Chatham County, NC Ordinances (2026)

In unincorporated Chatham County, it is illegal to put any material into a recycling container at a greenbox site or collection center that is not specifically marked to accept it…

In unincorporated Chatham County, bulky waste, brush, stumps, appliances, furniture and other oversized items cannot go in the solid waste containers at county greenbox sites and…

In unincorporated Chatham County, every private hauler that collects residential waste for a fee must run a program to collect and recycle aluminum cans, newspapers and steel food…

In unincorporated Chatham County, any vehicle or container used to collect and haul garbage or solid waste must be covered, leak-proof, durable and kept clean and in good repair under…

In unincorporated Chatham County, yard waste such as lawn clippings, leaves, brush and garden refuse cannot go into the solid waste containers at county greenbox sites and collection…

In unincorporated Chatham County, dumping litter, solid waste or recyclables into a ditch, creek, street, alley or any public or private lot is unlawful under the county's Solid Waste…

In unincorporated Chatham County, it is unlawful to loiter or congregate at any greenbox site, recycling drop-off site or collection center, and no vehicle may be left unattended on…

Possessing or harboring a non-domestic animal anywhere in unincorporated Chatham County is unlawful unless the owner conforms to the county's separate Wild and Vicious Animals…

Letting a dog run at large off its owner's property is unlawful anywhere in unincorporated Chatham County. Off-property, an animal must be under a leash, bridle or similar humane…

Chatham County has no separate cat license or feral colony program; instead the code covers cats through its general animal rules. A cat off its owner's property and not restrained can…

Chatham County Animal Services requires every dog or cat leaving its shelter through adoption to be spayed or neutered before the adopter takes custody, under County Code § 91.076(B)…

Chatham County has no breed-specific ban; its dangerous-animal ordinance is behavior-based. Under County Code §§ 91.090 and 91.092, the Health Director may declare any dog or animal…

Unincorporated Chatham County caps irrigation at one inch of water per week year-round and requires automatic controllers with moisture sensors on every irrigation system, with a fixed…

County water customers in unincorporated Chatham County must fix any leak on their property or facilities within ten days of discovering it. An unrepaired leak is treated as wasteful…

Unincorporated Chatham County treats habitual barking, whining or howling that disturbs a neighbor's use of their property as a public nuisance. Animal Services investigates…

Unincorporated Chatham County caps noise at 60 decibels at the receiving property without a permit, under County Code § 92.04. A noise permit raises the ceiling to 80 decibels during…

Chatham County exempts construction noise from its noise ordinance only during set hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, under County Code § 92.05(A)…

Chatham County exempts motor vehicle noise from its noise ordinance only when the vehicle runs its manufacturer's standard muffler and noise-reducing equipment in proper operating…

Chatham County exempts lawful fireworks and noisemakers on holidays from its noise ordinance under § 92.05(G), but a Fire Marshal fireworks permit still costs $50 under the fire code's…

Chatham County bans open burning of construction and demolition debris outright. County Code § 110.12(B) makes it unlawful to dispose of C&D debris through open burning, enforced by…

Chatham County shields ordinary farm operations from noise-nuisance enforcement rather than granting farms a broad nuisance exemption. County Code § 92.05(I) exempts agricultural…