Caldwell, ID Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Caldwell's land use code section 10-02-15 frames what residents may keep by listing specific pets (such as cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, rabbits, non-prohibited reptiles, and non-prohibited rodents) and livestock, with the planning director or designee deciding whether 'equivalent small animals or poultry' qualify. The published city materials reviewed did not set out a standalone Caldwell list of banned exotic species, so possession of exotic and wild animals is governed principally by Idaho state law. Two state frameworks apply. First, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) regulates 'deleterious exotic animals' under IDAPA 02.04.27; this covers many large and small cats, non-native canids, most non-human primates, and other species ISDA deems dangerous to people, livestock, agriculture, or wildlife, and it requires an ISDA possession permit before acquiring such an animal. Second, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game regulates captive wildlife under Idaho Code Title 36 and its rules: big game animals such as deer cannot be propagated or held in captivity without a license or permit from the director, while many other native mammals, birds, and reptiles may be held only with proof they were lawfully obtained, and threatened or endangered species are off-limits. The practical result is that common, non-prohibited reptiles and rodents are allowed in Caldwell as pets in limited numbers, but anyone seeking a more unusual exotic or any native wildlife should verify state permit requirements with ISDA and Idaho Fish and Game before acquisition.