Apple Valley, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Apple Valley directly restricts exotic animals through its own Municipal Code (Title 15). The Town Code provides that no person shall have, keep, maintain, breed, sell, trade, or let for hire any wild, exotic, dangerous, or nondomestic animal without first applying to and receiving special authorization from the State of California, Department of Fish and Game (the agency is now the Department of Fish and Wildlife). The code defines a wild animal broadly as any wild, exotic, dangerous, or venomous animal, including mammals, fowl, fish, or reptiles, and including those born or raised in captivity, with specific exceptions: domestic dogs (excluding hybrids with wolves, coyotes, or jackals); domestic cats (excluding hybrids with ocelots or margays); farm animals; horses; rodents; and captive-bred species of common cage birds. This means typical pets such as dogs, cats, horses, ordinary farm animals, pet rodents, and common pet birds are not treated as exotic, but reptiles, venomous animals, wildlife hybrids, and similar nondomestic animals require state authorization before they may be kept in Town. This local restriction sits on top of California's restricted-species scheme (Fish and Game Code Section 2118 and 14 California Code of Regulations Section 671), which independently prohibits possessing many wild animals without a state permit. Anyone considering an unusual pet should confirm both the state restricted-species rules and obtain any required Department of Fish and Wildlife authorization before bringing the animal into Apple Valley.