Georgetown, KY Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Georgetown builds this rule on two definitions in Section 6-19. A vicious animal is any animal that attacks, bites or injures human beings or domesticated animals without adequate provocation, or that, because of temperament, conditioning or training, has a known propensity to attack, bite or injure human beings or domesticated animals. Section 6-23 then states the rule in one sentence: the keeping of a vicious animal is prohibited.

A wild animal is any living member of the animal kingdom, including those born or raised in captivity, except human beings, domestic dogs (excluding hybrids with wolves, coyotes or jackals), domestic cats (excluding hybrids with ocelots or margays), farm animals, rodents, any hybrid animal that is part wild, and captive-bred species of common cage birds. Section 6-26 provides that no person shall own, possess, or otherwise exercise custody over, whether or not on his property, any wild or vicious animal for display, training, or exhibition. AAZPA accredited or educational facilities are exempt from the section.

The operative sentence of Section 6-26 is tied to display, training and exhibition, even though the section heading says the keeping of wild animals is prohibited. Read it with Section 6-27, which bars anyone from taking part as a sponsor, promoter, trainer, spectator or other facilitator in an activity in which a wild animal is compelled to engage in unnatural behavior, is wrestled, fought, harassed, or displayed so that it is stressed mentally or physically. That ban covers public or private events and applies whether or not a fee is charged. All equipment used on a performing animal must fit properly and be in good working condition.

Chapter 6 also prohibits keeping livestock or poultry in the city except as part of a commercial animal establishment permitted under the article or a farming operation on property zoned for agricultural use. A zoological park is defined as a facility, other than a pet shop or kennel, displaying or exhibiting one or more species of non-domesticated animals, and it is one of the commercial animal establishments the chapter lists.