How Many Dogs Can You Have in North Carolina?
North Carolina doesn’t restrict the number of dogs you can own, but breaking leash laws can result in up to $500 in fines.
Written by Bee Davis
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
While North Carolina doesn't have restrictions on the number of dogs you can own, there are provisions in place for leash laws, permitting dogs to roam free, and so-called “dangerous dogs” that can accrue penalties upon violation.
Avid dog lovers know that you can never have too many dogs, that is as long as you can provide for them and keep them safe and healthy.
North Carolina
seems to agree, as there is no statewide mandate that limits the number of dogs you can own. There are, however, certain provisions for dog ownership meant to keep residents safe and unperturbed by noise and odor. Specific legislation around dog ownership may vary by municipality, but there are a few state standards in place across all counties.
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Does North Carolina have laws limiting how many dogs you can own?
How many dogs you can own in North Carolina depends on where you live. For example, the town of
Chapel Hill
limits dog and cat ownership to one each per household. Or in Hickory
, lots that are less than 20,000squ ft are limited to 2 dogs, requiring any additional dogs to pass a “Canine Good Citizen” training and certification.Other municipalities may require permits for large amounts of animals kept outside.
Charlotte
, for example, requires a permit for more than 3 dogs or cats (in any combination) to be kept primarily outside. This is mainly to ensure the noise or odor of your pets won’t bother your neighbors. Other towns may have laws around owning large domestic animals like cows, sheep, and swine. But other than that, there is no set state limit to how many dogs you can own. There are, however, plenty of laws around how your dogs must behave to be legal in your city.
Are there any dog breeds outlawed in North Carolina?
In terms of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), North Carolina is fairly open to all breeds. Several towns have adopted BSL for Pitbulls, including Indenton, where they’re completely illegal, and Lumberton, where pitbull owners are required to register their dogs and keep them in indoor kennels.
Other than that, there are no state laws that make specific dog breeds illegal to own in North Carolina.
There are, however, restrictions around what’s considered a “dangerous dog”. The definition of a dangerous dog is any dog that has:
- Attacked or inflicted injury on a person unprovoked
- Been held for dogfighting
- Engaged in “dangerous behavior”, such as attacking other animals, biting, or leaving the owner’s property to menace neighbors and passersby
What are the leash laws in North Carolina?
Any dog owner knows they can become expert escape artists when they’re chasing something interesting. But what are the laws around keeping dogs on a leash in North Carolina?
Well, there are no statewide leash laws in North Carolina, but there are provisions that limit dogs running at large. In general, no dog over 6 months is allowed to run at large at night when not accompanied by the owner.
Specific municipalities will have their own leash laws. For example, the city of Charlotte requires dog owners to:
- Leash their dog or have it under physical control at all times while walking through public spaces including parks that aren’t designated dog parks.
- Leash or otherwise fence their dog on their own property, unless accompanied by an adult (18yrs or older).
Leash laws are meant to protect your friends and neighbors from dangerous behavior on behalf of your dog. If you break a leash law and your dog ends up doing something harmful or dangerous, you could get in serious trouble.
Penalties for breaking dog laws in North Carolina
Like most law violations, the penalty for breaking dog laws in North Carolina depends on the severity of the situation.
Penalties for breaking Charlotte’s leash laws, for example, will start with a $50 fine for the first offense, and end in up to $500 in fines and seizure of the animal with continued violations.
In terms of “dangerous dogs” and attacks, North Carolina operates under a policy of strict liability. Any owner whose dog injures another person or destroys another’s property is fully liable for any expenses for injuries, damage to property, or injury to another animal.
Where to find affordable insurance in North Carolina
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