Alpine County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Alpine County addresses exotic animals through both its Animal Control Ordinance and zoning. The zoning AG Agriculture zone lists 'the keeping of exotic animals' as a conditional use requiring a use permit (Section 18.16.030(C)) - it is specifically excluded from the by-right shelter/animal uses permitted under Section 18.16.020(C). The Animal Control Ordinance defines an 'animal menagerie' as 'any place where wild animals are kept or maintained for any commercial purpose, including places where wild animals are boarded, trained or kept for hire' (Section 6.04.020), recognizing wild-animal facilities as a regulated category. Layered on top of local rules, California's Fish and Game Code Section 2118 and California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 prohibit importing, transporting or possessing 'restricted' live wild animals - including many non-native carnivores, primates, certain reptiles and others deemed a threat to native wildlife, agriculture, or public health - except under a permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and that permit is not issued to possess wild animals as pets. The practical result in Alpine County: common restricted exotics cannot be kept as pets at all under state law, and any other exotic-animal keeping in the AG zone needs a County use permit.