CAROLINA BEACH — Bestill their bleating hearts — ownership of miniature goats is now allowed in one New Hanover County beach town.
On Nov. 12, Carolina Beach town council unanimously approved a text amendment submitted by resident Jasmine Miller to permit the ownership of domesticated miniature goats — or goats with dwarfism. The change allows for one goat for every 2,500 square feet of lot space, with a maximum of three miniature goats per household.
Any outdoor shelters built for them have to be 80 square feet and fall under the town’s UDO on accessory, or additional, structures. Though, the shelters are not a requirement as requested by Miller.
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“I’m a property rights guy and as long as you’re not hurting the neighbors or creating a nuisance…” Mayor Lynn Barbee trailed off with a shrug, signifying at Wednesday’s council meeting he was in favor of goat ownership being added to Section 4-2 of the town’s code of ordinances.
The text amendment covers the harboring and keeping of animals and fowl. Before, the permittance only included dogs, cats, caged birds, Vietnamese miniature pigs, gerbils, hamsters, ferrets, hens, and other animals and fowl of similar size and type, as well as turtles and “nonpoisonous lizards.” Goats were entirely banned from domestic ownership.
The most recent addition to Section 4-2 was the Vietnamese miniature pig in 2019, when council member Joe Benson was mayor.
“I remember pigs coming up here. Little pigs,” Benson said.
Council did not see a reason to deny the miniature goat application if a pig could be allowed.
Council member Mike Hoffer jokingly said his wife even wanted a “house cow.”
“Can we talk about that?” he asked, with a laugh.
Barbee lamented that Hoffer’s Homeowner’s Association wouldn’t take too kindly to the suggestion.
Because the request for the ordinance change stemmed from a noise complaint, a discussion of bleating — the sounds goats make — was brought up by council. Council member Jay Healy questioned if there was an excessive barking ordinance, to which it was confirmed by Community Development Director Jeremy Hardison there is. Under Chapter 18 Article V Sec. 18-136. (b), it indicates “the keeping of any animal or bird that frequently or for long periods of time makes noises that tend to disturb others” are prohibited.
“I can’t imagine that a goat could be any louder than a dog or a chicken,” Mayor Pro Tem Deb LeCompte said.
While bleating can be loud, there was no reason the ordinances couldn’t also apply to miniature goats, Hoffer suggested.
Council shared concerns on whether the county would allow miniature goats, to which town staff did not have a clear response. However, a county spokesperson told Port City Daily there are no laws banning the ownership of goats and that municipalities had jurisdiction over the matter.
Always a miniature goat lover, Miller owns two named Ruby and Hazel. She bought them this year in May and June, both of which have been designated emotional support animals by Miller’s therapist. Miller said they improved her quality of life and she spends less time on her phone.
“I have more of a sense of purpose with them,” she said. “I’ve become a ridiculous morning person. I spend a lot of time outside with them and smiling the whole time.”
Miller purchased Ruby after her daughter found an ad for the mini goat on Facebook Marketplace. She learned upon researching the breeds, Ruby needed a friend.
“They’re herd animals,” Miller explained, noting if they keep company with other goats, it ensures they don’t suffer from depression, distress, or overall health issues.
Hazel was six months old when Miller adopted her from a farmer in Burgaw a month after adopting Ruby. At first, Hazel butted heads with Ruby … literally. The headbutting is to establish a “pecking order.” After a few weeks, Hazel warmed up and the two have been inseparable ever since.
“Ruby is kind of Hazel’s emotional support animal,” Miller explained. “Ruby’s fine to go away from Hazel, but if Hazel can’t see Ruby, she starts panicking immediately.”
Miller hadn’t known the town ordinance on allowed animals excluded goats before adopting Ruby and Hazel. She hoped their designation as emotional support animals would be enough for the town to allow her to keep them. She submitted to the town in July her therapist’s letter and waited for a response.
“A few months went by and there was nothing,” she recalled. “So I thought maybe they just swept it under the rug.”
Miller got a letter from the town in September notifying her that emotional support animals would not supersede town code.
Shortly thereafter, a neighbor submitted a noise complaint that cited the sound of goats bleating. The town issued Miller a violation for keeping the goats as a result of the complaint. Port City Daily asked the town of Carolina Beach for the complaint but didn’t receive it by press. According to Miller, she did not receive a fine.
Miller then applied to create a text amendment for $350. The process, she said, was relatively easy to follow, which included meeting with the technical review committee after her application was submitted. The committee is made up of one person from each department of the town.
On Oct. 7, Miller presented to the TRC compelling them to allow miniature goats, but also suggested restrictions. Miller wanted to ensure owners were setting aside enough space to care for the goats. While miniature goats can be used for several different commercial purposes, like angora fur or goat milk, she suggested the ordinance only cover domestic animals, not farm animals.
The outdoor space was necessary, in Miller’s opinion, for a few reasons. While goats can be trained to not urinate inside the house, they often don’t realize when they’re going to defecate. That’s why owners like Miller put diapers on their goats when they’re roaming indoors.
Also, she added, goats are similar to cats, meaning they will jump on furniture and other hard surfaces.
“They’re going to knock over your lamps,” Miller said. “They’re going to try to jump on your kitchen table — you probably don’t want to bring them inside because it’s a little chaos.”
That’s why she suggested outdoor shelters.
Miller said during the meeting with TRC, she worked with the town to put together language to present to the council, though the town gave the presentation on Wednesday, including background, the noise complaint and subsequent violation.
Staff explained the application submission and Miller met with TRC.
Town staff and TRC did not have any disagreements with Miller about the proposal. Though the town did not make a shelter mandatory because they believed property owners have the right to choose what to build on their land.
In favor of the amendment, Barbee encouraged Miller to introduce Ruby and Hazel: “I would like for you to bring a goat someday, or at least invite me over so I can see what a miniature goat looks like.”
“Goats!” Hoffer exclaimed.
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