10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Guilford County Code Chapter 5 has no county-wide numeric cap on chickens or livestock. Whether you may keep them, and how many, is set by your zoning district under the county Development/Unified Development Ordinance for unincorporated land.
In unincorporated Guilford County, any dog off the owner's premises must be under physical restraint (leash, cord or chain). Dogs may run at large only if fenced or otherwise controlled; cats are exempt from the restraint rule.
Guilford County Code Sec. 5-9
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal, excluding cats, to keep such animal on or off his premises unless such animal is under sufficient physical restraint such as a leash, bridle, cage or similar device.
Guilford County does not ban any dog breed. North Carolina regulates dogs by individual behavior under the state Dangerous Dogs law, not by breed, and the county follows that approach for pit bulls, Rottweilers and all other breeds.
Guilford County Code Chapter 5 does not license or cap backyard beehives. Beekeeping is treated as an agricultural/accessory use under county zoning, and North Carolina encourages it statewide; keep hives from becoming a nuisance to neighbors.
Guilford County prohibits keeping inherently dangerous exotic animals such as bears, big cats and wolves. Ordinary household pets and customary farm animals are exempt, but wild or non-native dangerous species are unlawful in the county.
Guilford County Animal Control (Code Ch. 5, exotic animals)
Ownership of an inherently dangerous animal within the county is unlawful. Examples of inherently dangerous animals are bears, big cats (lion, tigers, panthers, etc.) and wolves.
Guilford County Code Chapter 5 has no blanket ban on feeding wildlife, but feeding that attracts nuisance animals or creates unsanitary conditions can be abated. State wildlife rules govern hunting, baiting and protected species.
Guilford County allows livestock in agricultural and rural residential zoning districts, not county-wide by right. Livestock and fowl must be kept on the owner's premises or under control, and cannot become a nuisance to neighbors.
Guilford County addresses animal hoarding through cruelty, neglect and nuisance enforcement rather than a set pet limit. Animal Services can seize animals kept in unsanitary or inhumane conditions, backed by North Carolina cruelty law.
Guilford County Code Chapter 5 sets no general numeric limit on the number of dogs or cats a household may keep. Keeping more than seven intact female dogs, however, makes you a regulated high-volume breeder needing a permit.
Guilford County Animal Control (Ch. 5, breeder permits)
A high volume dog breeder is defined as a breeder who maintains more than seven intact female dogs during any calendar year.
Guilford County exempts cats from the leash/restraint law, so cats may roam. Cats over four months old must still be vaccinated against rabies, and nuisance and cruelty rules apply to cat owners.
2 cities in Guilford County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Guilford County Ordinance Hub →