New Castle County, DE Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Lot size threshold
- Under 1 acre in residential zones
- Horses
- Fully exempt from this section
- Penalty
- Set by Code Section 1.01.009
- Enforcement
- County Complaints Department
Summary
New Castle County bars keeping exotic animals, wild animals, and livestock like cattle, goats, and poultry on residential lots under one acre in any residentially zoned district.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant or other person in control of a property to raise, breed, keep, shelter or harbor any cattle, poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, waterfowl, guinea hens, chickens, turkeys, donkeys, quail, doves, llamas, raccoons, muskrats, nondomesticated mammals, game fowl, pigeons, pheasants, peacocks, foxes, minks, exotic animals, wild animals, game animals and other like animals on a parcel of land which is less than one (1) acre in total area and located in any residentially zoned district, a diversified planned unit development or an MM zoned district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 4.02.004 makes it unlawful to raise, breed, keep, shelter, or harbor exotic animals, wild animals, game animals, foxes, minks, raccoons, or livestock like cattle, goats, and poultry on any parcel under one acre in a residential zoning district, diversified PUD, or MM district. Horses are exempt entirely. School, university, 4-H, and Delaware Cooperative Extension educational programs, plus the Newark Pigeon Club, Wilmington Homing Club, and Delmarva Pigeon Club, can raise an affirmative defense. Violators face the penalty set in Section 1.01.009, and the County Complaints Department enforces it.
Violations & Fines
Violating owners or tenants face the criminal penalty set by Section 1.01.009 for each offense; the County Complaints Department investigates complaints and enforces the ban.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens or goats in New Castle County?
Are horses covered by this restriction?
Does this rule apply in Wilmington or Newark?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
Compare New Castle County to another location·View the Delaware animal ordinances overview
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