Buncombe County sets no simple household pet limit, but keeping seven or more dogs or cats on one premises makes the property a 'kennel' requiring a permit (Sec. 6-28). Keeping animals in numbers that create a public nuisance is separately prohibited under Sec. 6-57.
The county code does not cap ordinary pet ownership by a flat number. However, Sec. 6-28 defines a kennel to include 'the keeping of seven or more dogs or cats on the same premises,' which triggers permit and kennel regulation. Independent of the count, Sec. 6-57(a) prohibits keeping animals 'in such manner or in such numbers as to constitute a public nuisance,' including maintaining the property so that the number, type, variety, density, or location of animals is offensive, annoying, or dangerous to public health (Sec. 6-57(a)(8)). All dogs and cats four months or older must be vaccinated against rabies (Sec. 6-56). Municipal codes may impose stricter numeric limits inside towns.
Maintaining animals in numbers that create a public nuisance is a Level III civil penalty under Sec. 6-106 (up to $500). Operating an unpermitted kennel is subject to enforcement and abatement. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate
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