SECTION .0500 - VISITOR CONDUCT

07 NCAC 14B .0501          VISITOR CONDUCT AND PROHIBITED ITEMS

(a)  Persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guest at least 16 years old at all times. The supervising guest shall not permit the minor in their care to do any act prohibited by Zoo regulations.

(b)  The playing, production, or emission of music and other audio in such a manner as to disturb other persons or animals is prohibited on Zoo grounds.

(c)  A person shall remain on designated pathways in publicly accessible areas at all times. No person shall obstruct designated pathways, sidewalks, entrances, driveways or plazas.

(d)  No person shall access or enter any areas designated for Zoo staff only, except where such access is part of an authorized Zoo program.

(e)  A person must wear a shirt and shoes at all times while on Zoo grounds.

(f)  Public nudity, including public nude bathing, is prohibited while on Zoo grounds. This Rule does not apply to the enclosed portions of public restrooms.

(g)  A person shall not bathe, wade, dive, scuba dive or swim in any waters on Zoo grounds.

(h)  No one except a Zoo employee or agent acting in performance of their duties shall bathe animals or wash vehicles or clothing on Zoo grounds.

(i)  No one shall dispose of household or business refuse on Zoo grounds.

(j)  No person shall wear a costume that contains items that resemble or could be used as weapons or firearms or that contains sharp objects. No person over the age of 13 shall wear a mask, face paint, or costume that fully covers their face, except employees, agents, or contractors of the Zoo engaged in authorized Zoo programming. Masks must provide unobstructed peripheral vision at all times with openings that allow the eyes to be fully seen.

(k)  The Zoo Director or their designee may limit, restrict, or impose conditions on the use of strollers, wagons, or other similar conveyances or close any Zoo pathway, exhibit, road, trail, or portion thereof to the use the strollers, wagons, or other similar conveyances based on considerations for public health and safety, animal health and safety, natural and cultural resource protection, and event and program management.

(l)  Visitors shall not use bags, purses, or any other container to conceal prohibited items. The Zoo Director or their designee may limit, restrict, or impose conditions on the use of bags, purses, or any other container for public health and safety, animal health and safety, natural and cultural resource protection, and event and program management, including searching visitor's bags for prohibited items.

(m)  Visitors are not permitted to bring or use the following items on Zoo grounds:

(1)           balloons;

(2)           athletic equipment;

(3)           horns, whistles, radios, speakers, megaphones and other similar noise makers;

(4)           paints, aerosols, sprays, and liquid art materials, except where use of art materials is part of an authorized Zoo program;

(5)           easels, except where use of an easel is part of an authorized Zoo program;

(6)           objects or toys that resemble weapons or firearms;

(7)           plastic disposable straws;

(8)           lawn chairs or other portable seating devices not required for a disability, except where use of a lawn chair or other portable seating device is part of an authorized Zoo program;

(9)           mace, pepper spray, electroshock devices and other similar self-defense devices;

(10)         laser pointers, light projectors, strobe lights, spotlights, flashlights, and other similar devices, except where use of such an item is part of an authorized Zoo program;

(11)         glass containers;

(12)         grills and other cooking or food service equipment;

(13)         bulk food containers, including cardboard boxes, beverage cases, multipack retail cartons, party trays, and similar items;

(14)         coolers or rolling bags larger than 18 inches long by 14 inches wide by 15 inches high;

(15)         skateboard, scooters, hoverboards, rollerblades, skates, bicycles, tricycles, shoes with built-in wheels, and other similar wheeled transportation devices, except those used to assist individuals with disabilities or in accordance with Rule .0609 of this Subchapter;

(16)         trailers, towed attachments, add-on cargo carriers, hand trucks, dollies, and other similar commercial or industrial conveyances;

(17)         boats, rafts, surf boards, personal watercraft, canoes or any other floating vessel, except where use of such an item is part of an authorized Zoo program;

(18)         metal detectors;

(19)         drones or any other aviation apparatus, whether manned or unmanned, except where use of such apparatus is approved in writing by the Zoo Director or their designee prior to the use and used for purposes that support the mission of the Zoo;

(20)         remote-controlled toys and other similar devices; and

(21)         strollers, wagons, and other similar conveyances larger than 31 inches wide by 52 inches long.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B-135.204(a);

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Transferred w/change from T15.12E Eff. August 1, 1982;

Amended Eff. October 1, 1984;

Transferred from 15A NCAC 22B .0501 Eff. April 1, 2017;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. May 1,

2018;

Amended Eff. September 1, 2026.