<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 5-29. - Permit, inspection and enforcement.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Complete applications shall be reviewed and approved or denied within 30 days of the
               date of submittal. Annual permits are valid from the time they are issued until the
               first day of the month of January of the next year after their issuance. The annual
               permit fee will be set by the county board of health. Applicants that hold a license
               issued pursuant to the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act, shall have the fee for such
               license credited towards the licensing fee imposed by <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-28PEKE" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">sections 5-28</a>, and <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-29PEINEN" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">5-29</a>. The support services division commander shall mail out a permit renewal notice to
               each kennel one month before their kennel permit expires.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Kennel permits shall be issued by animal services.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The application must be complete in order for animal services to accept and review
               the application. Prior to administrative approval, animal services may conduct a criminal
               background check of the applicant and property owner.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Within 30 days of submission of the application for a license or permit, animal services
               may conduct an inspection of the kennel.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Animal services shall inspect kennels on an annual basis. The inspection must be during
               business hours. Notice is not required before an inspection. The inspection report
               must list separately each standard set forth in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-28PEKE" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">section 5-28</a> and must require animal services to document whether the facilities comply with each
               standard.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Upon failure by a kennel operator to grant access to animal services to perform the
               annual inspection or discovery of a violation of any provision of <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-28PEKE" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">sections 5-28</a> and <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-29PEINEN" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">5-29</a>, animal services may revoke the permit or require cure of set violations within 30
               days. However, upon a finding of gross abuse or gross neglect, animal services shall
               immediately impound all animals found on the premises.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (g)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The support services division commander, their authorized representative or any law
               enforcement officer who discovers that a person responsible for a kennel does not
               have valid proof of a current kennel permit shall issue that person a citation for
               failure to purchase a permit and cause the person to purchase such kennel permit within
               72 hours. Individuals who fail to purchase the permit within 72 hours shall be issued
               another citation for failure to purchase the required permit. It is the kennel owner
               or operator's responsibility to submit to animal services proof of purchase.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (h)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               All complaints concerning a kennel within the county shall be investigated and addressed
               by animal services. Notwithstanding subsection (f), if any person shall deny animal
               service admittance to his property, upon probable cause, animal service shall be entitled
               to secure from any judicial official with jurisdiction to issue warrants a court order
               granting such admittance.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (i)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Any person who violates any provision of <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-28PEKE" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">sections 5-28</a> and <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-29PEINEN" class="section-link" data-product-id="11337">5-29</a> shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable according to G.S.
               14-4. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. The
               county may also initiate any applicable civil action, such as the seizure of animals
               and/or revocation of a kennel permit.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (j)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The support services division commander or their authorized representative may issue
               a citation for any violation of this article, which subjects the offender to a civil
               penalty in an amount approved by the board of health. This penalty may be recovered
               by the county in the nature of a debt if the offender does not pay the penalty within
               20 days of being cited. Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate
               offense under the article. These citations may be imposed in addition to any and all
               other available civil and criminal remedies and actions.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 9-22-2008; Ord. of 3-12-2012)
               </p></div>