Burke County, NC Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 6-6(a) states plainly that at no time may any person keep an inherently dangerous exotic mammal or reptile in the county. The chapter defines an inherently dangerous exotic mammal as any member of the Canidae, Felidae, Ursidae, or primate families, including hybrids, that due to inherent nature may be considered dangerous to humans: wolf/wolf hybrids under Canidae, cats over 30 pounds under Felidae, all bears under Ursidae, and primates weighing eight pounds or more (§ 6-6(d)). An inherently dangerous exotic reptile includes venomous families such as vipers, cobras and coral snakes, crocodilians, and named constricting pythons and anacondas over a certain size unless housed in a sturdy, escape-proof, clearly labeled enclosure (§ 6-6(e)).

Anyone already keeping such an animal before the 2020 ordinance is grandfathered but must have it spayed or neutered; an unaltered grandfathered exotic is itself a violation and will be impounded and euthanized (§ 6-6(f)). Narrow carve-outs exist for veterinary clinics, accredited 501(c)(3) science and nature institutions, nonresident circuses or licensed zoos for up to seven days per location per year, and animals in transit through the county for no more than 24 hours (§ 6-6(g)). An impounded exotic is held 72 hours; the owner can reclaim it only by arranging a safe transfer outside the county and paying all impoundment and care costs in full first (§ 6-6(h)).