(A) No person may keep within the town any permissible wild animal except in accordance with a permit issued pursuant to this section.
(B) The applicant for a permit under this section shall supply to the Administrator any information deemed by the Administrator to be reasonably necessary to determine whether a permit shall be issued. The applicant shall also pay a permit application fee of $15.
(C) No permit may be issued for any wild animal unless the owner thereof has also obtained a permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission authorizing him or her to keep such an animal, except where the WRC is determined not to have regulatory authority over the species involved.
(D) After compliance with division (E) below, the Administrator shall issue the permit required by this section unless he or she finds that:
(1) The applicant has failed to comply with divisions (B) or (C) above;
(2) The animal for which the permit is requested poses a substantial danger of harm to any person, animal or property;
(3) The animal for which the permit is requested is likely to or does interfere seriously with the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties because of offensive noise or odor or for other reasons; or
(4) The animal for which the permit is requested otherwise constitutes a threat to the public health or safety.
(E) Before issuing a permit under this section, the Administrator shall notify the applicant and the applicant's immediate neighbors, by any convenient means, of a date and time when they may be heard on the question of whether a permit should be issued. After the hearing, the Administrator shall set forth in writing his or her reasons for the issuance or denial of the permit and shall furnish a copy thereof to any person requesting the same.
(F) A permit issued in accordance with this section may be revoked by the Administrator after notice and hearing, for any reason that would have justified denial of the permit as set forth in division (D) below.
(G) If the Administrator denies or revokes a permit in accordance with this section, he or she shall notify the owner of the animal of his or her right to appeal the decision in accordance with § 96.06 below.
(H) This permit shall be valid for 1 year from the date of issuance.
(1981 Code, § 10-4) (Ord. passed 2-26-2001; Am. Ord. passed 2021) Penalty, see § 96.99