Chino Hills, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- CHMC § 6.16.010(A), Specific Animals Prohibited
- Wild animal definition
- Cal. Fish & Game Code § 2116
- Male goats/bison
- Barred without Equestrian & Large Animal Use Permit
- Owner must
- Relocate animal outside city limits
- False relocation info
- Separate infraction under § 1.36.010
Summary
Chino Hills bans keeping any wild animal on private property. CHMC § 6.16.010(A) prohibits any species commonly referred to as wild, as defined by California Fish and Game Code § 2116, anywhere within city limits, with no residential-acreage exception of the kind that applies to bees or large livestock.
A.Wild Animals. No species of animals commonly referred to as wild as defined in Fish and Game Code Section 2116 may be kept or maintained on any property within the City. ... G.Reclamation Procedures. The owner or custodian of the prohibited animal must relocate the prohibited animal outside of the City and provide the enforcing officer a relocating address outside the City limits or provide the enforcing officer with an intended disposition of the wild animal, male goat, fowl, or bees. H.It is an infraction, subject to punishment in accordance with Section 1.36.010 et seq. of this Code, to provide false information to the enforcing officer regarding a relocation address or disposition of the wild or exotic animal, male goat, swine, or rooster.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
16, Prohibited Animals and Conduct, forbids private ownership of wild animals as defined in Fish and Game Code § 2116, which covers non-domesticated species the state classifies as wild. 24. If the Enforcing Officer discovers a prohibited wild animal, subsection G requires the owner or custodian to relocate it outside city limits and give the Enforcing Officer either a relocation address outside the city or the animal's intended disposition. 36's General Penalty section, to give the Enforcing Officer false information about that relocation address or disposition.
Because the definition runs through the state Fish and Game Code rather than a local list of species, the ordinance effectively bars any animal the state itself treats as wild, and the city has no permit process that authorizes keeping one as a household pet.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild animal defined under Fish and Game Code § 2116 is a code violation the moment the animal is found on the property; the Enforcing Officer can order removal from the city rather than seizure. Lying to the Enforcing Officer about where the animal was relocated, or its disposition, is a separate infraction under Section 1.36.010 et seq.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep an exotic pet like a big cat or primate in Chino Hills?
What must I do if the city finds a prohibited wild animal on my property?
Is it illegal to give the wrong relocation address for a prohibited animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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How other cities in San Bernardino County handle exotic pets.