Chesterfield County, VA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 4-3(a) defines a wild or exotic animal as any live monkey or other nonhuman primate, raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or other warm-blooded mammal normally found in the wild, any poisonous or venomous snake, any tarantula, any other poisonous or venomous animal normally found in the wild, or any crocodilian including alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gavials. It carves out nonpoisonous snakes, ferrets, rabbits, lab rats, gerbils, hamsters and similar small mammals and other captive-bred domesticated animals. Subsection (b) makes it unlawful to keep or permit such an animal on your premises as a pet, for display, or for exhibition for a fee or free, but exempts performing-animal exhibitions, circuses, veterinary clinics, and indoor or outdoor recreational facilities that hold the proper zoning approval and licenses, provided the public is never allowed to pet, fondle or physically contact the animal.

Subsection (c) makes the owner of a wild or exotic animal found running, roaming or otherwise at large off the owner's property responsible for reimbursing the county its actual costs, including the animal warden's or other personnel's time, to locate and capture or otherwise dispose of the animal. Subsection (d) exempts nature centers, refuges or parks owned or operated by federal, state or local government. Section 4-28 separately requires the owner of a dead wild or exotic animal to cremate or bury it immediately, with the animal warden empowered to do so and recover costs from the owner after notice if the owner fails to act.