Animal Ordinances in Cumberland County, NC (2026)

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-19(a)

It is unlawful for any owner or person to permit or negligently allow any domestic animal or livestock to run at large. Any dog or cat that is not confined as provided in this Chapter, and not under the actual physical control or restraint of its owner or keeper, shall be deemed to be running at large.

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-10 (Restraint); Sec. 3-19(a)

"Restraint" means that an animal is actually physically controlled by leash or tether held by a competent person or within any vehicle, trailer or other conveyance being driven, pulled or parked on the street or confined within the property limits of its owner or keeper.

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-30 (Dangerous dog)

"Dangerous dog" means any of the following dogs: (1) A dog that without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or (2) A dog that has been determined as provided herein to be potentially dangerous; or (3) A dog that is owned or harbored primarily, or in part, for the purpose of dog fighting or a dog trained for dog fighting.

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-17(a)-(c)

(a) For the purpose of this section, a "wild or exotic animal" means an animal which is usually not a domestic animal, and which can normally be found in the wild state, including, but not limited to, alligators, apes, bats, bears, crocodiles, deer, elephants, foxes, leopards, lions, lynxes, monkeys, panthers, raccoons, rhinoceroses, wolves, poisonous snakes, skunks, tigers, and like animals. H...

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-14(b); Sec. 3-10

Sec. 3-10 - Definitions: "Harboring means regularly feeding, sheltering, or caring for an animal." Sec. 3-14(b): "No person shall knowingly and intentionally harbor, feed or keep in possession by confinement or otherwise any stray animal which does not belong to him, unless he shall have within one business day from the time such animal came into his possession notified the animal services depa...

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-29

A person cited as a Nuisance/Reckless owner shall be ordered to surrender all of his/her dogs/cats to Animal Control and shall refrain from owning, keeping or harboring those dogs/cats or any other animals.

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-40(e)

It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccination against rabies (hydrophobia) for any dog, cat or ferret four (4) months of age or older.

Cumberland County Code Sec. 3-21(a), (c)-(e)

(a) No dog or cat may be adopted from the animal shelter unless the animal has been surgically spayed or neutered, or the adopting owner agrees to do have the animal surgically spayed or neutered in accordance with any time limit imposed by the animal services director. (c) Any animal found running at large as defined in section 3-18(a) shall be spayed or neutered prior to being returned to its...