Yuba County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed only as
- Sanctuary or rehab facility
- Permit required
- Administrative use permit
- State licensing
- CA Dept. Fish and Wildlife
- Scope
- Countywide, all zone districts
Summary
Unincorporated Yuba County limits keeping of wild animals to licensed wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities, meaning private residents cannot keep exotic or wild animals as household pets anywhere in the county.
(4)Regulations pertaining to wild animals (county-wide). The keeping of wild animals shall be limited to wildlife sanctuaries or wildlife rehabilitations facilities. All such facilities shall obtain approval of an administrative use permit and any required licenses from Yuba County Animal Care Services and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Yuba County's animal-keeping standards treat wild animals differently from ordinary household pets: rather than setting a permit path for private owners, the Development Code confines wild-animal keeping to wildlife sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation facilities. Those facilities still need county approval, an administrative use permit, plus any licenses required by Yuba County Animal Care Services and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Because the standard applies countywide and doesn't create a private-pet track at all, a resident in unincorporated Yuba County who wants to keep a wolf, big cat, primate, or similar wild species has no legal path to do so outside a licensed sanctuary or rehab operation.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild animal as a private pet without sanctuary or rehab status and the required administrative use permit is a zoning violation, enforceable through Yuba County code enforcement and state wildlife law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an exotic or wild animal as a pet in unincorporated Yuba County?
What permits does a wildlife sanctuary need in Yuba County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yuba County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yuba County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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