: enforcement runs through the county ordinance Apex adopted.
Violations & Fines
A cat off-property without a leash under ten feet, or otherwise unconfined, is 'at large' and violates the adopted county ordinance; Town Code § 1-8's default civil penalty is $100 per day unless the ordinance specifies otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apex have its own cat ordinance?
Can a cat roam free in Apex?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Apex
Compare Apex to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Cat Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle cat rules.