Fort Smith, AR Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 27-701-1 of the Unified Development Ordinance bans exotic animals within city limits except as maintained by professional handlers, whether the animal was bred wild or in captivity, and including hybrids with domestic species. The banned list runs long: nonhuman primates, all felids except domesticated cats, wolves and wolf hybrids, bears, elephants, marine mammals, crocodilians, marsupials, large ungulates like zebras and rhinoceroses, hyenas, mustelids such as skunks and weasels, raccoons, anteaters and armadillos, civets and mongooses, camels, and whales. Horses, cows, sheep, and llamas are expressly excluded from the ban.