Denver, CO Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited category
- Any living wild or hazardous animal
- Named bans
- Venomous reptiles, large snakes, crocodilians, scorpions
- Enforcing agency
- Denver Animal Protection
- Governing section
- Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-72
- Exempted pets
- Cats, dogs, ferrets, chinchillas, hamsters, rabbits
Summary
Denver outlaws owning, keeping, or selling venomous reptiles, monitor lizards, large snakes, crocodilians, venomous spiders, scorpions, and nearly all non-domestic mammals within city limits, with only narrow exemptions for approved organizations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep, maintain, feed, harbor, transport or sell within the city any living wild or hazardous animal... Wild or hazardous animal...shall mean and include any and all species of the following: (1) Poisonous or venomous reptiles; (2) Monitor lizards and Tegu lizard; (3) Non-venomous snakes with a length greater than six (6) feet; (4) Crocodilians; (5) Venomous spiders; (6) Scorpions; (7) All species of nonhuman mammals except...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Under DRMC § 8-72, it is unlawful to own, possess, keep, maintain, feed, harbor, transport, or sell any living wild or hazardous animal in Denver. The ordinance names poisonous or venomous reptiles, monitor and Tegu lizards, non-venomous snakes over six feet, crocodilians, venomous spiders, and scorpions, and it bans virtually all nonhuman mammal species by default. A short list of domestic species is carved out, cats, dogs, ferrets, chinchillas, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, lab mice and rats, rabbits, listed livestock, plus hedgehogs and sugar gliders, and honey bees and wild birds are excluded from the ban entirely.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a prohibited wild or hazardous animal is enforced by Denver Animal Protection under the Code's general penalty provision (Sec. 1-13); the department can seize the animal and cite the owner into Denver County Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet snake in Denver?
Are hedgehogs or sugar gliders legal pets in Denver?
What happens if I'm caught with a banned exotic animal in Denver?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.