Cary, NC Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Number/type offensive or dangerous
- Process
- Written complaint, investigation
- Abatement
- 7 days to correct after order
- Enforcement
- Seizure/impoundment under § 6-134
Summary
The Town of Cary treats animals kept in excessive numbers or in ways offensive or dangerous to public health as a nuisance, subject to a written complaint and abatement process in Wake County, North Carolina.
Prohibited generally; exceptions. It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, harbor or maintain an animal in such a manner as to unreasonably annoy humans, endanger the life or health of persons or other animals, or substantially interfere with the rights of citizens ... the following activities are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and are, therefore, unlawful: ... (10) By virtue of number or type, being offensive or dangerous to the public health, safety, or welfare.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
Cary Code of Ordinances § 6-71(a) makes it unlawful to keep an animal in a way that unreasonably annoys people or endangers health, and subsection (a)(10) specifically lists an animal or animals that, by virtue of number or type, are offensive or dangerous to the public health, safety, or welfare. On a written complaint, the animal control unit investigates; if justified, the chief orders the owner to abate the nuisance within seven days, which can include requiring a secure enclosure or reduced numbers, and failure to comply allows the animals to be seized and impounded under § 6-134.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate a nuisance-animal order under § 6-71 allows impoundment of the animals and a citation carrying the Code's general penalty of up to a $500 fine under § 1-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Cary handle too many animals at one address?
What happens if a Cary nuisance-animal order is ignored?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
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