Georgetown, TX Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

The City of Georgetown prohibits a long list of wild and exotic animals under Title 7, Section 7.06.020.A. It is unlawful to keep or harbor within the City limits individual species or subspecies including lions, tigers, ocelots, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, hyenas, bears, lesser pandas, ferrets from natural habitats, binturong, ostriches, emus, miniature pigs, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, apes, venomous reptiles, non-venomous reptiles over six feet in length, alligators, crocodiles, elephants, rhinoceros, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bats, wolves, dangerous animals, or any hybrid of these animals. Title 7 separately defines an 'exotic animal' as an animal, reptile, fish or bird born or whose natural habitat is outside the continental United States, and a 'dangerous animal' to include venomous or carnivorous fish or reptiles and any fish or reptile that grows over six feet. Section 7.06.020.B provides narrow exceptions: AZA-accredited zoological parks, federally licensed research institutions, government agencies using the animal for education or propagation programs, and persons holding a valid Texas Parks and Wildlife rehabilitation permit for animals being readied for release. Section 7.06.030 also prohibits keeping any wild, exotic or dangerous animal for public display or exhibition, whether free or for a fee, except theatrical exhibits. Texas law (Health & Safety Code Chapter 822, Subchapter E) additionally regulates dangerous wild animals statewide.