Is it legal to own a bull in Charlotte? What city code says about livestock

Evan Moore
·2 min read
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The saga of a 900-pound longhorn bull that escaped in Charlotte last Monday came to an end on Friday when it was killed by a hired hunter, police said Saturday.

The Moores Chapel Road area is near where the bull escaped when its owner tried to protect the animal by moving it from a pasture to an enclosed area, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Police latercited the owner of the bull for failing to restrain an animal and for creating a nuisance, according to a news release by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care & Control Division.

A lead Animal Care & Control officer has been assigned to investigate “permits, licenses or agriculture exceptions,” police said.

Though Charlotte is an urban area, it is legal to own a bull, but there are requirements to keep and maintain one on your property.

Who can own a bull in Charlotte?

In Charlotte, it is legal to own a bull, or any other livestock, with a permit, according to the city code.

The city code defines livestock as “all animals of a domesticated, agricultural nature, including, but not limited to, equine animals, bovine animals, sheep, goats, llamas, and swine.”

Livestock owners must abide by the following rules set by the city code:

  • Animals must have adequate shelter to protect them from the elements.

  • The shelter must be kept clean and free of animal excrement and objectionable odors.

  • Shelters for cows and other large livestock must be kept a minimum of 75 feet from a property line.

  • Large livestock must have a minimum pasture area of two acres.

Owners who slaughter livestock must do so “in a humane and sanitary manner,” according to the city code. It also cannot be done in the view of any public area or adjacent to any property owned by another person.

Is it legal to ride a bull in Charlotte?

Charlotte city code prohibits bull owners from riding any animal in a careless or reckless manner through any street, alley, or highway.

City law also prevents owners from driving any loose animal and knowingly allowing animals to roam free on streets, alleys, or highways.

How to apply for a livestock permit in Charlotte

Applications for livestock permits in Charlotte can be completed online at charlottenc.gov. The application fee is $40 and must be renewed annually.

Once your application is submitted, an inspector will contact you to advise the next steps, according to the city.

During the application process, any previous calls for nuisance or cruelty will be looked into and considered when making final approval decisions.