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What Do I Need to Know about the Dangerous Wild Animal Ordinance?
The City of Raleigh has an ordinance that prohibits keeping dangerous wild animals within City limits. However, if your animal meets certain criteria, you may keep it if you register it.
The ordinance, No. 2022-395, amends Section 12-3004 of the Raleigh City Code. This means that beginning July 1, 2023, if you have a dangerous wild animal that you acquired before Sept. 3, 2022, you must register it with the City’s Animal Control and pay a fee.
The ban for new owners within City limits to acquire a dangerous wild animal as a pet went into effect on Sept. 3, 2022.
What Is a Dangerous Wild Animal?
A dangerous wild animal is any non-domesticated animal that is:
- normally found in the wild state;
- is inherently dangerous to a person or property; and,
- generally does not live in or about the habitation of humans.
These animals include (but are not limited to) lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, jaguars, cheetahs, wolves, non-human primates, medically significant venomous snakes, crocodilians, and any hybrid or crossbreed of such animals.
A medically significant venomous snake means a venomous or poisonous species whose venom or toxin can cause death or serious illness or injury in humans that may require emergency room care or immediate care of a physician.
Grandfathering Clause on Ownership of Dangerous Wild Animals
A person who was in legal possession of a dangerous wild animal before Sept. 3, 2022, and who is still the legal possessor of the animal, may keep the animal for the remainder of its life. If available, the person must maintain veterinary records, acquisition papers, or other records that establish that the person possessed the animal before Sept. 3, 2022, and present the paperwork to an animal control or law enforcement authority upon request.
The owner has the burden of proving that they possessed the animal before the deadline.
Registration Requirements
A person legally possessing a dangerous wild animal before Sept. 3, 2022, must register it with the Animal Control Unit of the Raleigh Police Department. This requirement does not apply to entities listed as exempt under Section 12-3075(b) (see below).
Registration Form and Requirements
The City will have a registration form (in the permit portal) that owners of dangerous wild animals acquired before Sept. 3, 2022, need to complete. This form will be available beginning on July 1, 2023. The owners also need to pay a fee.
Any person who violates this Section will be subject to a civil penalty of $500 per animal.
Prohibition of Dangerous Wild Animals
It’s unlawful for any person to harbor, possess, keep, maintain, release, transport, or have under their control within the City limits any dangerous wild animal. (Please see above for information on “grandfathered” animals.)
The provisions do not apply to the following:
- AZA-accredited zoos;
- scientific research laboratories;
- veterinarians harboring such animals to provide professional medical treatment;
- educational or scientific institutions (public and private) in the course of their educational or scientific work; or,
- wildlife rehabilitators or others with proper state or federal licenses or permits or wildlife agents in the course of the work for which the Wildlife Resources Commission approves them.
These exemptions apply only if the animals are maintained in a manner that complies with other applicable state and federal regulations.
Impoundment
Any dangerous wild animal that is harbored, possessed, kept, maintained, released, transported, or controlled by any person in violation of the Raleigh City Code will be taken and impounded by the Animal Control Unit of the Raleigh Police Department for the protection of the animal, the public, or both.
Penalties and Reimbursement: Any person who violates this section will be subject to a civil penalty of $500 per animal, along with reimbursement to the City for all costs incurred while impounding, attempting to recapture, shelter, or euthanizing in the event of an escaped dangerous wild animal. Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate offense.
Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and may also be enforced by issuing a civil penalty pursuant to section 14-1005, through injunctive or other equitable relief, or a combination of remedies.