Animal Ordinances in Charleston, WV (2026)

Charleston City Code § 10-12

No person shall keep or permit to be kept within the corporate limits any hog, goat, cow, chicken, or other animal or fowl in a pen or otherwise confined in any lot, to the annoyance, detriment or inconvenience of any neighbor or the public.

Sec. 10-161

It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep a dog which is at any time running at large in the city. Knowledge or acquiescence by the owner or keeper is not an element of the offense. A dog shall be deemed to be running at large if it is, for any period of time, off the premises of its owner's or keeper's property and not firmly attached to a leash or chain under the owner's or keeper's ...

Sec. 10-114

Dangerous dog, as used in this chapter, shall mean: (1)Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, to cause injury, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or(2)Any dog which, in a vicious or threatening manner, approaches any person or another domestic animal in an apparent attack upon the person or the domestic animal; or(3)Any dog which ...

Charleston Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 3-060(13)

13. Beekeeping shall be regulated as follows: a. On lots measuring up to 10,000 square feet in area, a maximum of 2 colonies are permitted... b. Beekeeping shall occur only in rear yards of single-family residential properties... Beekeeping is prohibited on multi-family properties. c. Hives must be located at least 5 feet from any property line.

City Code Sec. 10-13

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor within the city any panther, wildcat or bobcat, bear or other wild animal of a species normally dangerous to human beings, or any skunk from which the perinea glands have not been removed, or any venomous reptile or any make of a constrictor species, except pursuant to authority of a city license or permit which may be issued under any other...

Sec. 10-120

No person shall own, keep or harbor more than two dogs on any lot, premises, dwelling, building, structure, boat or living accommodation unless: (1) Properly licensed as a commercial kennel in compliance with the zoning ordinance; or (2) Approved for a special permit under the provisions of section 10-121; or (3) Previously granted a variance...

Sec. 10-16

No person shall own any dog, cat or ferret, six months of age or older, within the city limits if such animal is not currently vaccinated against rabies. ... Owners of cats and ferrets may retain proof of current rabies vaccination on their person or premises. (b) Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10.00, nor more than $25.00, plus applicable court costs.

Sec. 10-116

(1) Registration. The owner shall: a. Have a microchip inserted into the dog by a veterinarian, which microchip shall detail the dangerous dog designation and such other information as may be appropriate to determine the ownership of the dog. The owner shall be responsible for all costs associated with the microchip procedure; b. Maintain an insurance policy in a minimum amount of $50,000.00 to...

Sec. 10-171

An urban hunt shall be lawful in the City of Charleston only under the following conditions:(1)Hunting shall be by permit only issued under the terms of this chapter.(2)The hunt shall be for deer, bear, and coyote only.(3)Only bows, crossbows, arrows and bolts that comply with applicable state statutes, rules and regulations may be used, provided that a person may hunt coyote with an air rifle ...

Sec. 3-060

Home-based businesses shall not include commercial repair or storage of automobiles, dance studios, medical or dental clinics, restaurants, bars/nightclubs, mortuary or funeral establishments, kennels, stables, veterinarian clinics/hospitals, nor adult uses. Uses not specifically mentioned here shall not be permitted when the Planning Director determines that such use is of the s...

Sec. 10-14

(a) The entire area embraced within the boundaries of the city is designated as a bird sanctuary. (b) It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wildfowl or to rob bird nests or wildfowl nests; however, if starlings, pigeons or similar birds are found to be congregating in such numbers in a particular locality that they constitute a nuisanc...