Exotic Pets
Animal Ordinances
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
How Exotic Pets Rules Differ by Place
Montgomery, AL: Montgomery, Alabama Wild Animal Possession Ban
Heavy RestrictionsMontgomery, Alabama bans keeping or possessing any wild animal or wild bird within city limits unless state or federal law specifically permits it. City Code Sec. 4-11 defines a wild…
Vestavia Hills, AL: Vestavia Hills Exotic and Wild Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsVestavia Hills bans keeping any wild or exotic animal on residential property, along with venomous reptiles and any vicious or poisonous animal kept for display. The code names…
Anchorage, AK: Anchorage Bans Wolf Hybrids
Heavy RestrictionsAnchorage makes it a crime to own, possess, keep, harbor, transport, sell, or advertise for sale any wolf hybrid within municipal boundaries, unless state law provides an exception.
Galt, CA: Animals: Exotic Pets
Few RestrictionsCalifornia generally prohibits possession of wild and exotic animals such as large cats, primates, ferrets, venomous reptiles, and many parrots without a CDFW permit. Galt defers to…
Tampa, FL: Tampa Wild/Exotic Pets Follow State FWC Rules
Few RestrictionsTampa does not ban wild or exotic animals as pets outright. Sec. 27-282.27(c) permits keeping them in the city "pursuant to Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission regulations"…
Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Wild or Vicious Animal Confinement
Some RestrictionsBirmingham does not list which exotic species are banned outright; instead it requires that any wild or vicious animal kept in the city be securely confined so it cannot bite or attack…
Exotic Pets Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Arizona
Heavy RestrictionsArizona Game and Fish Commission rules apply uniformly statewide and prohibit private possession of restricted live wildlife including big cats, primates, alligators, and venomous…
Arkansas
Heavy RestrictionsArkansas prohibits private possession of large carnivores, defined as bears, lions, and tigers, acquired after August 12, 2005. Animals lawfully held before that date could be…
California
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia prohibits importing, transporting, or possessing wild and exotic animals classified as restricted species, including ferrets, hedgehogs, monkeys, sugar gliders, and most big…
Colorado
Heavy RestrictionsColorado prohibits private possession of most native and exotic wildlife under Parks and Wildlife regulations. The statewide ban preempts local permission for restricted species across…
District of Columbia
Heavy RestrictionsWashington DC bans keeping wild animals as household pets under D.C. Official Code § 8-1808(j). Only a short list, domestic dogs and cats, rodents, rabbits, cage birds, non-venomous…
Florida
Heavy RestrictionsFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulates exotic and captive wildlife statewide. Possession of Class I, II, and III wildlife requires FWC permits, and state law…
Georgia
Heavy RestrictionsGeorgia statewide law prohibits possession of most exotic and inherently dangerous wild animals without a special permit, preempting local rules that would allow them.
Hawaii
Heavy RestrictionsHawaii has the strictest exotic pet rules in the United States. HRS Chapter 150A and Department of Agriculture rules prohibit importing or possessing most non-native animals…
Idaho
Heavy RestrictionsIdaho prohibits private possession of designated deleterious exotic animals such as big cats, primates, and Russian wild boar without a state permit, applying uniformly across all…
Illinois
Heavy RestrictionsIllinois prohibits private possession of dangerous animals including big cats, bears, wolves, and primates under the Dangerous Animals Act, with limited exempt categories.
Indiana
Heavy RestrictionsIndiana Code 14-22-26 and 312 IAC 9-11 regulate possession of wild and exotic animals, requiring permits from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for Class I, II, and III…
Iowa
Heavy RestrictionsIowa Code Chapter 717F universally prohibits private ownership of dangerous wild animals including big cats, bears, and most primates. The ban applies statewide regardless of municipal…
Kansas
Heavy RestrictionsKansas prohibits private possession of dangerous regulated animals statewide under K.S.A. 32-1301 et seq. The ban covers big cats, bears, and non-native venomous snakes, with limited…
Kentucky
Heavy RestrictionsKentucky prohibits importing, possessing, or transporting designated inherently dangerous wildlife as exotic pets. The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources enforces these rules…
Maine
Heavy RestrictionsMaine prohibits keeping wildlife (including most exotic mammals, large reptiles, and birds of prey) without a permit issued by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Deer…
Maryland
Heavy RestrictionsMaryland Criminal Law Section 10-621 prohibits possession, sale, breeding, or transfer of specified dangerous wild animals statewide, including big cats, bears, nonhuman primates…
Massachusetts
Heavy RestrictionsMassachusetts prohibits private possession of most exotic and wild animals statewide. MassWildlife regulates permits, and the list of prohibited species is uniform across the…
Michigan
Heavy RestrictionsMichigan's Large Carnivore Act prohibits private ownership of big cats and bears statewide. The Wolf-Dog Cross Act bans new wolf-dog hybrids. Municipalities cannot authorize what state…
Minnesota
Heavy RestrictionsMinnesota Statute 346.155 prohibits private possession of regulated animals including big cats, bears, and non-human primates. The law preempts conflicting local rules and applies…
Mississippi
Heavy RestrictionsMississippi prohibits possession of inherently dangerous wild animals such as big cats, bears, wolves, hyenas, and primates without a state permit. The law establishes a statewide…
Missouri
Heavy RestrictionsMissouri RSMo 578.023 universally requires registration of dangerous wild animals such as lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and primates with local law enforcement, and the Large Carnivore…
Montana
Heavy RestrictionsMontana law requires Fish, Wildlife and Parks permits to possess exotic, wild, or roadside menagerie animals. State licensing preempts local exotic pet rules across Montana communities.
Nebraska
Heavy RestrictionsNebraska law prohibits keeping wolves, skunks, bears, and most non-domestic cats statewide regardless of city ordinance. Wild birds and mammals require a captive wildlife permit from…
Nevada
Some RestrictionsNevada takes a negative-list approach to exotic pets. NAC 503.110 bars possession of specific species such as foxes, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and alligators, while primates, most…
New Hampshire
Heavy RestrictionsNew Hampshire RSA 207:14 and Fish and Game rules Fis 800 govern possession of exotic and wildlife species statewide. A permit from the Fish and Game Department is required for most…
New Mexico
Heavy RestrictionsNew Mexico statute 77-18-1 and NMAC 19.35.7 regulate possession of exotic animals statewide. The Department of Game and Fish classifies non-domesticated species into four importation…
New York
Heavy RestrictionsEnvironmental Conservation Law section 11-0512 universally prohibits possessing wild animals such as big cats, bears, wolves, and venomous reptiles as pets across New York.
North Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsNorth Carolina restricts possession of native wildlife under Wildlife Resources Commission rules and sets statewide standards for inherently dangerous animals through county-level…
North Dakota
Heavy RestrictionsNorth Dakota regulates exotic and nontraditional livestock under NDCC 36-01-08.2, requiring state licensing for Category 2 and 3 animals including big cats, bears, and primates. The…
Ohio
Heavy RestrictionsOhio's Dangerous Wild Animal Act preempts local rules by banning private possession of lions, tigers, bears, primates, and other listed species statewide with limited grandfathered…
Oklahoma
Heavy RestrictionsOklahoma regulates ownership of dangerous wild animals through Department of Wildlife Conservation permits, restricting big cats, bears, and certain reptiles statewide regardless of…
Oregon
Heavy RestrictionsOregon ORS 609.305 to 609.335 prohibits keeping non-native cats, bears, primates, crocodilians, and venomous reptiles as pets. The ban applies statewide and supersedes any conflicting…
Pennsylvania
Heavy RestrictionsPennsylvania requires Exotic Wildlife Possession Permits for keeping bears, big cats, wolves, and other dangerous exotic species under Game Commission rules.
Rhode Island
Heavy RestrictionsRhode Island law restricts importing, possessing, and exhibiting wild and exotic animals through DEM permits under Title 4. Many species including big cats, primates, bears, and…
South Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsSouth Carolina bans private possession of large wild cats, non-native bears, and great apes under the 2017 Large Wild Cats, Non-native Bears and Great Apes Act (Title 47, Chapter 2)…
South Dakota
Some RestrictionsSouth Dakota regulates possession of native wildlife and certain non-domestic mammals through SDCL Title 41 (Game, Fish and Parks) and the GFP Commission's administrative rules (ARSD…
Tennessee
Heavy RestrictionsTennessee classifies wild animals into five classes under TWRA rules and prohibits private possession of Class I species like big cats and great apes statewide, regardless of city…
Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code Chapter 822 Subchapter E governs ownership of dangerous wild animals: lions, tigers, bears, primates, and more. Owners must register with their county or…
Vermont
Heavy RestrictionsVermont prohibits possession of unpermitted wild animals statewide under Fish & Wildlife regulations. Exotic species require permits from the Department of Fish & Wildlife, and many…
Virginia
Heavy RestrictionsVirginia regulates importation, possession, and sale of nonnative exotic animals through state wildlife regulations administered by the Department of Wildlife Resources.
Washington
Heavy RestrictionsWashington RCW 16.30 prohibits private possession, breeding, and importation of dangerous wild animals including big cats, bears, wolves, and primates, applying uniformly statewide…
West Virginia
Heavy RestrictionsWest Virginia's Dangerous Wild Animal Act prohibits private possession, breeding, sale, and transfer of listed dangerous wild animals including big cats, bears, primates, and certain…
Wisconsin
Heavy RestrictionsWisconsin bans private possession, breeding, and sale of dangerous exotic animals (nonnative big cats, nonnative bears, apes, and crocodilians) under Wis. Stat. 951.097, enacted by…
Wyoming
Heavy RestrictionsWyoming Game and Fish Commission regulates possession of live wildlife statewide. Many native and exotic species require permits, and several are prohibited as personal pets, with…
Cities & Counties with Exotic Pets Rules
533 locations
Alabama
California
Florida
Other Animal Ordinances Topics
Chickens & Livestock
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Dog Leash Laws
When and where dogs must be on a leash, off-leash park rules, leash length limits, and penalties for dogs running loose.
Breed Restrictions
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
Beekeeping
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
Wildlife Feeding
Rules about feeding wild animals like deer, coyotes, or feral cats, and requirements for securing trash to prevent wildlife encounters.
Pet Limits
Maximum number of cats, dogs, or other companion animals allowed per household, including counts that trigger kennel-license requirements.
Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Requirements that dogs and cats over a certain age be sterilized, with intact-animal permits, exemptions for breeders, and penalties for noncompliance.
Microchipping
Mandates that dogs and cats be microchipped before leaving a shelter or by a certain age, including registration and tag requirements.
Coyote Management
How your city handles urban coyotes, including hazing protocols, feeding bans, and what residents should do when sighting one near homes.
Pet Store Rules
Restrictions on retail pet sales, including bans on commercially bred dogs and cats and rescue-only sourcing requirements.
Pet Groomer Rules
Health and safety standards for commercial pet grooming, including animal-handling certifications, sanitation, and zoning where mobile groomers may operate.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.
Bird Protection
Local rules protecting specific bird species (LAMC §53.55), including penalties for trapping or harming protected species and bird-safe building design.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
CDFW and city permits required to rehabilitate injured wildlife, including the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit program and approved holding facilities.