Animal Ordinances in Carteret County, NC (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Carteret County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Carteret County, County Code § 3-3 makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to let a dog or cat run at large or leave the owner's premises unsupervised. "Under control," defined in § 3-1(d), means on a leash, tied, or in a secure pen. Trained hunting dogs are exempt while actively hunting.
Carteret County Dog and Cat At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsCarteret County Code §§ 3-1, 3-3, 3-7
(d)The term "under control" shall mean on a leash, tied or in a pen capable of holding such dog or cat. ... It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of a dog or cat to allow it to run at large in the county. It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of a dog or cat to allow it to run off the premises of its owner or keeper. Hunting dogs shall be exempt from the provisions of this section...
Breed Restrictions
Carteret County can declare a dog "dangerous" or "potentially dangerous" under County Code § 3-21 after it bites, injures, or menaces without provocation. Once declared, owners must confine the dog on their property or muzzle and leash it off-property under § 3-22, and an owner has just three days to appeal a determination before the appellate board.
Carteret County Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsCarteret County Code §§ 3-21, 3-22
The county or municipal authority responsible for animal control shall designate a person or a board to be responsible for determining when a dog is a "potentially dangerous dog" and shall designate a separate board to hear any appeal. The person or board making the determination that a dog is a "potentially dangerous dog" must notify the owner in writing, giving the reasons for the determinati...
Exotic Pets
Carteret County outright bans keeping big cats, bears, wolves, and non-human primates as pets. County Code § 3-31 makes it unlawful to keep, shelter, or harbor any "inherently dangerous animal" in the county, with narrow exceptions for licensed pet shops, USDA zoos, research labs, and animals permitted under a since-closed 2000 registration window.
Carteret County Bans Inherently Dangerous Animals
Heavy RestrictionsCarteret County Code §§ 3-30, 3-31, 3-34
Inherently dangerous animal. ... For purposes of this article, an inherently dangerous animal means any animal of the mammalian family Canidae, Felidae, or Ursidae, or member of the mammalian order Primates, which is not indigenous to North Carolina, and which, due to their inherent nature, may be considered dangerous to humans. ... Possession of inherently dangerous animals ... in the county i...
Cat Rules
In unincorporated Carteret County every cat must wear a collar bearing the owner's name and address, plus a current rabies tag, under County Code § 3-2. Owners must produce proof of rabies vaccination on demand from the animal control warden, health director or any sworn officer. A feral cat with no identification can be humanely euthanized by the Humane Society after a 72-hour hold under § 3-5(c).
Carteret County Cat Collar and Rabies Rule
Some RestrictionsCarteret County Code §§ 3-2, 3-5
Every dog and cat shall be required at all times to wear a collar with the owner's name and address stamped on or otherwise firmly attached to the collar. Every owner or keeper of a dog over four months of age shall have the dog or cat inoculated for rabies and display the rabies tag on the animal's collar as required by state law. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to provid...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Carteret County has no county-wide mandatory spay/neuter law. County Code § 3-5(a) requires only that a dog or cat adopted from the Carteret County Humane Society's animal control shelter be spayed or neutered within six months of adoption; pets acquired outside the shelter carry no such obligation.
Carteret County Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Light RestrictionsCarteret County Code § 3-5
After 72 hours, the humane society may place the dog or cat for adoption. Any dog or cat adopted from the humane society animal shelter must be spayed or neutered within six months of adoption. Owners or keepers of dogs being claimed, adopted, or investigated have ten days to show proof of rabies inoculation to the animal control officer.
Pet Groomer Rules
In unincorporated Carteret County, running a pet-grooming business from a residence is classified as a personal-business home occupation under the zoning ordinance. One non-resident employee keeps it a minor home occupation, permitted by right. Adding a second non-resident employee makes it a major home occupation, which needs a special use permit from the planning commission.
Home Pet Grooming Businesses in Carteret County
Some RestrictionsCarteret County Zoning Ordinance §§ 1102, 2902
e.Personal business with no more than one non-resident employee that provides one or more of the following types of services: Advertising, answering services, bookkeeping, burglar alarms, consultant services, customer service representative, financial advice, housekeeping service, insurance services, internet services, legal services, locksmith, software development, on-line retail (depending o...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Carteret County's zoning ordinance classifies an 'animal hospital/veterinary clinic' as its own use, separate from a kennel. Section 1102 defines it as a place providing dental, medical, or surgical care for dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals, and specifically excludes kennels from that definition.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Definition, Carteret County
Some RestrictionsCarteret County Zoning Ordinance § 1102
Animal hospital/veterinary clinic. A place or facility which provides dental, medical or surgical care for dogs, cats and other domesticated animals. Kennels are not included within this definition. ... Kennel. ... A place or facility prepared to house, board (for a long or short time period), breed, handle, train or otherwise keep or care for dogs and cats belonging to the owner or occupant of...
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