NC H553

Counties are prohibited from adopting ordinances that regulate standards of care for farm animals, including shelter construction, feed and medicine restrictions, and exercise requirements.

Cities are prohibited from adopting ordinances that regulate standards of care for farm animals, with the same restrictions applying to shelter, feed, medicine, and exercise standards.

Farm animals covered by these prohibitions include cattle, oxen, bison, sheep, swine, goats, horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, hinnies, llamas, alpacas, lagomorphs, ratites, and poultry (poultry flocks of more than 20 birds in city ordinances).

The act became effective upon passage on August 5, 2015.