Buncombe County, North Carolina

• Cats and dogs over the age of 6 months must be spayed or neutered.
• Guardians of unaltered animals are required to hold a $100 unaltered animal permit.
• Citations will be issued to those guardians of unaltered animals who do not hold a permit if they are also in violation of any other aspect of the county’s ordinances pertaining to animals.
• Service and police dogs, animals kept in the county for less than 30 days, and those certified by a veterinarian to be unfit for alteration because of medical conditions are exempt from the ordinance.

Ordinance # 03-12-16

Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 “Animals” of the County Code of Ordinances

Dog and Cat Overpopulation

Spaying and neutering requirements; unaltered animals permit required. No person shall own or harbor any dog or cat over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered unless such person holds an unaltered animal permit issued for such animal by the department of animal services, or any successor agency authorized by law to issue such a permit, except: (a) persons who own or harbor service dogs or police work dogs; (b) individuals who are non-residents of Buncombe County and reside temporarily therein for a period not to exceed thirty days; (c) animal shelters and veterinary hospitals; and (d) persons who own or harbor a dog or cat and who are in possession of a certification signed by a licensed veterinarian stating that such animal is unfit to be spayed or neutered because such procedure would endanger the life of such animal.

Obtaining an Unaltered Animal Permit

Applicants must apply for permits required by this section with the Director of Animal Services. The fee for an unaltered animal permit shall be one hundred dollars. A tag will be issued identifying the animal as an unaltered animal and must be displayed at all times.

Effective date February 1, 2004. For 60 days after the effective date, warning citations will be issued for unaltered animals without a permit. After April 1, 2004, citations will be issued to owners of unaltered animals not holding a permit. If the animal is altered within 30 days, the citation will be waived. A citation will only be issued under this section if the animal is in violation of another provision of Chapter 6.