Coeur d'Alene, ID Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 6.15.020 prohibits five separate acts involving an exotic or hybrid animal within the city limits: to own, keep, maintain, display or offer for sale. The section has one exception, temporary traveling exhibitions such as circuses staged for public entertainment or education, and it sets up no permit or license route for a private owner.

The reach comes from the definition in section 6.05.030. An exotic animal is any animal that is not a domestic animal, and a domestic animal is a pet animal, domestic livestock or domestic fowl. The definition sweeps in all animals regulated by the state of Idaho as deleterious exotic animals or wildlife, and lists alligators, crocodiles, bears, all cats other than the commonly accepted domesticated cats (such as cheetah, leopard, lion, lynx, panther, cougar, bobcat and tiger), all dogs other than domesticated dogs (such as wolf, fox and coyote), porcupines, nonhuman primates, raccoons, skunks, venomous fish and piranhas, venomous snakes and lizards, and weasels other than ferrets. A hybrid animal is an animal that is a cross between a domestic animal and an exotic animal, so a cross between a domestic dog and a wolf falls under the ban.

Snakes are handled in two places. Nonpoisonous snakes and other small nonpoisonous reptiles count as pet animals under section 6.05.030, while venomous snakes and lizards are exotic. Section 6.15.030 adds that public display, possession or maintenance of a dangerous pet snake on public property within the city limits is prohibited; a dangerous pet snake is any pet snake capable of inflicting physical harm or death to people.

Enforcement sits with the police department. Under section 6.05.050 the police chief designates the animal control officers, who can apprehend and impound animals found in violation and issue citations or notices of violation. Under section 6.05.060 an officer can secure or take possession of any animal in plain view that the officer reasonably believes to be in violation of the title.