Animal Ordinances in Forsyth County, NC (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Keeping horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and fowl on qualifying property in unincorporated Forsyth County is protected as a bona fide farm use under NC right-to-farm law (NCGS 106-701) and Ch. 160D, so county zoning cannot bar it. The animal code still bars public-nuisance conditions.
Livestock Keeping Protected as Bona Fide Farm Use
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 6-7
It shall be unlawful for any person to molest, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance... Animal abuse includes, but is not limited to, failing to provide adequate, structurally sound shelter for animals kept outside; with three sides, a roof, and a floor and is water and wind resistant.
Dog Leash Laws
In Forsyth County it is unlawful to let any animal, including cats, run at large (Sec. 6-13). Dogs must be leashed in any public park, except inside a legal dog park. Legally hunting dogs are excluded if not trespassing. Loose animals may be impounded.
Forsyth County Running-at-Large / Leash Rule
Heavy RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 6-13
It shall be unlawful for any person having possession, custody, control, or ownership of an animal (including cats) to allow that animal to run at large. Hunting dogs shall be excluded provided they are legally hunting and not trespassing. Dogs must be leashed when in any public park.
Breed Restrictions
Forsyth County does not ban any dog breed. North Carolina law (NCGS 67-4.1) defines a 'dangerous dog' by behavior, not breed - a dog that without provocation kills or severely injures a person, is kept for fighting, or is declared potentially dangerous after biting or menacing.
No Breed Ban; Dangerous Dogs Judged by Behavior
Some RestrictionsNCGS 67-4.1(a)(1)
'Dangerous dog' means a. A dog that: 1. Without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or 2. Is determined... to be potentially dangerous... b. Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting.
Exotic Pets
Forsyth County Sec. 6-54 makes it unlawful for any person or business to possess, harbor, or have an inherently dangerous exotic mammal, an inherently dangerous reptile, or a wild animal. Only carnivals, circuses, pet shops, zoos, veterinarians, and permitted wildlife rehabilitators are exempt.
Forsyth County Bans Inherently Dangerous Exotic & Wild Animals
Heavy RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 6-54
It is unlawful for any person or business to possess, harbor, or have an inherently dangerous exotic mammal, an inherently dangerous reptile, or a wild animal. Exemptions include lawfully operated carnivals and circuses, lawfully operated pet shops, zoos, veterinarians, and wildlife rehabilitators with proper permits.
Wildlife Feeding
Forsyth County's animal code has no general ordinance against feeding backyard wildlife, but it bars keeping or harboring wild animals (Sec. 6-54) and prohibits public-nuisance conditions (Sec. 6-9). North Carolina's Wildlife Resources Commission regulates feeding and taking of native wildlife statewide.
Wildlife Feeding: No County Ban, but Wild-Animal Keeping Barred
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 6-54
It is unlawful for any person or business to possess, harbor, or have an inherently dangerous exotic mammal, an inherently dangerous reptile, or a wild animal.
Pet Limits
Forsyth County's animal code sets no flat numeric limit on how many dogs or cats you may keep. Instead, keeping animals so as to create a public nuisance is prohibited (Sec. 6-9), and every dog and cat must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated. Winston-Salem and towns may set stricter numeric limits.
No Fixed Pet Cap; Nuisance-Numbers Rule Applies
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 6-9
It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian to permit his or her animal, or an animal in his or her care to create a public nuisance. Public nuisance is defined as damaging, soiling, or defiling community or neighborhood private or public property... causing unsanitary or offensive conditions.
Cat Rules
Cats in Forsyth County must be licensed (Sec. 6-10) and rabies-vaccinated at three months or older (Sec. 6-25). Cats are covered by the running-at-large rule (Sec. 6-13) just like dogs, so owners may not let a cat roam. Cats need not wear a rabies tag, but proof of vaccination is
Forsyth County Cat Rules: Rabies Shots, License & Leash
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 6-25
It shall be unlawful for any person having possession, custody, control, or ownership of an animal to fail to provide a current rabies vaccination for any dog, cat, or ferret three (3) months of age or older. Dogs must wear a rabies tag. Cats and ferrets are not required to wear a rabies tag.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Forsyth County has no blanket spay/neuter mandate, but any dog the department of public health or FCSO declares dangerous or potentially dangerous, or that bites a person or animal without provocation, must be spayed or neutered within 30 days. FCSO enforces the deadline and can demand proof of the procedure on request.
Forsyth County Mandatory Spay/Neuter for Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code § 6-16
In the event that a dog is declared to be a "dangerous dog" or "potentially dangerous dog" by the department of public health or FCSO, or has bitten a human or animal without being provoked, the dog's owner shall have the dog spayed/neutered within thirty (30) days of said event and shall provide proof that the dog has been spayed/neutered to FCSO upon request.
Animal Ordinances by City in Forsyth County
1 cities in Forsyth County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Forsyth County ordinances
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