10 rules for unincorporated Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Buncombe County cannot zone out bona fide farm uses, so keeping chickens, fowl, and livestock on qualifying property in the unincorporated county is broadly allowed under NCGS 160D-903. Animals must still avoid nuisance conditions and cages/pens have setback limits under the animal ordinance.
NCGS 160D-903(a)
County zoning and development regulations may not affect property used for bona fide farm purposes... Bona fide farm purposes include the production and activities relating or incidental to the production of crops, grains, fruits, vegetables, ornamental and flowering plants, dairy, livestock, poultry, and all other forms of agriculture.
In unincorporated Buncombe County, dogs and other animals must stay on the owner's premises. Off the property, an animal must be under the control of a competent person by a chain, leash, harness, or other physical control (Sec. 6-76). Loose animals may be impounded.
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-76(a)
Every person owning or having possession, charge, care, custody or control of any animal shall keep such animal exclusively upon his premises. However, such animal may be off such premises if it is under the control of a competent person and restrained by a chain, leash, harness or other means of physical control.
Buncombe County does not ban any dog breed. Both the county code (Sec. 6-28) and NC state law (NCGS 67-4.1) define a 'dangerous dog' by behavior, not breed. A dog is dangerous only if it kills or severely injures without provocation, or is declared potentially dangerous.
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-28 (Dangerous animal)
Dangerous animal. (1) An animal that: a. Without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; b. Without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on another domestic animal; c. Is determined by the animal control officer to be a potentially dangerous animal. (2) Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting.
Buncombe County has no dedicated beekeeping ordinance. Keeping honey bees is an agricultural activity protected from county zoning as a bona fide farm use under NCGS 160D-903. Colonies must not create a public nuisance under the animal code, and state law governs bee registration and disease.
Buncombe County Sec. 6-61 makes it unlawful to keep any venomous reptile or any other wild or exotic animal within the county. Zoos, performing-animal exhibitions, circuses, and licensed wildlife rehabilitators are exempt.
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-61
No person, firm, or corporation shall keep, maintain, possess or have within the County any venomous reptile or any other wild or exotic animal. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions or circuses or licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
Buncombe County's animal code has no general wildlife-feeding ban, but it prohibits keeping wild animals (Sec. 6-61). In bear-heavy western NC, the state Wildlife Resources Commission rule (15A NCAC 10B .0202) bars intentionally feeding or placing food that attracts bears and causes damage or a safety risk.
Keeping horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and fowl on qualifying property in the unincorporated county is protected as a bona fide farm use under NCGS 160D-903, so county zoning cannot bar it. The animal code still bars public-nuisance conditions and regulates dead-animal disposal.
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-28 (Livestock)
Livestock. Animals commonly associated with farming including, but not limited to, horses, mules, ponies, llamas, swine, sheep, cattle, goats, chickens, emus, ostriches, and other fowl.
Buncombe County has no ordinance using the word 'hoarding,' but Sec. 6-57 prohibits keeping animals in numbers or conditions that constitute a public nuisance, and Sec. 6-58 bars neglect. Severe cases are prosecuted under NC animal-cruelty law (NCGS Ch. 14 Art. 47 / 19A).
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-57(a), (a)(8)
The keeping of any animal in such manner or in such numbers as to constitute a public nuisance is hereby prohibited... Maintaining the owner's property in a manner that is offensive, annoying or dangerous to the public health, safety, or welfare of the community because of the number, type, variety, density or location of the animals on the property.
Buncombe County sets no simple household pet limit, but keeping seven or more dogs or cats on one premises makes the property a 'kennel' requiring a permit (Sec. 6-28). Keeping animals in numbers that create a public nuisance is separately prohibited under Sec. 6-57.
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-28 (Kennel)
Kennel. Any premises wherein any person, partnership or corporation is engaged in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee or selling dogs or cats. The keeping of seven or more dogs or cats on the same premises... shall constitute a kennel.
Cats four months or older in Buncombe County must be vaccinated against rabies and wear a collar with the current rabies tag at all times (Sec. 6-56). Cats are covered by the same restraint and nuisance rules as other animals, and unvaccinated or stray cats may be impounded.
Buncombe County Code Sec. 6-56(a)-(b)
It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccination against rabies for any dog or cat four months of age or older... It shall be unlawful for any dog or cat owner to fail to provide the dog or cat with a collar or harness to which a current rabies tag is securely attached.
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