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

Sec. 3-17(a) defines a "wild or exotic animal" as an animal which is usually not a domestic animal, and which can normally be found in the wild state, including, but not limited to, alligators, apes, bats, bears, crocodiles, deer, elephants, foxes, leopards, lions, lynxes, monkeys, panthers, raccoons, rhinoceroses, wolves, poisonous snakes, skunks, and tigers, and the section extends the ban to hybrids or crossbreeds of any wild or exotic animals. Sec. 3-17(b) makes it unlawful to keep, harbor, breed, sell or trade any wild or exotic animal for any purpose, except as may be licensed by the state wildlife resources commission under its regulations pertaining to wildlife rehabilitators, so the only lawful way to possess one of the listed species in the county is a state rehabilitator license, not a county permit.

Sec. 3-17(c) carves out an institutional exception: the ban does not apply to zoological parks, zoos, educational or medical institutions, or circuses that perform in the county for not more than seven days. A circus booked longer than a week must apply to the animal services director for an extension permit for a period not to exceed an additional seven days, on terms the director determines will protect public health, safety, and welfare, capping any traveling exotic-animal show at 14 total days in the county.

Because Article I sets no unique fine for Sec. 3-17, a violation falls under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-11: up to $50.00 or 30 days in jail per day of continued possession. The animal services director can also move to seize animals kept in violation of the chapter.