Animal Ordinances in New Castle County, DE (2026)

New Castle County Code § 4.02.004

It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant or other person in control of a property to raise, breed, keep, shelter or harbor any cattle, poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, waterfowl, guinea hens, chickens, turkeys, donkeys, quail, doves, llamas, ... and other like animals on a parcel of land which is less than one (1) acre in total area and located in any residentially zoned district, a...

New Castle County Code § 4.02.001

Restraint means any dog secured by a leash or lead not exceeding twenty (20) feet in length, within the real property limits of its owner(s), or within a vehicle being driven or parked on the streets. ... All dogs shall be kept under restraint, as defined in Subsection A, at all times.

New Castle County Code § 4.02.001.A

Vicious dog means any dog: 1.Which, when unprovoked... approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks or any public grounds or places; 2.With a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked...to endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; 3.Which bites, inflicts injury, assaults or otherwise attacks a human being or domestic ani...

New Castle County Code § 4.02.004

It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant or other person in control of a property to raise, breed, keep, shelter or harbor any cattle, poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, waterfowl, guinea hens, chickens, turkeys, donkeys, quail, doves, llamas, raccoons, muskrats, nondomesticated mammals, game fowl, pigeons, pheasants, peacocks, foxes, minks, exotic animals, wild animals, game animals ...

New Castle County Code § 4.02.003

Any person who is the owner of or who has responsibility for one (1) or more dogs or cats shall immediately remove, in a sanitary manner, any fecal matter deposited by such dog or cat upon any street, sidewalk or park or upon any property without the consent of the owner or tenant of such property. It shall not be a violation of this Subsection if such fecal matter is removed within one (1) hour.

New Castle County Code § 4.02.001(B)(1)(e)

e. Dog tags. Each issued license will be accompanied by either a metal tag or an alternative method of identification, such as, but not limited to, a microchip or tattoo. ... Dog tags may be removed when the dog is licensed as a kennel or retail dog outlet and is housed in an enclosure or a pen.

New Castle County Code § 4.02.001

Retail dog outlet means any premises where dogs are sold, or offered or maintained for sale, on a retail basis... Each owner of a retail dog outlet in the County shall apply to the County for a retail dog outlet license on or before March 1st of each calendar year... The application for a license shall be accompanied by a license fee of seventy-five ($75.00) dollars.

New Castle County Code § 40.03.522, Table 40.03.522

Veterinary services, pet grooming 3.5 —-

New Castle County Code § 40.03.314(A), (D)

A.These are special uses and may be permitted by the Board of Adjustment pursuant to the standards in Section 40.31.430. The use may support local agricultural activity. ... D.A new or legally existing veterinary office, clinic or hospital may have accessory kennels associated with the medical facility. A commercial kennel operating independent of the veterinary services offered shall comply wi...

New Castle County Code § 24.01.011

No person shall, in any park, set a trap, snare, shoot, injure, annoy, disturb or poison any wild animal or bird or injure or destroy any nest. When deemed necessary by the State Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife, the County Executive may permit controlled hunting to maintain a healthy deer population at County facilities.