Bellflower, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Bellflower Municipal Code Chapter 6.04 (Animal Control) addresses wild and dangerous animals directly. The code provides that no person owning or having custody of any animal or reptile known to be vicious or dangerous, or of any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, wolf, monkey, ape, chimpanzee, bobcat, lynx, wildcat, puma, cheetah, or any animal commonly referred to as a wild species, or any poisonous reptile, shall permit it to be at large in any public place or on private property outside the keeper's enclosed premises. Further, no person may keep any wild or vicious animal, reptile, or serpent even within an enclosed lot unless they first secure a permit issued by the Director. These local rules sit on top of California state law: Fish and Game Code Section 2116 and California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 classify many non-domesticated mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians as restricted species that require a state permit, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife generally does not issue permits to keep restricted wild animals as personal pets. Together these mean most exotic mammals and dangerous reptiles cannot legally be kept as pets in Bellflower.