Animal Ordinances in Berkeley County, SC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Berkeley County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Berkeley County allows up to eight hens as a conditional use on residential lots of 10,000+ square feet, but bans roosters over three months old and requires a predator-proof coop set back 20 feet from other homes, per County Code of Ordinances § 11.3.4.
Berkeley County Backyard Chicken-Keeping Rules
Some RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 11.3.4
A.Keeping of chickens lawful. Subject to the standards in this article, it shall be lawful to keep of up to eight female domestic chickens (hens)... a.No male chickens (roosters) over the age of three months are permitted.b.No chickens may run at large. All chickens must be contained with the property boundary... i.No chicken house shall be located closer than 20 feet to any structure inhabited...
Dog Leash Laws
Berkeley County Code Sec. 8-4(a) makes it unlawful for an owner to let a pet run at large on any street, highway, or property besides the owner's own, and Sec. 8-4(b) requires a leash on school grounds, in shopping areas, and similar public places even for a voice-trained dog. Hunting dogs and police dogs get narrow, defined exemptions.
Berkeley County Dog Leash and At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 8-4(a)-(b)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of any pet or animal to permit same to run at large at any time upon any street or highway or other property within the county, except property owned or rented by the owner or custodian. Such owner or custodian shall comply with the definition of "under restraint" as defined above.(b)No pet or animal shall be permitted to be on school grounds o...
Exotic Pets
Berkeley County Code Sec. 8-5(a) bars anyone from harboring or owning a wild animal, defined by Sec. 8-1 to include bears, big cats over 30 pounds, wolves, foxes and coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and venomous snakes, inside any residential area. Owners elsewhere must maintain the 200-foot buffer zone the code requires around the animal's enclosure.
Berkeley County Wild Animal Ownership Ban
Significant RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances §§ 8-1, 8-5(a)-(b)
(1)Bears (Ursidae). All bears, including grizzly bears, brown bears, black bears, etc.;(2)Cat family (Felidae). All cats except those cats that at their normal adult weight do not weigh greater than 30 pounds;(3)Dog family (Canidae). All canines not able to be vaccinated for rabies because it is prohibited by law or because they do not take the vaccine. Despite the ability to receive vaccinatio...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Berkeley County does not order every pet cat spayed or neutered, but Sec. 8-7(j) lets a cat live as a lawful 'free-roaming cat' outside the county's normal at-large rules only if it is spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated for rabies and three feline diseases, and ear-tipped, or is already scheduled to complete all four steps.
Berkeley County Free-Roaming Cat Spay Rule
Light RestrictionsBerkeley County Code of Ordinances § 8-7(j)
(j)Free-roaming cats shall be allowed in Berkeley County as long as all of the following requirements are met:(1)Cat must be spayed or neutered; and(2)Cat must be microchipped; and(3)Cat must be vaccinated for rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia; and(4)Cat must be ear tipped; or(5)Scheduled to be sterilized, microchipped, vaccinated, and ear-tipped but has not y...
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