Lincoln County, NC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 92.08
- Scope
- 31 named subdivisions only, not county-wide
- Offense class
- Class 3 misdemeanor
- Opt-in threshold
- Majority of property owners petition
- Opt-out threshold
- 75% of property owners petition
Summary
Lincoln County's leash law only applies inside listed subdivisions, not the whole unincorporated county: § 92.08 bans dogs at large in 31 named subdivisions such as Westport, Lincoln Park, and Hidden Valley, and other communities can opt in or out through a resident petition and a Board of Commissioners hearing.
(A) Prior jurisdiction. Dogs at large shall not be permitted at any time in the following subdivisionswithin Lincoln County, which were adopted under previous ordinances: Anderson Woods, Arden Oaks, Brookwood Acres, Cherry Lane, Cherry Pt., City of Lincolnton, Clearbrook, Country Club Apartments, Country Valley, Eastwood, Goodsons Place, Grandview Farms, Green Acres, Hidden Valley, Hill Crest, Hoffman Acres, Hunter's Bluff, Knottingham Forest, Lake Hill Trailer Park, Lincoln Park, Meadowbrook, North Hill Deerwood Trails, Sherrill Ridge, Sifford Acres, Stoney Creek Acres, West Bay, Westport Peninsula, Westport Subdivision, Westward Trail, Whispering Pines, Windsor Forest, and Worthington Park. ... (E) Penalty. Violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor, and any person convicted of the violation shall be subject to punishment as provided in G.S. § 14-4.
Full Breakdown
08(A) prohibits dogs at large at any time in a specific list of subdivisions and mobile home parks adopted under earlier ordinances, including Anderson Woods, Arden Oaks, Brookwood Acres, Cherry Lane, Cherry Point, Clearbrook, Country Club Apartments, Country Valley, Eastwood, Goodsons Place, Grandview Farms, Green Acres, Hidden Valley, Hill Crest, Hoffman Acres, Hunter's Bluff, Knottingham Forest, Lake Hill Trailer Park, Lincoln Park, Meadowbrook, North Hill Deerwood Trails, Sherrill Ridge, Sifford Acres, Stoney Creek Acres, West Bay, Westport Peninsula, Westport Subdivision, Westward Trail, Whispering Pines, Windsor Forest, and Worthington Park.
03 when it is off the curtilage of the owner's residence and not under restraint, meaning confined within the curtilage, secured on a leash under a responsible person's control, or confined in a vehicle. 08(B), a subdivision not on the list can be added if it is a platted, recorded subdivision or a registered mobile home park and a majority of its property owners sign a petition; the Board of Commissioners then holds a public hearing before approving or denying it. 08(D). 09(A)(1) and (A)(10), which bars a dog from continuously roaming onto another's property or being kept within five feet of a property line, street, or sidewalk in a way the Animal Control Officer finds unsafe.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 92.08 inside a covered subdivision is a Class 3 misdemeanor, punishable under G.S. § 14-4, and also draws civil penalties under § 92.99; each day the dog remains at large is a separate offense. Outside a covered subdivision, an at-large dog that becomes a nuisance under § 92.09 carries the same Class 3 misdemeanor penalty and civil fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lincoln County require dogs to be leashed everywhere?
How can my subdivision get added to the leash law list?
What happens if my dog gets loose in a subdivision covered by the leash law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lincoln County
Compare Lincoln County 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.