GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 553

Short Title:        Ordinances Regulating Animals.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives McGrady, Whitmire, Langdon, and Dixon (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly Web Site.
Referred to:	Agriculture.

April 6, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to amend the authority of cities and counties to adopt ordinances regarding animals.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 153A‑121 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(d) This section does not authorize a county to establish standards of care for farm animals, including, but not limited to, the construction, repair, or improvement of farm animal shelter or housing, restrictions on the types of feed or medicines that may be administered to farm animals, and exercise and social interaction requirements. For purposes of this section, the term "farm animals" includes the following domesticated animals: cattle, oxen, bison, sheep, swine, goats, horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, hinnies, llamas, alpacas, lagomorphs, ratites, and poultry."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 153A‑127 reads as rewritten:

"§ 153A‑127.  Abuse of animals.

A county may by ordinance define and prohibit the abuse of animals. This section does not authorize a county to establish standards of care for farm animals, as defined in G.S. 153A‑121(d), including, but not limited to, the construction, repair, or improvement of farm animal shelter or housing, restrictions on the types of feed or medicines that may be administered to farm animals, and exercise and social interaction requirements."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 153A‑131 reads as rewritten:

"§ 153A‑131.  Possession or harboring of dangerous animals.

A county may by ordinance regulate, restrict, or prohibit the possession or harboring of animals whichthat are dangerous to persons or property. No such ordinance shall have the effect of permitting any activity or condition with respect to a wild animal which is prohibited or more severely restricted by regulations of the Wildlife Resources Commission. This section does not authorize a county to establish standards of care for farm animals, as defined in G.S. 153A‑121(d), including, but not limited to, the construction, repair, or improvement of farm animal shelter or housing, restrictions on the types of feed or medicines that may be administered to farm animals, and exercise and social interaction requirements."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 160A‑174 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(d) This section does not authorize a city to establish standards of care for farm animals, including, but not limited to, the construction, repair, or improvement of farm animal shelter or housing, restrictions on the types of feed or medicines that may be administered to farm animals, and exercise and social interaction requirements. For purposes of this section, the term "farm animals" includes the following domesticated animals: cattle, oxen, bison, sheep, swine, goats, horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, hinnies, llamas, alpacas, lagomorphs, ratites, and poultry."

SECTION 5.  G.S.160A‑182 reads as rewritten:

"§ 160A‑182.  Abuse of animals.

A city may by ordinance define and prohibit the abuse of animals. This section does not authorize a city to establish standards of care for farm animals, as defined in G.S. 160A‑174(d), including, but not limited to, the construction, repair, or improvement of farm animal shelter or housing, restrictions on the types of feed or medicines that may be administered to farm animals, and exercise and social interaction requirements."

SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.