Animal Ordinances in Greenville County, SC (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Greenville County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Livestock and horses are limited by zoning. In R-15, R-20, and ESD-PM districts, horses need at least 1.5 acres with one head per half-acre; in the R-20A district livestock shelters must sit at least 100 feet from property lines. Most residential districts do not allow larger farm animals.
Keeping Livestock and Horses in Greenville County
Some RestrictionsGreenville County Zoning Ordinance § 6:2, Use Condition 14(A)
The minimum lot area upon which horses and ponies may be kept in the R-15, R-20, and ESD-PM districts is 1-1/2 acres. Not more than one head of livestock shall be permitted for each 1/2 acre of lot area except in the R-S district.
Dog Leash Laws
Greenville County makes it unlawful for a dog owner to let the animal off the owner's property unless it is under physical control by leash or similar restraint, under County Code Sec. 4-18(1). The definitions in Sec. 4-11 spell out exactly what counts as running at large versus lawful restraint, including hunting and training exceptions.
Dog At-Large and Leash Rules in Greenville County
Some RestrictionsGreenville County Code Sec. 4-18(1); Sec. 4-11
It shall be unlawful in the county for any animal owner or other keeper of an animal to: (1) Allow his animal to run at large off property owned, rented or controlled by him... Running at large. Being off the premises of the owner or keeper and not under the physical control of the owner or keeper by means of a leash or other similar restraining device. ... Under restraint. An animal shall be d...
Beekeeping
Greenville County's zoning and animal codes set no specific beekeeping rule: there is no hive count, setback, or permit for bees in the county code. Beekeeping is treated as an agricultural activity protected under South Carolina's Right to Farm Act (§ 46-45-70).
Beekeeping in Greenville County
Some RestrictionsSC Code § 46-45-70
No established agricultural facility or any agricultural operation at an established agricultural facility is or may become a nuisance, private or public, by any changed conditions in or about the locality of the facility or operation.
Exotic Pets
Greenville County bans keeping a wild, dangerous or vicious animal as a pet or for display without an annual permit from the animal control office, under County Code Sec. 4-20(a). The county's own definition of wild animal sweeps in big cats, wolf-dog hybrids, venomous snakes over 5 feet, and non-human primates, among others.
Wild Animal Permit Rules in Greenville County
Significant RestrictionsGreenville County Code Sec. 4-20(a), (b)
(a) Prohibition. No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild, dangerous or vicious animal as a pet, for display or exhibition purposes, without first obtaining a permit therefor. (b) Permit applications. ... The applications must be accompanied by a $50 application fee and a $10 fee for each animal. The fee will be paid annually each by July 1.
Cat Rules
Greenville County requires every cat to carry current rabies protection under County Code Sec. 4-14(a). Unlike dogs, cats are excused from wearing a rabies tag under Sec. 4-14(c), but owners must keep proof of vaccination on hand and show it to animal control on request, or face fees if the cat is impounded.
Cat Rabies Vaccination Rules in Greenville County
Some RestrictionsGreenville County Code Sec. 4-14(a), (c)
(a) Rabies vaccination. Every dog and cat shall be inoculated against rabies at a frequency that provides continuous protection from the rabies virus. The rabies vaccination shall be administered in accordance with state law, and the owner shall receive a rabies vaccination certificate and a serially numbered rabies tag. ... (c) Rabies tag exception for cats. Cats are not required to wear a rab...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Greenville County will not let anyone adopt a dog or cat from its animal shelter unless the animal has first been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian. County Code Sec. 4-15(e) ties this requirement to the shelter's adoption process specifically, not to pet ownership generally.
Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule in Greenville County
Light RestrictionsGreenville County Code Sec. 4-15(e)
An impounded dog or cat which remains unclaimed by an owner after 5 business days shall be deemed abandoned, and shall automatically and irrevocably become the sole property of the county to convey, devise, dispose or otherwise destroy as the county sees fit in accordance with this article. Thereafter, such dog or cat may be disposed of humanely or offered for adoption to a suitable home. The a...
Microchipping
Greenville County lets dog owners satisfy the mandatory pet-identification rule with a registered microchip instead of a collar tag, under County Code Sec. 4-14(d). Microchips also count as proof of ownership when animal control tries to reunite an impounded, unidentified dog or cat with its owner under Sec. 4-14(e).
Pet Microchip ID Rules in Greenville County
Light RestrictionsGreenville County Code Sec. 4-14(d)
(d) Pet identification requirements for dogs. (1) All dogs over the age of 3 months must be identifiable by one of the following methods: a. A collar and identification tag displaying the owner's current contact information; b. A registered microchip with up-to-date owner contact information. (2) A rabies tag is not considered a valid form of identification for the purposes of this section and ...
Animal Ordinances by City in Greenville County
1 cities in Greenville County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Greenville County ordinances
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