Gilroy, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Gilroy City Code § 4.45(a) requires an animal control permit from the administrator before any person may have, keep, maintain or possess an elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, wolf, wolf hybrid, monkey, any poisonous or venomous reptile, or any other wild, exotic, dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile. Beyond the general animal-establishment standards in § 4.44, § 4.45(b) lets the administrator deny or revoke the permit on a finding that the animal cannot be kept without endangering people, property, or the public, that keeping it would be a public nuisance, or that the animal would be subject to suffering, neglect, cruelty or abuse.

Section 4.45(c) allows the administrator to condition the permit on caging, tethering or restraint requirements that meet or exceed state or federal zoo-facility guidelines. Two categories are exempt from the permit under § 4.45(d): zoos, universities, colleges, government research agencies and bona fide scientific institutions doing scientific or public-health research, and commonly kept exotic household pets lawfully sold in pet shops, such as tarantulas, lizards, iguanas and chinchillas. Sections 4.45(e) and (f) single out wolf hybrids: the administrator may deny a permit for any F1 generation wolf hybrid whelped after February 4, 1988, and for one whelped on or before that date unless the owner submits a copy of the state Department of Fish and Game permit issued under 14 Cal.

Code Regs. § 671(c)(2)(K)(2)(a); an F1 wolf hybrid permit may also be denied if the animal is not licensed and vaccinated under Gilroy City Code §§ 4.27 through 4.29.