Washington County, OR Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- WCC 6.08.030 (Keeping exotic animals prohibited)
- Banned animals
- Big cats, primates, wild canids, bears, crocodilians, elephants
- Infraction class
- Class A civil infraction
- Fine
- $435 presumptive, up to $2,000/$4,000
- Exceptions
- AZA zoos, vets, research/medical, public agencies
- Enforcement tool
- Seizure under administrative warrant (6.08.080)
Summary
Washington County Code 6.08.030 bans keeping any exotic animal in the unincorporated county, big cats, non-human primates, non-domestic canids, bears other than black bears, crocodilians, and elephants, and bars letting the public have direct contact with one, regardless of the animal's age. Violating the ban is a Class A civil infraction, and the county may seize the animal under an administrative warrant.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.08.040, no person shall keep an exotic animal or allow a member of the public to come into direct contact with an exotic animal, regardless of the age of the animal. Violation of this section is a Class A infraction. [6.08.020.D] "Exotic animal" means:(1)Any member of the family Felidae not indigenous to Oregon, except the species Felis catus (domestic cat);(2)Any nonhuman primate;(3)Any nonwolf member of the family Canidae not indigenous to Oregon, except the species Canis familiaris (domestic dog);(4)Any bear, except the black bear (Ursus americanus);(5)Any member of the order Crocodylia; and(6)Elephants.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
D to include any non-indigenous member of the cat family other than the domestic cat, any nonhuman primate, any non-wolf member of the dog family other than the domestic dog, any bear except the black bear, any member of the order Crocodylia, and elephants. 010 explain the rationale: exotic animals 'are a safety risk to the public and should not be kept outside their natural environment,' and the county also wants to stop the public from coming into 'direct contact' with one, defined broadly enough to include posing for a photo without a permanent barrier.
040 carves out four narrow exceptions: accredited educational or medical institutions using the animal for research or treatment, government-employed or Oregon-licensed veterinarians treating the animal, public agencies keeping one for a public purpose, and AZA-accredited or AZA-application-pending zoos. Anyone transporting an exotic animal directly to one of those excepted institutions is also exempt. 080.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a prohibited exotic animal, or letting the public have direct contact with one, is a Class A civil infraction under WCC 6.08.070: a $435 presumptive fine under WCC 1.12.210's schedule, with a minimum of $220 and a cap of $2,000 for an individual or $4,000 for a corporation. Each day of continued violation counts as a separate offense, and the animal itself may be seized under an administrative warrant at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a big cat or monkey in unincorporated Washington County?
Does the ban apply to a petting-zoo photo op?
What happens if animal services finds someone keeping a banned animal?
Is there any exception for zoos?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon animal ordinances overview
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