Baldwin Park, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Exotic and wild-animal keeping in Baldwin Park is governed by the Los Angeles County animal ordinance, adopted through Municipal Code Sec. 92.01. Under County Code Sec. 10.28.060, a person cannot keep a wild animal within the department's jurisdiction without first obtaining a license, and failing to do so is a misdemeanor; the same section exempts ordinary pets, specifically birds, domestic rodents (pet mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas), fish, non-venomous reptiles less than six feet in length, and rabbits. Wild animals that are licensed must be properly confined and not allowed at large (County Code Sec. 10.32.080), and enclosure and transportation standards apply (Ch. 10.40). The county code also has specific provisions for pygmy/pot-bellied pigs, requiring a license, spay/neuter, and barring breeding in residential zones (Secs. 10.28.061-10.28.062). On top of the local rules, California Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations prohibit keeping many wild species (such as most large cats, bears, primates, and certain reptiles) as pets without a state permit, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a restricted-species list. Because Baldwin Park is densely developed, residents considering any non-traditional pet should confirm both the county-license requirement and state restrictions before acquiring the animal.