Animal Ordinances in Catawba County, NC (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Catawba County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Catawba County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Dog Leash Laws

Catawba County defines an unrestrained dog off its owner's property as 'at large' and treats habitual roaming onto a neighbor's land as an animal nuisance, letting animal services order the owner to physically restrain the dog and issue civil penalties for repeat violations.

Catawba County Dog Restraint & At-Large Rules

Some Restrictions

Catawba County Code § 6-3

At large means any animal found off of the property of its owner and not under restraint or any animal previously determined to be dangerous or potentially dangerous that is not under restraint or confined to a secure enclosure while on the property of its owner. This definition shall exclude any dog which is in a county-designated dog park. ... Restraint means a secure enclosure located on the...

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Breed Restrictions

Catawba County regulates dogs by behavior, not breed: the director of emergency services can declare a dog dangerous (level 1 or 2) or potentially dangerous based on bites, kills or attacks, triggering mandatory secure enclosures, muzzling, insurance and possible euthanasia.

Catawba County Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules

Significant Restrictions

Catawba County Code § 6-131

The director of emergency services shall determine whether a dog is to be declared dangerous or potentially dangerous. Once the dog is deemed dangerous or potentially dangerous, the animal services division shall impound the dog immediately. The director of emergency services shall notify the owner in writing, giving the reason for the determination. ... (a)Dangerous dog. A dangerous dog will b...

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Exotic Pets

Catawba County bans harboring dangerous exotic animals outright: primates, big cats, bears, wolf hybrids, venomous or large constricting reptiles and other non-domesticated species listed in Sec. 6-201 may not be kept at any time under Sec. 6-202, with limited exceptions.

Catawba County Dangerous Exotic Animal Ban

Heavy Restrictions

Catawba County Code § 6-202

Sec. 6-202. - Unlawful possession. At no time may a person harbor a dangerous exotic animal, inherently dangerous exotic mammal or inherently dangerous reptile.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Catawba County ordinances

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