Evansville, IN Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

EMC 6.05.050 makes maintaining any 'controlled animal,' as defined at EMC 6.05.020, illegal in the City except by special application to and approval of the Animal Control and Education Commission. That definition sweeps in poisonous and venomous species, all primates, nondomestic carnivores, crocodilians, large constrictor snakes such as reticulated pythons and green anacondas, endangered species, fighting cocks, piranha, and sharks over one pound. The same section separately bars keeping any wild or exotic animal in the City without the required State and/or Federal wildlife permits, on top of the local commission approval.