(A) The permit may be suspended by the ASO upon a finding of any 1 or more of the following:
(1) That the permit was issued to a permittee not entitled thereto under this subchapter;
(2) That the permittee’s enclosures do not comply with this subchapter, or that the permittee has otherwise violated the provision of this subchapter;
(3) That 1 or more animals have been brought in the county or kept by the permittee without first obtaining a permit;
(4) That the permit application contained false or misleading information, or failed to disclose a material fact pertinent to the application;
(5) That the permittee does not possess all licenses or permits required by the State of North Carolina and the United States Government;
(6) That the permittee has failed to report an escape;
(7) That the permittee does not possess and have the ability to promptly utilize equipment required by § 90.077 of this subchapter; and/or
(8) That the permittee has in any way violated or failed to comply with any other requirements and provisions contained within or referenced with this subchapter.
(B) (1) The permittee shall be notified in writing of any suspension, and shall have the right to appeal the decision to the Board of County Commissioners, provided notice of appeal is delivered to the County Manager within 10 days of notification of the suspension.
(2) The Board shall schedule a hearing upon the matter and provide the permittee no less than 48 hours’ notice of the hearing, at which the permittee shall be afforded the opportunity to offer evidence as to why the permit should not be revoked.
(3) Following the hearing, the Board may revoke the permit, or reinstate it with the conditions as the Board shall determine to be reasonable and necessary.
(C) (1) Notwithstanding any provisions contained within this subchapter, the ASO shall not issue a permit to a person, firm or corporation who has previously had a permit revoked, based upon continued violations of any ordinance regulating the keeping of animals in the county.
(2) Denial of any application shall be immediately reported to the County Manager.
(3) Any person denied a permit for this reason shall be entitled to appeal to the Board of County Commissioners within the same time and under the procedure for suspensions as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(4) Upon hearing the appeal, the Board may deny the permit if it finds that the applicant has failed in the past to comply with an ordinance regulating the keeping of wild, vicious and exotic animals and that that conduct was a continuing matter, and that the conduct placed the safety of 1 or more citizens in jeopardy.
(Ord. 28, passed 4-7-1997; Am. Ord. passed 8-19-2020)