Animal Ordinances in Davidson County, NC (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Davidson County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Davidson County, the zoning ordinance does not regulate chickens, poultry or livestock kept as part of a bona fide farm at all. Section I.5 exempts bona fide farms outright, so raising backyard chickens or livestock on qualifying farmland needs no zoning permit from the Planning and Zoning Department.
Davidson County Bona Fide Farm Zoning Exemption
Few RestrictionsDavidson County Zoning Ordinance, § I.5
FARM EXEMPTION The provisions of this Ordinance which are adopted under NCGS 160D, Article 7 do not affect bona fide farms as defined in this Ordinance. However, use of farm property for non-farm purposes shall be subject to the regulations herein.
Dog Leash Laws
Davidson County bans letting a dog or other animal roam loose off its owner's property. Any animal off-property and not leashed, caged, vehicle-confined, or inside the owner's home is legally 'at large,' and letting one endanger the public is a nuisance violation carrying escalating civil fines enforced by Animal Control.
Davidson County Dog At-Large Restraint Rule
Some RestrictionsDavidson County Code of Ordinances §§ 90.01, 90.05
AT LARGE. Any animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the property of its owner and not under restraint or control of a competent person. ... RESTRAINT. An animal is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter if it is (1) controlled by means of a chain, leash, or other like device; or (2) on or within a vehicle being driven or parked; or (3) within a secure enclosure; or (4...
Breed Restrictions
Davidson County does not ban breeds; it regulates individual dogs found dangerous by behavior. A dog that unprovoked bites, attacks, or is trained to attack must be confined in a secure, signed enclosure within ten days of notice, with fines up to $500 and destruction for a fatal or injurious unprovoked attack.
Davidson County Dangerous Dog Confinement Rule
Significant RestrictionsDavidson County Code of Ordinances §§ 90.01, 90.11
DANGEROUS DOG. Any dog that has demonstrated a fierce or dangerous propensity or tendency to do any act which may endanger persons or property. This would include but not be limited to any dog which (1) assaults, bites, attacks or inflicts serious injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property and/or (2) which has killed or injured a pet or domestic animal without pro...
Exotic Pets
Davidson County outright bans owning big cats, wolf hybrids, great apes, bears, and venomous reptiles as pets. Owners who already had a prohibited animal before the ordinance can keep it only by registering, insuring it for $100,000, microchipping it, and caging it to strict standards.
Davidson County Dangerous Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsDavidson County Code of Ordinances § 90.14
(B) Keeping of potentially dangerous exotic animals regulated. It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, harbor, breed, bring into the county, have in one's possession, act as a custodian, or have custody or control of any exotic animal or potentially dangerous exotic animal, except as defined by this chapter. (1) Certain potentially dangerous exotic animals prohibited. No pers...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Davidson County does not require every pet to be fixed, but a two-strike rule does: once an owner has been cited for two separate animal-control violations, that owner may no longer keep an unaltered dog or cat over six months old, unless a veterinarian certifies the animal is medically ineligible.
Davidson County Repeat-Offender Spay/Neuter Law
Some RestrictionsDavidson County Code of Ordinances § 90.08
(A) Any person who has been found in violation of any other provision of this chapter on at least two separate occasions shall not own or harbor any dogs or cats over the age of six months that have not been spayed or neutered. Animals deemed medically ineligible for the procedure by a veterinarian are exempted for spay and neuter requirements.
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