Fairfield, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 3 (Animals and Fowl) prohibits any person owning or having control of any wild species from permitting such animals to run at large in the city, or pasturing, herding, staking, or tying such animals in any street, road, lane, alley, park, or other public place. Wild animals kept on private property must be secured at night within an enclosure (pen, corral, or barn) or restrained by ropes or chains of sufficient strength. The far stronger restrictions, however, come from California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671, which lists 'restricted species' that may not be imported, transported, or possessed in California without a permit issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Restricted species include all big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs), bears, wolves and wolf-hybrids, primates of all species, alligators and crocodiles, most venomous reptiles, ferrets, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and many bird species. Permits under Section 671.1 are generally available only to qualified zoos, research institutions, or licensed exhibitors, not to private pet owners. Common pets such as domestic dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, parakeets, cockatiels, finches, doves, and most lizard and snake species not on the restricted list remain legal in Fairfield.