Celina, TX Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No wild animals allowed, period
- Citation
- City Code § 2.01.010
- Covers
- Foxes, big cats, venomous reptiles, more
- Duration rule
- Applies regardless of captivity length
- Enforcement
- Animal control officer / local health authority
Summary
Celina outright prohibits keeping or selling any wild animal inside city limits, covering dangerous, poisonous, and non-domesticated species.
It shall be unlawful to keep and/or sell any wild animal inside the city. ... Any poisonous or dangerous reptile or any other species of animal that commonly exists in a natural, unconfined state and is usually not domesticated, including but not limited to foxes, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, leopards, panthers, tigers, lions and lynx... This definition shall apply regardless of state or duration of captivity.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 2.01.010 makes it unlawful to keep and/or sell any wild animal inside the city. Section 2.01.001 defines "wild animal" broadly: any poisonous or dangerous reptile, or any species that commonly exists in a natural, unconfined state and is usually not domesticated, the code names foxes, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, leopards, panthers, tigers, lions, and lynx as examples. The definition applies regardless of how long the animal has been in captivity, so a long-tenured exotic pet gets no grandfather protection.
Violations & Fines
Keeping or selling a wild animal violates § 2.01.010; the animal control officer or local health authority can cite the owner and impound the animal under the chapter's enforcement powers in § 2.01.002.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet fox or raccoon in Celina?
Does a scientific certification exempt an animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Celina
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Celina to another location·View the Texas animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle exotic pets.