Animal Ordinances in Pender County, NC (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Pender County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Pender County it is unlawful for any owner or keeper to let a dog or cat run at large, off the owner's property and outside the five forms of restraint the code recognizes: leash or tether, a controlled vehicle, a secure enclosure, a secure dwelling, or effective voice control. Hunting dogs are exempt while actively hunting or training under supervision.
Dog and Cat At-Large Law in Pender County
Some RestrictionsPender County Code §§ 6-2, 6-6
Restraint. ... Any animal is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter if it: (1)Is controlled by means of a chain, leash, electronic device, or other tether;(2)Is within or on a vehicle driven or under the control of the owner or his agent;(3)Is locked within a secure enclosure and cannot exit without assistance;(4)Is locked within the dwelling or outbuildings of the owner and cannot ...
Breed Restrictions
Unincorporated Pender County does not ban dog breeds; instead section 6-35 lets the sheriff declare any individual dog dangerous based on its behavior, after which the owner must keep it in a locked building or enclosure, or muzzle and leash it on a four-foot leash off the property, sterilize it within 30 days, and post a two-foot-square warning sign.
Dangerous Dog Rules in Pender County
Significant RestrictionsPender County Code § 6-35
(a)It shall be unlawful for any owner or other person to possess or harbor a dangerous dog, as defined in this chapter, within the county. ... (3)Such dog shall be sterilized within 30 days of the date the dog was declared dangerous by the sheriff or if the declaration by the sheriff is timely appealed, then such sterilization shall occur within 30 days of the date the appeals board determines ...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Pender County bans possessing or harboring an inherently dangerous wild animal under section 6-131, covering non-domestic cats larger than a house cat, primates, bears, wolves, large or venomous reptiles, and other non-domesticated carnivores. Licensed zoos and temporary circuses or fairs are exempt from the ban but must still follow other county rules.
Dangerous Wild Animal Ban in Pender County
Heavy RestrictionsPender County Code §§ 6-2, 6-131
The term "inherently dangerous wild animals" applies to the following animals which are inherently dangerous to persons or property and which include, but are not limited to: all felines, other than the domestic house cats (including, but not limited to lions, tigers and leopards), nonhuman primates, bears, wolves, reptiles that are venomous or weigh 25 pounds or more (excluding all turtles), a...
Cat Rules
Unincorporated Pender County requires every dog, cat, or ferret four months or older to carry a current rabies vaccination under section 6-60, but section 6-61 specifically exempts cats and ferrets from the collar-and-tag requirement that applies to dogs. Cats are still subject to the county's at-large prohibition and nuisance rules, and impounded cats are scanned for a microchip within 24 hours.
Cat Rabies and At-Large Rules in Pender County
Light RestrictionsPender County Code §§ 6-60, 6-61
It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccination against rabies (hydrophobia) for any dog, cat or ferret four months of age or older. ... It shall be unlawful for any dog owner or keeper to fail to provide the dog with a collar or harness to which a current rabies tag issued under this section is securely attached. Cats and ferrets shall be exempt from wearing ...
Microchipping
Pender County does not mandate microchipping, but section 6-8 makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor to remove or destroy a dog's collar, tag, tattoo, microchip, or any other article proving ownership, punishable by a $50.00 to $500.00 fine. Once an animal reaches the county shelter, section 6-94(a) requires staff to scan it for a microchip within 24 hours of impoundment.
Microchip Rules for Pets in Pender County
Light RestrictionsPender County Code §§ 6-8, 6-94
It shall be unlawful to remove or destroy any identifying articles including collars, tattoos, tags, microchips or any other article used to prove ownership of a dog. Violation of this section shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no less than $50.00 and not more than $500.00. ... Shelter staff will scan each animal for a microchip as soon as the animal is impounded or within 2...
Bird Protection
In unincorporated Pender County's parks, it is unlawful to hunt, shoot, injure or molest any bird or animal, and no one may possess a wild bird or animal there. The rule is narrow: it protects wildlife inside county park boundaries, not birds generally across the unincorporated county.
Pender County Bans Harming Park Birds
Some RestrictionsPender County Code §§ 28-33, 28-48
Sec. 28-33. - Mistreatment/hunting of animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt, shoot, injure or molest any bird or animal, nor shall any person have any wild bird or animal in his possession within any park. ... ... Sec. 28-48. - Enforcement; penalties. (a)This division shall be enforced by park personnel or their designee and any authorized law enforcement officer within their jur...
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