ATTACHMENT 3

Excerpt from the Town of Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances:

Sec. 4-10. Keeping certain animals in town.

(a)   Wild and dangerous animals.  It shall be unlawful to keep or cause to be kept wild and dangerous animals as described in section 4-1(j) within the town limits. Wild animals within the town temporarily as part of a bona fide circus shall be exempt. Any such animal shall be confined within a secure building or enclosure or under restraint. 

(b)   Animals which may pose a risk to the health or safety of the public.  The custodian of an animal which may pose a threat to the public must: 

(1)   Provide signs, warnings and notifications; and restraints to restrict the access of said animal to the public.

(2)   Provide safe access to those persons who have legal authority to be on the custodian's property.

(c)   Cows, swine, goats, horses, sheep, cattle.  It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any cow, swine, goat, horse, sheep or cattle within the corporate limits of the town on any lot or parcel of land less than four (4) acres in size, and within one hundred (100) feet of a residence other than that of the custodian. 

(d)   Chickens.

(1)   No person shall allow his or her chickens to run at large within the corporate limits of the town.

(2)   It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than twenty (20) chickens within the corporate limits of the town.

(3)   Chickens must be kept a minimum of thirty (30) feet from the nearest residence other than that of the owner.

(4)   All chicken houses and lots must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

(5)   It shall be unlawful to raise chickens for commercial purposes within the corporate limits of the town.

(e)   Noisy fowl.  It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain on any premises or lot within the town any rooster, duck, goose or other such bird or fowl that by loud and habitual crowing, quacking or honking or in any other manner constitutes a public nuisance. Failure to abate such nuisance within two (2) days after written notice to do so from the town manager shall be unlawful. 

(f)   Exotic animals.  It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain on any premises or lot within the town any exotic animal, as described in section 4-1(k), that by loud and habitual noise or offensive odor causes a public nuisance. Failure to abate such nuisance within two (2) days after written notice to do so from the town manager shall be unlawful. Any exotic animal kept in the town limits must be provided with adequate shelter, food and water for its species. 

(g)   Number of dogs.  It shall be unlawful to maintain in one household more than four (4) dogs over the age of three (3) months. 

(h)   The restrictions in section 4-10(a)(b)(c)(d) shall not apply to animals that are at the office of a licensed veterinarian for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment. Animals must be in secure enclosures or under restraint while being transported and while receiving treatment.

(i)   Fighting animals.  It shall unlawful to own or harbor any animal for the purpose of fighting or training for fighting. 

(j)   Animals for which there is no anti-rabies vaccine.  It shall be unlawful to keep animals which are susceptible to rabies and for which there is no anti-rabies vaccine available. 

(k)   Any animal used for bona fide medical, scientific or educational purposes at the University of North Carolina shall be exempt from section 4-10 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 88-10-10/O-1, § 1)