In Forsyth County it is unlawful to let any animal, including cats, run at large (Sec. 6-13). Dogs must be leashed in any public park, except inside a legal dog park. Legally hunting dogs are excluded if not trespassing. Loose animals may be impounded.
Chapter 6, Sec. 6-13 (Running at Large Prohibited) governs the whole county and is enforced by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Animal Services Division. Within Winston-Salem city limits, dogs must instead be contained to the owner's property by a fence adequate in height and construction to keep the resident dog in and other dogs and children out; underground or 'invisible' fencing is not sufficient. The City of Winston-Salem and incorporated towns have enacted their own local restraint-of-dogs laws, which Animal Services also enforces. Animals found running at large are impounded (Sec. 6-44).
A violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500 (Sec. 6-55(a)), plus civil penalties. Civil citation schedule: $50 first offense, $75 second, $150 third, $200 fourth, $500 and seizure for fifth and successive;
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
forsyth-county-nc
Home backyard composting is allowed in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. There is no ordinance requiring or banning it, but a compost pile must not become a nuis...
forsyth-county-nc
Neither Winston-Salem nor Forsyth County has a specific ordinance banning or mandating artificial turf for home lawns. Its use is governed by general zoning,...
forsyth-county-nc
Since 2024 Winston-Salem lets residents replace lawns with registered Natural Landscape Areas of native plants. Turf grass must stay under eight inches, area...
forsyth-county-nc
Collecting rainwater is legal in North Carolina, and no county or city may prohibit cisterns or rain barrels used for irrigation. Forsyth County sets no ban....
forsyth-county-nc
North Carolina has no statewide homeowner watering ban, and there is no permanent year-round schedule in Winston-Salem/Forsyth. Mandatory odd/even watering d...
forsyth-county-nc
Winston-Salem defines 'rank noxious vegetation' over eight inches as a nuisance, including non-native grasses, invasive plants, poisonous plants, and untende...
See how Forsyth County's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.