Riverside County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

California has one of the most restrictive exotic pet laws in the nation. California Fish & Game Code §2118 and 14 CCR §671 list species that may not be imported, transported, or possessed without a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Prohibited species include most non-domestic cats (lions, tigers, servals, bobcats), primates, most crocodilians, venomous snakes, wolves, wolf-dog hybrids (F4 and earlier generations), ferrets, gerbils (in most of the state), hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and monk parakeets. Legal exotic pets include most parrot species, domestic rabbits, domestic guinea pigs, common non-venomous snakes (ball pythons, corn snakes, king snakes), lizards (bearded dragons, leopard geckos), tortoises (with CDFW permits for native species), and captive-bred rats. Riverside County Ordinance 630 enforces these prohibitions locally and allows Animal Services to seize illegally kept animals. Permits under §2118 are granted only to educational institutions, research facilities, USDA-licensed exhibitors, and qualified rescue operations, not to private individuals as pets.