New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Jerry Brewer said there are no limits as long as the animals are all registered and in good health.
“If there was a welfare issue we could step in,” he said.
According to Ken Vafier, senior zoning compliance official with New Hanover County, New Hanover County Zoning Ordinance does not regulate the ownership of domesticated animals as household pets.
“However, if an establishment meets the definition of a kennel, then additional zoning regulations apply,” he said.
The definition of kennel is as follows:
Kennel – An establishment wherein any person engages in business or practice, for a fee, of boarding, breeding, grooming, letting for hire, or training of more than three (3) domesticated animals at any one time; or an establishment wherein any person engages in the business or practice, for a fee, of selling more than one (1) litter of domesticated animals at any one time or the selling of any three (3) individual domesticated animals (not defined as litter herein) at any one time. Domesticated animals, for the purpose of this Ordinance, shall be defined as dogs, cats, and other generally acceptable household pets. Litter, for the purpose of this Ordinance, shall be defined as the progeny resulting from the breeding of two domesticated animals. The following shall not constitute the operation of a Kennel as defined above and in no way shall this provision regulate the following:
(A) The ownership of domesticated animals as household pets;
(B) The ownership of domesticated animals for hunting or tracking purposes;
(C) The ownership of domesticated animals for the purpose of exhibiting at shows, obedience or field trials; and
(D) The ownership of domesticated animals for the purpose of protection or guarding of residences or commercial establishments
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Date posted: December 13, 2012
User-contributed question by:
Anonymous
The city of Wilmington does limit the number of pets you can have. This is handled by Wilmington’s code enforcement department. I believe one is limited to 3 or 4 adult animals.