Modoc County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

We reviewed Modoc County Code Title 6 and found no county chapter defining or restricting 'wild animals' or exotic pets; the title covers only dog control and bees. Because there is no specific county exotic-pet ordinance, the controlling rules are statewide. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 671 designates many species as 'restricted' and makes it unlawful to import, transport, or possess them without a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), under the authority of Fish and Game Code Sections 2118 and 2120. Species deemed a threat to native wildlife, agriculture, or public health and safety are flagged as detrimental, and CDFW does not issue permits to keep these wild animals as pets, only for limited purposes such as research, exhibition, education, or shelter. This statewide ban covers animals commonly thought of as exotic pets, including many non-domestic carnivores, primates, certain reptiles, and other wildlife (and California separately bans ferrets as pets). In a high-desert county like Modoc, native wildlife protection is a significant concern, so possession of a restricted species without the proper state permit is unlawful regardless of the absence of a county ordinance. Before acquiring any exotic animal, confirm its status with CDFW, since penalties and permit conditions are set at the state level.