Animal Ordinances in Rock Hill, SC (2026)
9 verified animal ordinances for Rock Hill, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Rock Hill allows up to 10 hens per property as an accessory use under the Zoning Ordinance, with a required predator-proof coop and run, but roosters are essentially off-limits: one is legal only where no other residence sits within two miles, and even then no more than two are allowed.
Rock Hill Backyard Chicken Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance of the City of Rock Hill § 5.3.5.4.C.7
Poultry: A coop or coops must be provided. The coop area must have at least two square feet per hen and one nest box for every three hens. Each coop may be up to 48 square feet and 8 feet tall. A run or runs must be provided. The run area must have at least 4 square feet per hen. Runs must be made of a durable material and be predator-proof. Coops and runs must be set back at least 5 feet off a...
Dog Leash Laws
Rock Hill requires every dog owner to keep the animal under restraint at all times under City Code Section 6-36, with detailed tether, collar and trolley-system standards, and authorizes impoundment of any dog running at large under Section 6-38.
Rock Hill Dog Leash & Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 6-36; § 6-38
(a)The owner or keeper of every animal shall keep the animal under restraint at all times. If a responsible adult is physically outdoors with their animal on the property where the owner of the animal resides and the animal is under the owner's direct control and is obedient to the owner's commands, this section shall not apply during the duration of the time the animal is under the control of ...
Breed Restrictions
Rock Hill regulates individual dogs found to be dangerous based on their conduct under City Code Section 6-37, and Section 6-31 expressly states an animal 'is not a dangerous animal solely by virtue of its breed,' so the city has no breed-specific ban.
Rock Hill Dangerous Dog Law, Not Breed Ban
Significant RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 6-37; § 6-31
Dangerous animal means an animal of the canine family which the owner knows or reasonably should know has a propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, cause injury, or otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals... An animal is not a dangerous animal solely be virtue of its breed. ... (a)Restraint and confinement. The owner shall confine, within a building ...
Beekeeping
Rock Hill's Zoning Ordinance lets property owners keep beehives as an accessory use, but bans placing them in a front yard or a street-facing side yard closer than 50 feet to the street, requires a 25-foot setback from neighboring buildings, a 5-foot setback from property lines, and a posted owner-contact placard.
Rock Hill Backyard Beekeeping Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance of the City of Rock Hill § 5.3.5.4.C.6
Bees: Hives cannot be placed in the front yard of any land use. Hives also cannot be placed in any side yards that border a street unless they are placed at least 50 feet away from the street. Hives must be placed at least 25 feet from all occupied structures on adjacent properties and 5 feet off all property lines. Hives must face away from all occupied structures on adjacent properties that a...
Cat Rules
Rock Hill treats cats the same as dogs under Chapter 6 of the City Code: every cat must wear a valid rabies vaccination tag, stay under an owner's restraint at all times, and an outdoor female cat over four months old must be spayed once she has unrestricted access to stray breeding partners.
Rock Hill Cat Rabies, Restraint & Heat Rules
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 6-31; § 6-35; § 6-36(i)
Cat means a domestic feline of either sex. ... Every owner of a dog or cat shall have the animal inoculated against rabies and require the animal to wear a rabies vaccination tag on a collar or harness. ... Every female dog or cat in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel or shall in a manner so as not to create a nuisance by...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Rock Hill requires any outdoor female dog or cat over four months old to be spayed once she is kept where stray dogs or cats have unrestricted breeding access, under City Code Section 6-36(i), and requires females in heat to be confined.
Rock Hill Mandatory Spay Rule for Outdoor Cats & Dogs
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 6-36(i)
Every female dog or cat in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel or shall in a manner so as not to create a nuisance by attracting other dogs or cats. Every female dog or cat over four months of age housed outside in a manner where other stray dogs or cats have unrestricted breeding access shall be spayed to prevent nuisance...
Microchipping
Rock Hill requires every dog or cat reclaimed from the county animal shelter to receive a microchip implant under City Code Section 6-46(c), with the microchip cost added to the owner's impoundment and boarding fees before the animal is released.
Rock Hill Mandatory Pet Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 6-46(c)
Pursuant to the provisions of S.C. Code 1976, § 47-3-55, subsections C and E, all dogs and cats that are reclaimed from the animal shelter will have a microchip implanted with the associated cost of the microchip added to any impoundment and boarding fees. The owner redeeming his dog or cat must elect to have a microchip implanted.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Rock Hill's Zoning Ordinance classifies a veterinary clinic without boarding as an Animal Care (Limited) use. The Zoning Ordinance caps such clinics at 20 small animals on-site at once, bars unreasonable noise or odor detectable off-premises, and limits animals on the property to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., except when a patient remains under veterinary care.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Rock Hill, SC
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance of the City of Rock Hill § 4.3.3.3.1(A)
Animal care, limited: Includes animal care uses with neither an outdoor facility nor an overnight component. Examples may include animal grooming facilities and veterinary clinics without boarding. ... A. Animal Care (Limited) 1. No Unreasonable Noise or Odor: Animal care (limited) uses must be sufficiently insulated so no unreasonable noise or odor can be detected off-premises. 2. Number of An...
Bird Protection
Rock Hill designates the entire city a bird sanctuary under City Code Section 6-3, making it unlawful to kill, injure or molest any wild bird or disturb its eggs, nest or breeding place, with the eagle specifically protected and only the starling and pigeon excluded.
Rock Hill City-Wide Bird Sanctuary Law
Significant RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 6-3
The territory embraced within the city is hereby constituted a bird sanctuary, and it shall be unlawful for any person to kill, injure, harm or molest any bird or to destroy, injure, rob or molest the eggs or nests or breeding places of any birds within such area. This section shall not apply to destructive birds as defined in S.C. Code 1976, § 50-1-30, with the exception of the eagle, to which...
Looking for York County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rock Hill city rules.
Animal Ordinances in York County →