Ordinance reads that it is unlawful for any person to own or maintain an animal in such a manner to cause a public nuisance. Examples of situations which would constitute a nuisance are:
Having an animal which disturbs the rights of or threatens the safety of a member of the general public or interferes with the ordinary use and enjoyment of their property.
Allowing an animal to damage the property of anyone other than its owner.
Maintaining animals in an environment of unsanitary conditions which results in offensive odors.
Allowing or permitting an animal to bark, whine, howl, crow or cackle in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion so as to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring premises.
Failing to confine a female dog in heat.
Failing to remove feces deposited by a dog on any public street, sidewalk, gutter, park or other publicly owned or private property unless the owner of the property has given permission allowing such use of the property. Dog waste is raw sewage. Roundworms, E. coli, and Giardia are just a few of the many harmful microorganisms that can be transmitted from pet waste to humans. Some can last in your yard for as long as four years if not cleaned up. Children who play outside and adults who garden are at greatest risk of infection. Pet waste is one of the causes of bacterial contamination of streams in Mecklenburg County. The solution is safe and easy: 1) Scoop the poop, 2) put it in a plastic bag, 3) place it in the trash, and 4) wash your hands.
If you have any questions about a possible nuisance situation, please call 311 or 704-336-7600. Please note the following:
ACC 's response to first time complaints will be to notify the owner by mail that we received a complaint concerning their animals and recommendations to remedy the situation. If future calls are submitted, an officer will be dispatched to evaluate the validity of the complaint.
An ACC officer must see or hear the violation when they respond to take any kind of civil action.
Regarding cat nuisances, including colonies, a call must be made to 311 for an officer to come investigate prior to any animal pick up or trapping. The caller will be given deterrent options first. Any healthy, stray cat that is picked up and brought to the shelter by a caller/citizen will be turned away as we do not intake healthy, stray cats. Learn more about the community cat program.