Concord, NC Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited animals
- Cattle, sheep, goats, fowl, swine
- Reach
- City limits and 1 mile beyond for fees
- Exception
- Zoning-permitted use or transport stockyard
- Grandfather clause
- Eliminated effective June 1, 2006
- Administrative nuisance fee
- $175.00
- Enforcement
- Cabarrus County under adopted animal ordinance
Summary
Concord bans keeping or harboring cattle, sheep, goats, domestic fowl or swine anywhere within the city limits, with narrow exceptions for animals briefly held in a stockyard awaiting transport or uses expressly permitted under the zoning ordinance. Violating properties are declared a public nuisance and billed a set fee.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any cattle, sheep, goats, domestic fowl, or swine within the corporate limits or permit them to be upon premises owned, occupied or controlled by him except animals temporarily confined in a stockyard or other place awaiting transportation, or as permitted under the zoning ordinance.(b)Effective June 1, 2006, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any cattle, sheep, goats, domestic fowl, or swine, currently in possession, upon adoption of this section and amendments except animals temporarily confined in a stockyard or other place awaiting transportation, or as permitted under the zoning ordinance.(c)Property (s) in violation of this section shall be declared a public nuisance. Any owner of a property within the city and one mile beyond the city limits whose property shall be declared a public nuisance as provided in section 30-1 of this Code shall be subject to an administrative fee of $175.00.
Full Breakdown
Section 10-1 of the Concord City Code makes it unlawful for any person to keep or harbor cattle, sheep, goats, domestic fowl or swine within the city's corporate limits, or to allow such animals on premises they own, occupy or control. The only exceptions are animals temporarily confined in a stockyard or similar place while awaiting transportation, or uses expressly permitted under the zoning ordinance. Subsection (b), added effective June 1, 2006, closed off any grandfather protection: it made the keeping of these animals unlawful even for owners who already possessed them at the time the amendment took effect, so a homeowner who had chickens before 2006 was not exempted going forward.
A property found in violation is declared a public nuisance under section 30-1 of the Code. 00 administrative fee as set by the annual budget ordinance, in addition to the costs of serving the nuisance notice, legal publication, and any civil penalties assessed. S. S. 153A-123.
Violations & Fines
A property harboring cattle, sheep, goats, domestic fowl or swine without a qualifying exception is declared a public nuisance under section 30-1. The owner, whether inside the city or within one mile beyond its limits, is charged a $175.00 administrative fee set by the annual budget ordinance, plus the costs of serving the nuisance notice, legal publication, and any additional civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Concord, NC?
Were existing chicken or livestock owners grandfathered in Concord?
What happens if I keep prohibited livestock in Concord?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Concord
How Concord compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Concord to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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