Forsyth County's animal code sets no flat numeric limit on how many dogs or cats you may keep. Instead, keeping animals so as to create a public nuisance is prohibited (Sec. 6-9), and every dog and cat must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated. Winston-Salem and towns may set stricter numeric limits.
Chapter 6 does not cap ordinary pet ownership by a set number. Control is through the public-nuisance provision: Sec. 6-9 makes it unlawful to permit an animal to create a public nuisance, defined to include damaging or defiling property, causing unsanitary or offensive conditions, or impeding safety. Independently, Sec. 6-10 requires every dog and cat owner to license their animal with the Sheriff's Office Animal Services Division, and Sec. 6-25 requires current rabies vaccination for every dog, cat, or ferret three months or older. Winston-Salem and the incorporated towns may impose their own household pet-number limits within city limits, so check municipal code.
Keeping animals so as to create a public nuisance (Sec. 6-9) is a Class 3 misdemeanor, fine up to $500 (Sec. 6-55), with a civil schedule of $50/$75/$150/$200/$500 for successive offenses plus microchipping. Unlicensed or unvaccinated animals may be impounded
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
forsyth-county-nc
Home backyard composting is allowed in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. There is no ordinance requiring or banning it, but a compost pile must not become a nuis...
forsyth-county-nc
Neither Winston-Salem nor Forsyth County has a specific ordinance banning or mandating artificial turf for home lawns. Its use is governed by general zoning,...
forsyth-county-nc
Since 2024 Winston-Salem lets residents replace lawns with registered Natural Landscape Areas of native plants. Turf grass must stay under eight inches, area...
forsyth-county-nc
Collecting rainwater is legal in North Carolina, and no county or city may prohibit cisterns or rain barrels used for irrigation. Forsyth County sets no ban....
forsyth-county-nc
North Carolina has no statewide homeowner watering ban, and there is no permanent year-round schedule in Winston-Salem/Forsyth. Mandatory odd/even watering d...
forsyth-county-nc
Winston-Salem defines 'rank noxious vegetation' over eight inches as a nuisance, including non-native grasses, invasive plants, poisonous plants, and untende...
See how Forsyth County's pet limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.