Blue Springs, MO Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 215.010 defines a dangerous animal to include any animal that is wild by nature and of a species which, due to size, vicious nature or other characteristics, constitutes a danger to human life, physical well-being or property, whether or not it has ever bitten anyone. That folds species such as big cats, primates or venomous reptiles into the same ban that covers a dog with a bite history. Section 215.170 lays out enforcement: on a written complaint, the Animal Control Officer or a Police Officer investigates, and once the facts show the animal qualifies as dangerous, issues a general ordinance summons for a Section 215.160 harboring violation and gives the owner three days' written notice to remove the animal from the City, with Animal Control notified of its new location.

Section 215.160 separately makes harboring, keeping or owning any qualifying animal illegal citywide, regardless of how long the owner has kept it or whether it is confined. If the animal has already caused serious physical harm or death, or has escaped and is at large, the three-day notice does not apply: the officer must immediately issue the summons and seize and impound the animal, or have it killed if seizure would risk serious harm to a person.