Animal Ordinances in Apex, NC (2026)
8 verified animal ordinances for Apex, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Apex bans keeping livestock and male chickens within town limits, but hens, horses, ponies, rabbits, and small neutered miniature pigs are allowed.
Livestock and Male Chickens Ban in Apex
Significant RestrictionsApex Town Code § 4-3
Livestock and male chickens. The keeping of livestock or male chickens is prohibited within the corporate limits of the town. Livestock includes, but is not limited to, cows, goats, sheep, swine and other similar animals. ... Fowl except male chickens. ... Miniature pigs—provided that no more than two are kept per dwelling, that all pigs over the age of eight weeks are neutered, that they be no...
Dog Leash Laws
Apex enforces the Wake County Animal Control Ordinance's leash and restraint rules: dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash no longer than ten feet, or they're legally at large.
Apex Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsApex Town Code § 4-2
By Town of Apex Ordinance dated April 15, 1994, the Wake County Animal Control Ordinance, as amended from time to time... was adopted by the Town of Apex as its own ordinance... At large means any animal shall be deemed at large when it is not under restraint as defined by this section. Restraint means an animal is under restraint if, and only if, it is either: (1)On the property of the owner o...
Exotic Pets
Apex, North Carolina bans keeping, breeding, or possessing exotic or non-native venomous animals anywhere within town limits, with only narrow institutional exceptions.
Apex, NC Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsApex Town Code § 4-3(c)
Exotic or venomous animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, breed, sell, maintain, possess or have under that person's control any exotic animal, or any venomous animal that is non-native to North Carolina, within the town's corporate limits. Exotic animal is defined as any dangerous animal which is not usually and customarily kept as a pet or domestic animal and includes, but is n...
Cat Rules
Apex adopted the Wake County Animal Control Ordinance as its own animal law in 1994. A cat is 'at large' unless restrained: on the owner's property under control, on a leash of ten feet or less off-property, or confined in a vehicle, enclosure, or the home.
Apex, NC Cat At-Large and Restraint Rules
Some RestrictionsApex Town Code § 4-2
At large means any animal shall be deemed at large when it is not under restraint as defined by this section. Restraint means an animal is under restraint if, and only if, it is either: (1) On the property of the owner or possessor and controlled by means of a chain, leash, or other like device; (2) Controlled by a leash of not greater than ten feet in length if the animal is off the property o...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Apex has no town-wide spay/neuter mandate for dogs or cats. Its only mandatory-neuter rule is narrower: a miniature pig kept as a household pet must be neutered after eight weeks old to qualify for the town's livestock-ban exemption.
Apex Neuter Rule for Pet Miniature Pigs
Some RestrictionsApex Town Code § 4-3(b)(5)
Miniature pigs—provided that no more than two are kept per dwelling, that all pigs over the age of eight weeks are neutered, that they be no more than 20 inches in height at the shoulders when full grown, and that they are kept within the dwelling house of the owner or possessor unless outside in a fenced area for exercise or controlled by a leash in the same manner as required for dogs.
Pet Groomer Rules
Apex requires pet grooming, day spa, and daycare businesses to operate entirely indoors, serve only companion animals, skip overnight boarding, and hold all required federal, state, and local licenses under the Unified Development Ordinance.
Apex NC Pet Grooming Shop Rules
Some RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 4.4.5.G.17
Pet services shall comply with the following: a) Services shall be limited to companion animals, including but not limited to dogs, cats, birds, small reptiles, small rodents, and fish; b) Services shall be provided within an enclosed building with no outdoor facilities such as kennels, runs, play areas, or other simi...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Apex's Unified Development Ordinance requires veterinary clinics and animal hospitals in the O&I, B1, PC, TF, and MEC-CZ districts to operate inside a soundproof building with no odors escaping outdoors, and it restricts outdoor exercise areas to daytime hours only.
Apex Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsApex Unified Development Ordinance § 4.4.2
Treatment rooms or kennels. All treatment rooms or kennels in a veterinary clinic or hospital in the O&I Office and Institutional District, B1 Neighborhood Business District, PC Planned Commercial District, TF Tech/Flex District, and MEC-CZ Major Employment Center District shall be design...
Bird Protection
Apex, North Carolina designates the entire town a bird sanctuary, making it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or kill native wild birds within town limits.
Apex Bird Sanctuary Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsApex Town Code § 14-28
(a) The area embraced within the corporate limits of the town and all land owned or leased by the town outside the corporate limits is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary. (b) It shall be unlawful intentionally to trap, hunt, shoot or otherwise kill, within the sanctuary hereby established, any native wild bird; provided, it shall be lawful to trap or otherwise destroy starlings, crows or sim...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Apex city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Wake County →