Dogs in Public
Any dog in public must be kept on a leash not exceeding 12 feet long. Dogs kept on private property must be restrained in such a manner to prevent them from entering entry onto public property or another property. The owner/handler is responsible for and must remove all feces. Dogs are prohibited in The Woods Road fenced in playground.
Dare County Dog Park in Kitty Hawk
The Dare County park located at 900 W. Kitty Hawk Road contains a Dog Park for the use of Dare County residents and/or property owners. The county requires that interested users fill out a registration form and show a current rabies vaccination for each of the dogs that will use the park. Dogs are not allowed in the park until registration has been completed. More information and forms can be found by visiting darenc.gov or by visiting any Parks and Recreation office.
Registration forms are only accepted at the Northern Beach recreation office located at 602 Mustain Street in Kill Devil Hills at the Youth Center.
Dogs on the Beach
Dogs are permitted on public beaches. The owner/handler is responsible for and must remove feces and possess a bag/container for waste removal at all times. From the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. dogs must be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet.
At all other times during the year, dogs must be restrained on a leash retractable to 12 feet. Dogs may be taken off the leash only if they will not disturb other people on the beach. Unleashed dogs must be controlled by the handler, who must remain within 30 feet of the dog at all times. A leash must be with owner/handler at all times.
Violation of any of these rules shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00.
Dog Registration
All dogs (visitors and local) out on any public property must display a current rabies tag.
Local dog owners also need to register their dogs older than 4 months and within 30 days of bringing the dog within the town limits with Dare County. This is an annual registration due by Jan. 31each year. All local dogs must have their Dare County tags secured on their collar when out in public.
Horses and Farm Animals In Kitty Hawk
When most people think of Kitty Hawk, sand beaches and the ocean come to mind. What many people don’t realize is for centuries Kitty Hawk has been a thriving village where residents continue to live a more rural life. Today, Kitty Hawk is one of the only local Towns where residents can choose to have horses, chickens, and other livestock. The Town Council has made a conscious effort to preserve the village lifestyle.
Keeping Horses in Kitty Hawk
In the Town, you must have a minimum of a one acre lot per horse. The maximum number of horses for any parcel is four. Horses must be kept in an enclosure and must be located no less than 20 feet from the boundaries of the property.
If the land requirements are met, horses can be kept within the Town and used for non-commercial purposes, provided that the owner obtains a permit from the Town. An initial registration is required as well as annual registration for each horse every calendar year by January 1. Initial and annual registration forms are below. Applicable fees can be found on the Town fee schedule and are subject to change.
An annual Coggins test is required for each horse. When the Coggins test results are provided to the Town, the annual permit is issued. There are now 20 permitted horses in Kitty Hawk.
Horse owners in Kitty Hawk enjoy riding through the village throughout the year. During the period from May 15 to September 15, horses may be ridden on the beach one-half hour before sunrise until 10:00 am and from 6:00 pm until one half-hour after sunset. After summer season, horses may be ridden on the beach between one half-hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
Commercial use of horses, ponies and mules is prohibited within the Town.
Click Here for Initial Horse Registration Form
Click Here For Annual Horse Registration Form
Keeping Chickens in Kitty Hawk
While the Town of Kitty Hawk does not have any specific regulations regarding keeping chickens, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sponsors the North Carolina Poultry Resource and Education Program (NC PREP) for small flock/backyard poultry owners.
The NC PREP is a voluntary program with the mission of providing educational information to all North Carolina backyard flock owners to improve disease prevention, flock health, and human safety. There are three participation levels you can be involved in as a member of NC PREP. Each level offers benefits based on the information provided when registering with the program.
To find out more, follow the link below.
NC Poultry Education Resources Program
Even though the Town may allow keeping horses and other animals, there can be neighborhood or community association regulations that may prohibit such activity. We encourage any resident who is considering having livestock to contact the Town at 252-261-3552 or info@kittyhawktown.net as well as their community association before making any decisions.