Burlington, NC Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue Permits (2026)

Burlington bans keeping any exotic or wild animal under Section 6-14(a), and Section 6-14(b) confirms the city itself issues no local permit for one. Section 6-14(c)(1) carves out a short list of exempt purposes, including 'wildlife rehabilitators with proper permits,' alongside licensed pet shops, zoological gardens, scientific research laboratories, treating veterinarians, religious displays and USDA-licensed exhibitors displaying animals for education. The exemption depends on outside authorization, since the code does not create a city wildlife-rescue permit of its own; a rehabilitator must instead hold the proper permit from the state or federal agency that licenses wildlife rehabilitation.

Even with that permit, Section 6-14(c)(2) requires confinement of the animal to meet regulations from the state wildlife commission, the minimum standards of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and applicable United States Department of Agriculture rules. Section 6-14(c)(3) further bars any exempt animal, rehabilitated wildlife included, from appearing on a public street, sidewalk or other public way unless it is in a fully enclosed cage or an equivalent structural restraint; a leash, with or without a muzzle, does not satisfy that requirement. The only carve-out to that public-way rule is for an animal handler licensed by the USDA performing at a special event under a city festival or parade permit.

Because Section 6-14 falls under Article II's restricted-animals scheme, a rehabilitator operating without the required proper permit is exposed to the same Level III civil penalty as anyone else keeping a wild animal unlawfully.