Animal Ordinances in Sampson County, NC (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Sampson County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Sampson County, chickens and rabbits may be kept without a numeric limit as long as the pen meets the Board of Health's sanitary standards, stables must be kept clean, and grazing animals cannot be staked in parks, cemeteries or other public places. The county's 10-animal cap on chickens and rabbits applies only inside municipalities that adopt this ordinance, not the unincorporated county.
Backyard Chickens and Livestock in Sampson County
Light RestrictionsSampson County Code Sec. 4-1-06.A, .B, .C, .E(c)
4-1-06.A Keeping Chickens or Rabbits - Sanitation Requirements It shall be unlawful to keep, house or pen chickens or rabbits on premises which fail to meet sanitary standards established by the Sampson County Board of Health. 4-1-06.B Stables to be Kept Clean Every stable or other place where cattle, horses or animals are kept shall be maintained at all times in a clean and healthful condition...
Dog Leash Laws
When a dog in unincorporated Sampson County is tethered outdoors instead of fenced, County Code § 4-1-02.N(g) sets exact standards: the tether cannot exceed one-tenth of the dog's body weight, must attach to a proper collar or harness rather than the dog's neck, and cannot tangle or block access to shelter and water.
Tether and Restraint Rules for County Dogs
Some RestrictionsSampson County Code § 4-1-02.N(g)
g. Animals that are tethered shall be in accordance with this subsection. 1. The tether is not placed directly round the dog's neck and is attached to a properly fitting collar or harness of nylon or leather worn by the dog; and 2. The weight of the tether does not exceed more than one-tenth of the dog's body weight; and 3. The tether is unlikely to become tangled or twisted; and 4. The tether ...
Breed Restrictions
Sampson County does not regulate dogs by breed; instead County Code § 4-1-03 requires any dog individually declared dangerous or potentially dangerous to be registered with the Sheriff's Office within five days, permitted annually, insured for at least $100,000, and kept muzzled and on a leash no longer than four feet whenever it leaves its owner's property.
Dangerous Dog Registration, Permit and Leash Rules
Significant RestrictionsSampson County Code §§ 4-1-03.E, 4-1-03.F(g), 4-1-03.G
a. Registration. ... Any person owning a dangerous dog as defined by this Chapter or Chapter 67 of the General Statutes, shall register such dog with the Sheriff’s Office within five (5) days of such event which established the dog to be dangerous or may, in lieu of any hearing, register such dog voluntarily, which shall constitute an admission and final determination that the dog is dangerous....
Exotic Pets
In unincorporated Sampson County, keeping wolves, coyotes, bears, wild cats, ten-foot-plus constricting or poisonous reptiles, crocodilians, or primates over twenty-five pounds as pets is unlawful under County Code § 4-1-02.H. The county classifies these species as inherently dangerous regardless of how tame they seem, and the only lawful exception is a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Sampson County Bans Wild and Exotic Pets
Heavy RestrictionsSampson County Code § 4-1-02.H
a. Wild animals dangerous to humans and property. Wild animals are any animals not normally domesticated. For purposes of this chapter, wild animals are deemed inherently dangerous. ... The category of wild animals includes but is not limited to: 1. Members of the Canidae family such as wolves, coyotes, and hybrids of those breeds. ... ... b. Exotic animals dangerous to humans and property. Exo...
Pet Limits
Sampson County sets no blanket limit on how many dogs or cats a household in the unincorporated county may keep. County Code § 4-1-02.Q instead lets any more restrictive zoning district cap pet numbers, and separately confirms landlords keep the right to set their own limits on leased property.
No Countywide Cap on Dogs or Cats
Few RestrictionsSampson County Code § 4-1-02.Q
a. In any area in which the applicable zoning regulations are more restrictive as to the keeping of pets/animals/cats than the requirements of this section, the applicable zoning regulations may restrict the number of cats and dogs in any area covered by such regulations. b. This section shall not be construed to limit the right of any landlord to have the right to impose restrictive limits on ...
Cat Rules
In unincorporated Sampson County, owners must keep every cat currently vaccinated against rabies once it turns four months old and must keep a valid rabies tag on its collar or harness whenever the cat is off the owner's property. An untagged cat found off-property can be impounded immediately by the Sheriff's Office.
Cat Rabies Tag and Vaccination Rules
Some RestrictionsSampson County Code Sec. 4-1-04.A
d. Vaccination required. 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 (4) months of age or older. ... ... h. Unlawful for dog, cat or ferret not to wear Rabies tag. It shall be unlawful for any dog, cat or ferret owner or keeper to fail to provide the dog, cat or ferret with a collar or harness to...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Sampson County will not adopt out a dog or cat from its Animal Shelter unless the animal has already been surgically spayed or neutered, or the adopter agrees to have the surgery done within a deadline set by the Animal Shelter Director under County Code § 4-1-02.M.
Spay/Neuter Required for Shelter Adoptions
Light RestrictionsSampson County Code § 4-1-02.M
a. No dog or cat may be adopted from the Animal Shelter unless the animal has been surgically spayed or neutered, or the adopting owner agrees to do have the animal surgically spayed or neutered in accordance with any time limit imposed by the Animal Shelter Director. b. The Animal Shelter Director shall implement procedures to enforce this section. c. The failure of any person adopting an impo...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Sampson County issues no wildlife rescue permit of its own. County Code § 4-1-02.H(d) instead carves a single exception into its ban on keeping wild or exotic animals: a person licensed by the state Wildlife Resources Commission as a wildlife rehabilitator may lawfully keep such animals in the unincorporated county.
County's Only Wildlife Rehabilitator Exception
Light RestrictionsSampson County Code § 4-1-02.H(d)
d. It is unlawful to keep, harbor, breed, sell or trade any wild or exotic animal for any purpose, except as may be licensed by the state Wildlife Resources Commission under its regulations pertaining to wildlife rehabilitators.
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