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Animal Ordinances in Mount Pleasant, SC (2026)

11 verified animal ordinances for Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Chickens & Livestock

The Town of Mount Pleasant bans keeping chickens, turkeys, ducks, guineas, geese, pheasants, pigeons, or other domestic fowl that impair health or disturb neighbors with noise, odor, or flies under § 90.27, and § 90.28 sets minimum coop height, ventilation, and sanitation standards.

Mount Pleasant Backyard Fowl Rules

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 90.27

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or have in his or her possession any chickens, turkeys, ducks, guineas, geese, pheasants, pigeons or other domestic fowl that will because of noise, odors, or flies, or otherwise tend to impair the health or disturb the peace quiet and comfort of nearby residents occupants of places of business.

Dog Leash Laws

In the Town of Mount Pleasant, § 90.29(B)(1) makes it unlawful to let an animal run without control or restraint, and § 90.01 defines control as a leash no more than eight feet long, unless the dog stays on its owner's own premises.

Mount Pleasant Dog Leash Requirement

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 90.29(B)(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, or maintain an animal in such a manner so as to constitute a public nuisance. By way of example and not of limitation, the following acts or actions by an owner or possessor of an animal are declared to be a public nuisance and are therefore unlawful: (1) Allowing an animal to run without control or not under constraint as defined her...

Breed Restrictions

The Town of Mount Pleasant does not ban dogs by breed. Under § 90.30 of the Code of Ordinances, any animal the Animal Control Officer declares dangerous or vicious based on its own conduct, not its breed, is barred from being owned, kept or harbored in town. Owners get five working days to appeal to the Town Administrator before the animal is disposed of.

Mount Pleasant Dangerous Animal Declarations

Significant Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances §§ 90.01, 90.30, 10.99

VICIOUS ANIMAL. As follows. (1) An animal: (a) With a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or to otherwise endanger the safety of humans or domestic pets; or (b) Which attacks, bites or otherwise injures a human being or other domestic animal without provocation; or (c) Which is trained or used to fight or to attack humans. ... § 90.30 DANGEROUS A...

Beekeeping

Mount Pleasant lets residents keep bees on any size lot under Section 156.353, capping density at two colonies per quarter acre. Hives must sit at least 20 feet from every property line, face away from neighbors, and carry a six-foot flyway barrier when placed within 25 feet of a boundary.

Mount Pleasant Backyard Beekeeping Rules

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 156.353

§ 156.353 APICULTURE. (A) There is no minimum parcel size for beekeeping; however, the maximum density is two colonies per one-quarter acre. (B) Hives shall be located at least 20 feet from all property lines. The opening of the hive shall be oriented away from adjoining properties. (C) For colonies located within 25 feet of a property boundary, a flyway barrier at least six feet in height ...

Exotic Pets

The Town of Mount Pleasant bans keeping any poisonous reptile, dangerous or carnivorous wild animal, or vicious domesticated animal under § 90.26(A), and § 90.26(B) lists 29 named species, from apes and bears to lions, wolves, and swine, that no one may possess in town.

Mount Pleasant Wild Animal Ban

Heavy Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 90.26

(A) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain, or have in his or her possession or control within the town any poisonous reptile or any other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile, any vicious or dangerous domesticated animal or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious, or dangerous propensities. (B) Classification. It shall be unlawful for any person ...

Wildlife Feeding

In the Town of Mount Pleasant, it is unlawful to feed birds, including seagulls and pigeons, at any town-owned park such as Memorial Waterfront Park or Shem Creek Park. The rule sits in the same chapter that also requires all animals to be leashed in those parks and bans metal detecting and camping.

Mount Pleasant Ban on Feeding Park Birds

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 141.03(I)

(I) Feeding birds. It shall be unlawful to feed birds (seagulls, pigeons and the like) at town-owned parks.

Pet Limits

The Town of Mount Pleasant does not set a blanket limit on household pets, but its zoning code treats keeping dogs beyond ordinary pet-keeping as a "private kennel" accessory use. Table 156.436-1 caps a private kennel at not more than three dogs, allows it only on dwelling lots, and requires a zoning permit before the dogs are kept.

Mount Pleasant Caps Private Kennels at Three Dogs

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 156.436 (Table 156.436-1)

§ 156.436 ACCESSORY USE TABLE. ... Table 156.436-1: Accessory Use Table ... Private kennel for not more than three dogs None Yes Dwelling

Cat Rules

Cats six months or older in the Town of Mount Pleasant must wear a collar or harness with a rabies-vaccination tag under § 90.54. Homeless or stray cats fall under § 90.66's duty-to-cooperate rule, and unclaimed shelter cats can be routed into the Free Roaming Cat Program under § 90.71.

Mount Pleasant Cat Licensing and Tag Rules

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances §§ 90.54, 90.66, 90.71, 10.99

It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or keep a dog or cat more than six months of age on any premises within the town unless the dog or cat wears a collar or harness securely attached to its body to which shall be securely attached a tag issued for the dog or cat by a licensed veterinarian, licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state, showing the dog or cat has been vaccina...

Pet Groomer Rules

The Town of Mount Pleasant's zoning code defines a pet groomer as a "pet care service," an establishment offering grooming and training for household pets. Animals may stay in indoor kennels only before or after a service, capped at 24 hours. The definition, at Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 156.1681, deliberately separates groomers from boarding kennels, daycares, shelters and veterinary clinics.

Pet Groomers Zoning Rules in Mount Pleasant

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 156.1681

PET CARE SERVICE. An establishment primarily engaged in providing services for household pets, such as grooming and training. Animals may be kept in indoor kennels before and/or after a service, but in no case for more than 24 hours. This definition excludes animal boarding facilities and daycares, animal shelters, and veterinary clinics.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

The Town of Mount Pleasant's zoning code, § 156.1681, defines a "veterinary clinic" as an establishment for the care, observation and treatment of animals, where animals may be boarded indoors only during their convalescence. That narrow boarding allowance is what separates a veterinary clinic from an "animal boarding facility or daycare," a separately defined use that itself excludes veterinary clinics.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Mount Pleasant

Some Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances § 156.1681

ANIMAL BOARDING FACILITY OR DAYCARE. A commercial establishment where the primary service offered is the care and supervision of dogs, cats, or other household pets for any length of time. Such establishment may offer ancillary services, such as grooming. This definition excludes pet care services and veterinary clinics. ... VETERINARY CLINIC. ... An establishment for the care, observation, and...

Bird Protection

The Town of Mount Pleasant designates its entire corporate limits a bird sanctuary under § 90.31. It is unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot at, or otherwise molest any bird or wild fowl, or to rob a bird's nest, anywhere within town limits.

Mount Pleasant Town-Wide Bird Sanctuary

Heavy Restrictions

Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances §§ 90.31, 10.99

(A) Area established. The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the municipality is designated as a bird sanctuary. ... (B) Molestation of birds; nuisance. It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot, or molest in any manner any bird or wild fowl or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests, provided, that if starlings or similar birds are found to be congregating in ...

Looking for Charleston County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mount Pleasant city rules.

Animal Ordinances in Charleston County