Animal Ordinances in Beaufort County, SC (2026)
10 rules for unincorporated Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-43 requires all livestock to be housed with adequate food and water and confined inside a fenced enclosure strong enough to stop escape, and bars tying or staking any animal in a street, road, alley or public right-of-way anywhere in the unincorporated county.
Beaufort County Livestock Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-43
Beaufort County recognizes that the South Carolina General Assembly has enacted South Carolina Code § 47-4-160 (2024), which pertained to animal husbandry practices for livestock and poultry. To the extent any provisions of the ordinance codified in this section conflicts with the state code requirements as to such animal husbandry practices, the state code preempts local law. All livestock sha...
Dog Leash Laws
Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-33 makes it unlawful for any dog owner or custodian to let a dog run at large anywhere off the owner's own property unless it is on a leash or other attached restraining device. The rule applies whether or not the owner intended to let the dog loose, with narrow exemptions for licensed working and competition dogs.
Beaufort County Dogs Running at Large Ban
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-33
(a)Unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of any dog to permit, or allow in any way whether intentionally or unintentionally, the same to run at large except on property owned or rented by the owner or custodian. All dogs must be kept under restraint or confinement and under the physical control of the owner or custodian by means of a leash or other physically attached simila...
Breed Restrictions
Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-30 defines a restricted dog as a Pit Bull and bars owning, keeping or harboring one without complying with mandatory spay/neuter and microchipping rules. BCAS makes the breed determination, owners get written notice and a short compliance window, and noncompliance can escalate to seizure through the Magistrate Court.
Beaufort County Restricted Pit Bull Dog Rules
Significant RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-30
(a)For the purposes of this section, a restricted dog shall be defined as a Pit Bull.(b)No person may own, keep, or harbor a restricted dog in violation of this section.(c)An owner or custodian of restricted dogs must have the dog spayed or neutered unless the owner of the restricted dog provides BCAS written proof that one of the following exemptions applies:(1)The restricted dog is less than ...
Exotic Pets
Beaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-44 makes it unlawful to import any venomous reptile or exotic animal into the county. "Exotic animal" covers non-native, zoo-type, or fear-inducing species such as monkeys, ocelots, bobcats, lions, tigers, bears and wolves, plus non-venomous reptiles or mammals over 50 pounds at maturity.
Beaufort County Exotic Animal Import Ban
Heavy RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-44
An "exotic animal" shall be defined as one which would ordinarily be confined to a zoo, or one which would ordinarily be found in the wilderness of this or any other country or one which is a species of animal not indigenous to the United States or to North America... such animals as monkeys, raccoons, squirrels, ocelots, bobcats, lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and other such animals or one whic...
Wildlife Feeding
Beaufort County bans feeding any wildlife in its designated passive parks, a rule folded into a broader natural-and-cultural-resources section that also bars disturbing, molesting, or removing wildlife, animals, birds, or eggs without written county authorization.
Beaufort County Passive Park Wildlife Feeding Ban
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 91-105(6)
It shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following in any passive park unless specifically permitted by the appropriate authorization received from the county administrator or his/her designee...(6)Natural and cultural resources:...In any way disturb, molest, or remove any wildlife, animal, bird, or egg located above, upon or below the surface of the park grounds or to allow any pri...
Cat Rules
Beaufort County Animal Services (BCAS) permits feral cat colonies free of charge under Code of Ordinances § 14-42. A designated caregiver must apply for a permit for each colony and follow BCAS's colony-management policy once approved; unmanaged colonies causing habitual noise or property damage can be treated as a nuisance.
Beaufort County Feral Cat Colony Rules
Light RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-42
Feral cat colony means a group of cats that congregate. Although not every cat in a colony may be feral, non-feral cats routinely congregate with a colony shall be deemed to be a part of it. Nuisance, for the purpose of this section, means disturbing the peace by: (1)Habitually or continually howling, crying or screaming; or (2)The habitual and significant destruction of property against the wi...
Pet Store Rules
Beaufort County does not ban retail pet sales outright: Code of Ordinances § 14-36 bars selling or giving away animals on roadsides, public property, parking lots or at flea markets and fairs, but licensed pet shops, commercial kennels, BCAS and licensed rescue organizations are specifically exempt from those location restrictions.
Beaufort County Animal Sale Location Rules
Light RestrictionsBeaufort County Code of Ordinances § 14-36
(a)No person shall sell, trade, barter, auction, lease, rent, give away, or display for commercial purpose, any live animal, pet, or livestock on any roadside, public right-of-way, public property, commercial parking lot or sidewalk, or at any flea market, fair, or carnival.(b)No person shall offer an animal, pet, or livestock as an inducement to purchase a product, commodity, or service.(c)No ...
Pet Groomer Rules
Beaufort County's Community Development Code classifies stand-alone pet grooming as a Personal Service under the size-tiered General Offices & Services use, permitted by right in several rural-center and T4 zones. Grooming that comes with boarding is reclassified as Animal Services: Kennel, with its own narrower, conditional-use-only zone list.
Pet Grooming Zoning Rules in Beaufort County
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Community Development Code § 3.1.70 (Table 3.1.70)
4. Personal Services. Establishments providing non-medical services to individuals, including, but not limited to: barber and beauty shops, dry cleaners, small appliance repair, laundromats, massage therapists, pet grooming with no boarding, shoe repair shops, tanning salons, funeral homes. These uses may include incidental retails sales related to the services they provide.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Beaufort County zones veterinary clinics as 'Animal Services: Animal Clinic/Hospital,' a use the Community Development Code permits by right in the T2 Rural Center, T3 Neighborhood Open, all four T4 subzones, and C4 and C5, but only via a Traditional Community Plan in C3, and not at all in the rural T1/T2 subzones or SI.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Beaufort County
Some RestrictionsBeaufort County Community Development Code § 3.1.70 (Table 3.1.70)
3. Animal Services: Animal Clinic/Hospital An establishment used by a veterinarian where animals are treated. This use may include boarding and grooming as accessory uses.
Bird Protection
Beaufort County's Community Development Code bars removing any vegetation from an active bird rookery on a development site, even outside nesting season, and requires an SCDNR- and USFWS-approved protection plan before the county reviews a subdivision plat or land development plan touching endangered species or nesting-bird habitat.
Beaufort County Active Rookery Protection Rule
Significant RestrictionsBeaufort County Community Development Code § 5.11.70
General. Applicants shall refer to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) data to assist in determining whether there is endangered species habitat or an active rookery (bird nesting area) on a proposed development site... Nesting Bird Habitat. No vegetation shall be removed from an active rookery (bird nesting area) even durin...
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