Cranston, RI Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No wild animal allowed in city
- Exemptions
- Circuses, zoos, educational institutions
- Bite/injury penalty
- $500 fine, 20 days jail, or both
- Escaped animals
- May be destroyed by dog officer
Summary
Cranston bans keeping wild animals within city limits except as fixed by the dog officer, with exemptions for circuses, zoos, and educational institutions; owners of exotic, wild, or hybrid animals face steep fines if the animal injures someone.
No wild animal may be kept within the city limits, except under such conditions as shall be fixed by the dog officer, provided, however, that wild animals may be kept for exhibiting purposes by circuses, zoos, and educational institutions, in accordance with such regulations shall be established by the dog officer. Any wild animal which escapes and is found at large may be destroyed by the dog officer or any police officer of this city.
F. The owner of any known fierce, dangerous or vicious dog shall be responsible for its actions and should the animal bite or otherwise inflict any injury upon any person or persons, he or she shall be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first offense; one hundred dollars ($100.00) or twenty (20) days in jail for the second offense; one hundred dollars ($100.00) or thirty (30) days in jail for the third offense or any subsequent offense thereafter.
G. The owner of any exotic/wild/hybrid animal as defined in Section 6.08.010, shall be responsible for its actions and should the animal bite or otherwise inflict any injury upon any person or persons, he or she shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) per violation, or twenty (20) days in jail, or both. (Prior code § 4-9; Ord. 2017-43, § 4, 12/18/2017)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Under Cranston Code § 6.08.080(E), no wild animal may be kept within city limits except under conditions fixed by the dog officer; circuses, zoos, and educational institutions may keep wild animals for exhibiting purposes under dog-officer regulations. Section 6.08.010 defines "exotic/wild/hybrid animals" to include venomous snakes, alligators, crocodiles, chimpanzees, wolves, hybrid dogs, skunks, raccoons, bats, groundhogs, and wild/hybrid cats such as Savannah, Bengal, and Toyger breeds. Under § 6.08.080(G), the owner of any exotic/wild/hybrid animal that bites or injures a person is subject to a $500 fine per violation, 20 days in jail, or both. An escaped wild animal found at large can be destroyed by the dog officer or a police officer.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild animal without dog-officer authorization violates the code; if a covered animal bites or injures someone, the owner faces a $500 fine per violation, up to 20 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet snake, alligator, or wolf hybrid in Cranston?
What happens if my exotic pet bites someone in Cranston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
Compare Cranston to another location·View the Rhode Island animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle exotic pets.