Durham County, NC Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Livestock defined
- Sec. 4-13 (per NCGS Ch. 68)
- Head limit
- None in animal ordinance
- Governed by
- Joint City-County UDO zoning
- State protection
- NCGS 106-701 right-to-farm
- Nuisance route
- Sec. 4-136 animal nuisance
Summary
Durham County Code Sec. 4-13 defines livestock as equine, bovine, sheep, goats, llamas, and swine per NCGS Ch. 68. The animal ordinance sets no head limit; where livestock may be kept is a zoning question under the joint City-County UDO, with NCGS 106-701 right-to-farm protection.
Livestock shall include, but shall not be limited to, equine animals, bovine animals, sheep, goats, llamas, and swine as set forth in G.S. ch. 68, art. 3.
Microchip refers to a tiny permanent identification system, implanted under the animal's skin and read by a chip scanner which identifies the owners name and address which is available on regional or national data bases. Implantation is done with an injector that places the chip under the loose skin over the animal's shoulder.
Nuisance means any act of an animal that disturbs the rights of, threatens the safety of, or damages the person or property of, a member of the general public or interferes with the ordinary use and enjoyment of private or public property. The following is a non-exclusive list of actions which shall be evidence of a nuisance:
Full Breakdown
Chapter 4 defines 'livestock' to include, but not be limited to, equine animals, bovine animals, sheep, goats, llamas, and swine as set forth in G.S. Ch. 68, Article 3. The animal ordinance does not cap the number of livestock; whether and how many large animals you may keep on a parcel is governed by the joint Durham City-County Unified Development Ordinance zoning, which typically confines livestock to agricultural/rural districts. NCGS 106-701 shields qualifying commercial livestock operations from most nuisance suits after one year and within a half-mile, and expressly includes 'the rearing, feeding, training, caring, boarding, and managing of horses.' Nuisance conditions from animals can be cited under Sec.
Violations & Fines
The animal ordinance imposes no per-head penalty; unlawful keeping in a non-agricultural zone is a zoning violation enforced by the joint Planning Department. Nuisance or unsanitary conditions are citable under Sec. 4-136 and Sec.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep goats or horses in Durham County?
Does right-to-farm cover my livestock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham County
How Durham County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Compare Durham County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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