Asheville, NC Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Sec. 3-14 of the Asheville City Code flatly prohibits any person or entity from keeping or exhibiting, or permitting to be kept or exhibited on their premises, a wild animal within the city limits. Sec. 3-4 defines 'wild animal' broadly as any animal normally found in the wild state, particularly feral, dangerous or non-domesticated species that don't typically live around humans, listing bears, non-human primates, all felines other than the domestic house cat, deer, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, turkeys, venomous snakes, elephants, camels, coyotes, wolves, and any hybrid or crossbreed sharing those characteristics.

The ban has three narrow exceptions: an exhibition or educational outreach program run by a zoo or aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; a wildlife sanctuary or wildlife rehabilitator properly licensed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission; and a university, college, laboratory or other research facility registered under the federal Animal Welfare Act. The prohibition sits alongside Sec. 3-12(f), which separately bars trapping a wild animal within city limits without a state Wildlife Resources Commission permit and forbids anyone but an animal control officer or other authorized person from trapping, handling, keeping, transporting or destroying rabies-vector species such as foxes, coyotes, skunks, bobcats, beavers, groundhogs and bats.

A pre-existing exotic pet tied to a lawfully established, non-conforming use may continue under Sec. 3-24, but its numbers can never be expanded even if the property itself expands.