Animal Ordinances in High Point, NC: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in High Point or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. High Point has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Chickens & Livestock

High Point allows up to five hens per single-family dwelling, bans roosters entirely, requires enclosures 40 feet from any dwelling and located in the back yard, and forbids chickens at multifamily properties.

Key details: Hen limit: 5 per dwelling house. Roosters: prohibited. Setback: 40 feet from dwellings. Multifamily properties: no chickens allowed. Zoning exemption: agricultural/rural districts.

Violating the pen/enclosure, hen-count, rooster ban, or multifamily prohibition is a chapter-wide $50 fixed civil penalty, escalating to a civil debt action if unpaid after 10 days.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

High Point's Development Ordinance limits outdoor kennels and animal hospitals with exercise yards to the Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, and Agricultural/Rural districts, requiring a 6-foot fence set back 50 feet from any residential lot line.

Key details: Major-use fence: 6 feet minimum height. Residential setback: 50 feet from lot line. Major-use districts: LI, HI, AGR only. Minor-use districts: Most business/special zones.

Operating an outdoor kennel, run, or animal exercise yard outside the LI, HI, or AGR districts, or without the 6-foot fence and 50-foot residential setback, violates § 4.3.4.B.1 and can trigger a zoning stop-work order or civil penalty.

Dog Leash Laws

High Point Code § 12-2-1 makes it unlawful to let a dog run at large, defining 'at large' as any dog not enclosed, confined, or controlled on a leash, cord or chain.

Key details: Rule: Dogs must be leashed or enclosed. Penalty: $50 civil penalty per violation. Enforcement: Loose dogs impounded by police. Scope: Applies citywide, no exceptions.

A first violation of Chapter 12's animal provisions draws a $50 civil penalty under § 12-2-5, rising with delinquency and collectible as a civil debt; loose dogs may also be impounded.

Cat Rules

High Point bars any animal, not just dogs, from running at large, and separately requires owners of non-dog animals, including cats, to keep them in a substantial pen, coop, or enclosure at all times.

Key details: Covers: any animal or fowl, not just dogs. Non-dog pets: pen/coop/enclosure required at all times. Enforcement: police may impound loose animals. Civil penalty: $50 fixed.

Violations of this chapter carry a $50 fixed civil penalty; unpaid penalties become delinquent after 10 days and can be pursued as a civil debt action by the city.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. High Point actively enforces its cat rules requirements.

Beekeeping

Beekeeping in High Point is subject to city regulations and NC state apiary laws. Hives must be managed responsibly with adequate water sources and setbacks. The NC Department of Agriculture registers and inspects apiaries.

Key details: Registration: NC DACS apiary registration required. Water Source: Must be provided. Setbacks: Recommended from property lines. Nuisance: Must not disturb neighbors.

Unregistered hives or hives that create a nuisance can result in enforcement actions and required removal.

Exotic Pets

High Point bans keeping lions, tigers, elephants, bears, or any other nondomesticated animal in a residential area within city limits, under Code of Ordinances § 12-2-4, with the only exception carved out for animals housed in a municipal zoo. A violation draws a $50 civil penalty under the same chapter's general enforcement section, § 12-2-5, and the fine climbs if it goes unpaid.

Key details: Banned animals: lions, tigers, elephants, bears, other wild species. Where banned: any residential area in city limits. Exception: animals in a municipal zoo. First penalty: $50 fixed civil charge. Late penalty: additional $50 after 10 days unpaid.

Keeping a banned animal in a residential area triggers a fixed $50 civil penalty under § 12-2-5(a). An unpaid penalty becomes delinquent after 10 days and can be pursued as a civil debt action in court, with an added $50 penalty if the owner pays only after the city has filed suit; all proceeds go to the city's general fund.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. High Point actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

Breed Restrictions

High Point's dangerous-dog ordinance is based on a dog's behavior, not its breed: no breed is named or restricted anywhere in Code of Ordinances § 12-2-17. Instead, a dog is "dangerous" if it has killed or severely injured a person without provocation, or "potentially dangerous" after a qualifying bite, attack, or menacing incident, and owning one without complying with the section's enclosure and registration rules is unlawful.

Key details: Basis: behavior, not breed; no breed named. Trigger: unprovoked kill/severe injury or listed behaviors. Surrender window: 24 hours after written notice. Appeal: 5 working days to city manager. Enclosure size: 15 by 6 ft, concrete pad.

Owning a declared dangerous or potentially dangerous dog outside the section's rules is unlawful under § 12-2-17(b), and letting a required enclosure fall out of repair is a separate misdemeanor under subsection (f)(3). An owner who misses the 24-hour surrender window can have the dog seized by court order, and a dog delivered to the county shelter after a failed or waived appeal is held 30 days before disposal or return once a compliant enclosure is approved.

This is one of the stricter rules in High Point's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

High Point is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in High Point, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that High Point can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.