Animal Ordinances in Johnston County, NC (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Johnston County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Johnston County Code § 4-9 bars any owner from permitting or negligently allowing a dog to run at large off the owner's property and outside a competent person's direct control. Animal Services enforces the rule countywide in unincorporated Johnston County, with narrow exceptions for sanctioned shows, obedience trials, tracking tests, field training and working hunting dogs. A dog picked up while at large is impounded and can be redeemed only after fees are paid.
Johnston County Dog At-Large and Leash Law
Some RestrictionsJohnston County Code §§ 4-3, 4-5, 4-9
At large means any animal off the property of his owner and not under the direct control of a competent person, including but not limited to stray animals. ... Pursuant to the authority in G.S. 153A-123, unless otherwise provided for within this chapter or by General Statute, any person in violation of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $100.00 for a first offense...
Breed Restrictions
Johnston County does not ban any dog breed by name. Instead, § 4-13 lets the Animal Services Department Head declare an individual dog 'dangerous' or 'potentially dangerous' under G.S. 67-4.1, then layers on county requirements: permanent tattoo or microchip identification, 'Beware of Dog' signage, mandatory sterilization, and a secure enclosure, all within 20 days.
Johnston County Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsJohnston County Code § 4-13
The Animal Services Department Head is designated as the person to be responsible for determiningthat a dog is a "dangerous dog" or a "potentially dangerous dog" as defined in G.S. 67-4.1. The Board of Adjustment is designated as the board to which appeals may be taken pursuant to G.S. 67-4.1(c). When a dog is declared to be potentially dangerous or dangerous, in addition to any requirements of...
Exotic Pets
Johnston County Code § 4-15 makes it unlawful to keep an 'inherently dangerous mammal' anywhere in the county: any non-domesticated member of the dog, cat over 15 pounds, or bear families, or their hybrids. Only licensed research nonprofits, traveling fairs, circuses and carnivals, and mammals registered with Animal Services under an approved confinement plan are exempt.
Johnston County Ban on Inherently Dangerous Mammals
Heavy RestrictionsJohnston County Code §§ 4-3, 4-15
Inherently dangerous mammal means any live member of the canidae, felidae, or ursidae families, including hybrids thereof, which, due to their inherent nature, may be considered dangerous to humans and which include: (1) Canidae, including any member of the dog (canid) family not customarily domesticated by man, or any hybrids thereof ... (a) Unlawful to keep inherently dangerous mammals. I...
Cat Rules
Johnston County has no separate cat license or feral-colony program; instead Chapter 4's animal control rules simply cover cats alongside dogs and ferrets. Section 4-6 requires every cat owner to keep a current rabies vaccination tag on a collar or harness at all times, and § 4-9's at-large ban applies because 'animal' is defined broadly enough to include cats.
Johnston County Cat Collar, Tag and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsJohnston County Code §§ 4-3, 4-6, 4-9
Animal means any live, vertebrate creature, wild or domestic, other than human beings. ... It shall be unlawful for any dog, cat, or ferret Owner to fail to comply with the state laws relating to the control of rabies, and it shall be unlawful for any dog, cat, or ferret Owner to fail to provide such dog, cat, or ferret he owns with a suitable collar or harness for the wearing of the rabies tag...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Johnston County does not require owners countywide to sterilize every dog or cat. What § 4-17(3) mandates is that any dog or cat adopted out of the county Animal Shelter be spayed or neutered before or as a condition of release, and § 4-13(3) separately forces sterilization on any dog declared dangerous or potentially dangerous.
Johnston County Mandatory Spay/Neuter on Adoption
Light RestrictionsJohnston County Code § 4-17(3)
Sec. 4-17. - Impounding animals. Any animal which appears to be lost, abandoned, at large or unwanted, or which is found to be not wearing a currently valid tag in violation of Section 4-8, shall be confined in the Animal Shelter in a humane manner for redemption by the Owner, sale, adoption, or destruction. ... (3) Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. The Animal Services Department shall ...
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