Bartholomew County, IN Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited species examples
- monkeys, raccoons, foxes, tigers, lions, lynx
- Permit authority
- Animal Control Officer only
- Permit scope
- harmless native infant animal, temporary only
- Fine (paid within 5 days)
- $100
- Court conviction fine
- $100 to $500 per day
Summary
Bartholomew County Code § 92.05(G) bars anyone in unincorporated Bartholomew County from keeping a wild animal as a pet unless the Animal Control Officer permits it. Section 92.01 defines WILD ANIMAL to include monkeys, raccoons, skunks, foxes, poisonous snakes, leopards, panthers, tigers, lions and lynx, plus any other warm-blooded animal normally found in the wild. The Officer may issue a temporary permit only for a harmless native infant animal.
WILD ANIMAL. Any live monkey, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal which can normally be found in the wild state. ... No person shall keep or permit to be kept any wild animal as a pet except as permitted by the Animal Control Officer. The Animal Control Officer is empowered to issue a temporary permit for the keeping and protection of an infant animal native to the county, which is deemed to be harmless.
Full Breakdown
01 of the Bartholomew County Code lists WILD ANIMAL as any live monkey, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other warm-blooded animal that can normally be found in the wild state. 05(G) then makes it unlawful for anyone to keep or permit to be kept any wild animal as a pet in unincorporated Bartholomew County except as permitted by the Animal Control Officer. The Officer's discretion is narrow: the code allows a temporary permit only for the keeping and protection of an infant animal native to the county that is deemed harmless, not for exotic species from outside Indiana such as the listed big cats or primates.
The Animal Control Officer works under the Animal Control Commission, five members appointed by the Board of Commissioners including one County Council representative and one Humane Society representative, and reports to and is supervised by the Board of Commissioners. 06 rabies control, including a mandatory Animal Bite Report to the County Health Department.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild animal as a pet without Animal Control Officer approval draws the $100 Wild Animal fine listed in § 92.99(A) if paid at the County Treasurer's office within five days of the notice. An owner who does not pay in time can be summoned to County Court, where conviction is a misdemeanor fine of $100 to $500, with each day the animal remains unlawfully kept counted as a separate offense under § 92.99(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an exotic pet like a monkey or snake in unincorporated Bartholomew County?
Can the Animal Control Officer ever approve an exotic animal?
What is the fine for keeping a prohibited wild animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bartholomew County
Compare Bartholomew County to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
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