Union County, NC Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Weight ban
- Wild animals over 50 lbs prohibited
- Enclosure rule
- ≤50 lb wild animals/exotic pets need secure enclosure
- Registration deadline
- 10 working days of acquisition, no fee
- Mandatory destruction
- Any bite or attack, § 6-78(e)
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $200 fine
- Seizure authority
- §6-133(a)(5)
Summary
Union County bans owning a wild animal that weighs more than 50 pounds outright. Anything at or under that weight must stay in a secure enclosure at all times, and every owner of a wild animal or exotic pet must register it with animal control within ten working days of acquiring it, free of charge, under Sec. 6-78.
Because of the inherent danger in maintaining a secure enclosure for large wild animals and in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the county, it shall be unlawful to own, keep or possess a wild animal which exceeds 50 pounds in weight. Wild animals and exotic pets which do not exceed 50 pounds shall be maintained at all times in a secure enclosure on the owner's or keeper's property or, with consent, on the property of another. All owners of wild animals and exotic pets shall be required to register their animals with an animal control officer within ten working days of acquisition. Such registration shall be for informational and enforcement purposes and there shall be no fee for such registration.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-78(a) applies to wild animals and exotic pets and defers to any stricter state or federal restriction. Subsection (b) subjects wild animals and exotic pets to the same rules as dogs and cats under Chapter 6, except provisions that apply solely to dogs and cats, meaning the rabies, bite-reporting, cruelty and public-nuisance sections all reach exotic pets as well. Subsection (c) bans owning, keeping or possessing any wild animal exceeding 50 pounds, citing the danger of maintaining a secure enclosure for large animals; animals at or under that weight must be kept at all times in a secure enclosure on the owner's property or, with consent, another's property.
Subsection (d) requires every owner of a wild animal or exotic pet to register it with an animal control officer within ten working days of acquisition, for informational and enforcement purposes only, with no fee charged. Subsection (e) is a mandatory-destruction rule: if a wild animal bites or attacks another animal or a human being, it "shall be humanely destroyed," with no quarantine-and-release option like the one available for dogs and cats under the rabies control article.
Violations & Fines
Animal control officers may seize wild or exotic animals found in violation of Sec. 6-78 under Sec. 6-133(a)(5). A general violation of Chapter 6, including the weight ban, enclosure rule, or registration duty, is a Class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 6-183(a): a fine of up to $200.00 and/or up to 20 days, with each continuing day a separate offense. The county may also seek an injunction or abatement order under Sec. 6-184 and G.S. 153A-123. A wild animal that bites or attacks is destroyed under Sec. 6-78(e) rather than being confined for observation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally own a large exotic animal in Union County?
Do I have to register my pet snake or exotic bird?
What happens if my exotic pet bites someone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union County
Compare Union County to another location·View the North Carolina animal ordinances overview
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