Kings County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Adequate confinement required, not outright ban
- Definition excludes
- Birds, small rodents, small reptiles
- Escape duty
- Immediate notice to animal control
- Release
- Importing/releasing wild animals barred
Summary
Kings County bars keeping a wild animal unless the owner provides confinement adequate to protect public peace, health, and safety, and separately bans importing or releasing any wild animal into the county.
No person shall have, keep or maintain any wild animal unless adequate provisions are made for its confinement and control to insure the maintenance of public peace, health and safety. ... A wild animal is an animal or reptile which is wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in Kings County. This definition does not include birds, small rodents or small, nonpoisonous reptiles commonly used for educational or experimental purposes or for pets.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
County Code section 4-91 bars anyone from having, keeping, or maintaining a wild animal without confinement and control adequate to protect public peace, health, and safety. Section 4-92 defines 'wild animal' as any animal or reptile wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in Kings County, expressly excluding birds, small rodents, and small nonpoisonous reptiles kept for education or as pets. An escaped wild animal must be reported to the animal control officer immediately, and section 4-95 separately bars anyone from importing or releasing a wild animal into the county, native or not.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a wild animal without adequate confinement, failing to report an escape immediately, or importing or releasing a wild animal into the county are each violations enforced by the animal control officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally keep an exotic animal in unincorporated Kings County?
What counts as a 'wild animal' under county code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.