Animal Ordinances in Raleigh, NC (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Raleigh, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Raleigh City Code § 12-3031 bars anyone from keeping a stable for cattle, non-pygmy goats, or horses within 200 feet of a neighboring residence, and caps how many animals a lot can hold based on its size: from one animal on a lot under an acre up to ten per acre on parcels over five acres. Stables also need a joint permit from Wake County Health and City Inspections.
Raleigh Livestock Stable Distance and Density Rules
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 12-3031
It shall be unlawful for any person to locate or place, erect or maintain on any property within the corporate limits of the City, a stable for housing cattle, non-pygmy goats, or horses unless such stable is located at least two hundred (200) feet from all neighboring residences. Not more than one head of cattle, one non-pygmy goat or one horse may be kept on a lot less than one acre. A pygmy ...
Dog Leash Laws
Raleigh City Code § 12-3011 makes it unlawful for a dog's owner to let the animal run at large anywhere in the city or on city property, and requires anyone in charge of a dog to pick up its waste from streets, sidewalks, parks, and private property without permission. A companion tethering rule at § 12-3013 caps unattended restraint at three hours in any 24-hour period.
Raleigh Dogs Must Not Run at Large
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 12-3011
(a)It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow such animal to be at large in the City or on any City property.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person owning, harboring, keeping, or in charge of any dog to fail to remove feces deposited by the dog on any street, sidewalk, park or other publicly owned area.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person owning, harboring, keeping, or in charge o...
Breed Restrictions
Raleigh does not ban specific dog breeds. Instead, North Carolina General Statute §67-4.3 and Raleigh City Code regulate dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs based on behavior. Owners of declared dangerous dogs face strict containment, registration, liability insurance, and muzzle requirements.
Animals: Breed Restrictions
Some RestrictionsN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 67-4.1, 67-4.5
§ 67-4.1. Definitions and procedures. (a) As used in this Article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise and except as modified in subsection (b) of this section, the term: (1) "Dangerous dog" means a. A dog that: 1. Without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or 2. Is determined by the person or Board designated by the county or municipal authority responsibl...
Beekeeping
Raleigh's UDO doesn't zone backyard beekeeping as its own use: the only beehive rule sits inside the Community Garden standards at Section 6.6.1.B, and it bars any animal raising, hives included, if the garden is in a Residential District. Outside residential zones, a community garden may keep up to two hives.
Raleigh Bans Community-Garden Beehives in Residential Zones
Light RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 6.6.1.B
Raising of animals is not permitted in a Residential District. In all other permitted districts, the raising of animals is subject to the following conditions: The community garden must be in active use for the growing and harvesting of crops. Hoofed animals are prohibited. Chickens are permitted at rate of 1 chicken per 1,000 square feet of lot area not to exceed 10 chickens on any single lot....
Exotic Pets
Raleigh banned dangerous wild animals as pets effective Sept 3, 2022 (Ordinance 2022-395, Sec. 12-3004). Prohibited animals include lions, tigers, wolves, non-human primates, medically significant venomous snakes, and crocodilians. $500 civil penalty per animal per day. Animals legally owned before Sept 3, 2022 must be registered.
Raleigh Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsN.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-416, 14-417, 14-417.1
Article 55. Regulation of Certain Reptiles. § 14-416. Mishandling of certain reptiles declared public nuisance and criminal offense. The intentional or negligent exposure of other human beings to unsafe contact with venomous reptiles, large constricting snakes, or crocodilians is essentially dangerous and injurious and detrimental to public health, safety and welfare, and is therefore declared ...
Wildlife Feeding
Raleigh discourages feeding of wildlife such as deer, raccoons, coyotes, and waterfowl, and prohibits feeding that creates a nuisance or public health hazard. Backyard bird feeding is permitted but must not attract rodents, bears, or other pests. Feeding stray or feral cats is regulated under animal-control rules.
Animals: Wildlife Feeding
Some RestrictionsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-129
§ 153A-129. Firearms. (a) Except as provided in this section, a county may by ordinance regulate, restrict, or prohibit the discharge of firearms at any time or place except in any of the following instances: (1) When used to take birds or animals pursuant to Chapter 113, Subchapter IV. (2) When used in defense of person or property. (3) When used pursuant to lawful directions of law-enforcemen...
Cat Rules
Raleigh City Code § 12-3008 requires every cat four months or older to have a current rabies inoculation, valid for twelve months, with the owner keeping the tag or vaccination certificate as proof. Section 12-3007 separately bars any domesticated animal, including cats, from running at large in the city, and Raleigh has not required an individual cat license since a 2012 ordinance repealed cat and dog licensing.
Raleigh Cat Rabies Shots and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code §§ 12-3007, 12-3008
Sec. 12-3007. - RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any domesticated animal to allow such animal to be at-large within the corporate limits of the City or on any City property. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and may also be enforced through issuance of a civil penalty pursuant to §14-1005, through injunctive or other equitable relief, or a combination ...
Pet Store Rules
Raleigh does not ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats, or other animals and has no adoption-only mandate; instead, City Code § 12-3040 requires every pet shop to hold a valid pet shop license, and § 12-3035 sets minimum care standards covering water temperature, cage size, feeding frequency, and daily cleaning that a shop must meet to keep that license.
Raleigh Pet Shops Need a License and Standards
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code §§ 12-3035, 12-3040
Sec. 12-3040. - PET SHOPS LICENSE; REQUIRED. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a pet shop in the City without possessing a valid pet shop license...Sec. 12-3035. - PET SHOP STANDARDS. All pet shops, as defined herein, including pet shops run in conjunction with another holding facility, shall, in addition to the other requirements of this chapter, comply with the minimum standards ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Raleigh's UDO regulates pet groomers under the "Animal Care" use category, which by definition includes animal grooming alongside veterinary clinics, boarding and kennels. Indoor facilities can't run outdoor animal activity overnight between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., and no more than four animals may be outside at once during the day.
Raleigh Zones Pet Grooming as an Animal Care Use
Some RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 6.4.9.B
Animal Care (Indoor) Defined: Any building or land used, designed or arranged for the care of animals without limited outdoor activity. Includes animal grooming, animal hospital, veterinary clinic, pet clinic, animal boarding, animal shelter, cattery, kennel and doggy day care. Use Standards: No overnight outdoor activity associated with the care of animals. For the purposes of this section "ov...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Raleigh's UDO keeps veterinary clinics and hospitals out of every residential and RX- district entirely. They're allowed, subject to limits, only in office, neighborhood, commercial and downtown mixed-use districts and in industrial zones, and even there, overnight outdoor animal activity is banned and daytime outdoor activity is capped at 4 animals at once.
Raleigh Veterinary Clinics Barred From Residential Zones
Significant RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 6.4.9.B
R-1 R-2 R-4 R-6 R-10 RX- OP- OX- NX- CX- DX- IX- CM AP IH MH Veterinary Clinic/Hospital -- -- -- -- -- -- -- L L L L L -- L L -- Sec. 6.4.9.B. ... Use Standards: No overnight outdoor activity associated with the care of animals. For the purposes of this section "overnight" constitutes the hours between 11 PM and 7 AM. Outdoor activity...is permitted during the day, provided that no more than 4 ...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Raleigh's citywide ban on harboring, possessing, or keeping a dangerous wild animal, set out in § 12-3075(a), does not reach wildlife rehabilitators, § 12-3075(b) exempts anyone holding a proper State or Federal wildlife rehabilitation license or permit, or a Wildlife Resources Commission agent acting within their approved work, from the prohibition, so Raleigh issues no separate municipal wildlife-rescue permit of its own.
Wildlife Rehabilitators Exempt From Raleigh Wild Animal Ban
Few RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 12-3075(b)
(b)Exemptions. The provisions in this section shall not apply to the following: AZA-accredited zoos; scientific research laboratories; veterinarians harboring such animals for purposes of providing professional medical treatment; educational or scientific institutions (public and private) in the course of their educational or scientific work; and, wildlife rehabilitators or others with proper S...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Raleigh city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Wake County →