Plumas County, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Exotic and wild animals are tightly controlled in unincorporated Plumas County. The County Code (Title 6, Chapter 1) provides that possession of any wild or restricted animal within the county is unlawful if prohibited by State law, as set forth in Chapter 2 of the California Fish and Game Code (Sections 2116-2203) and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 671-671.5, as written or later amended. The ordinance further declares that any other possession of a wild or restricted animal is unlawful unless an exception applies. The recognized exceptions are: (1) the animal is lawfully possessed pursuant to State law; (2) a local wild animal permit has been obtained; and (3) the animal is housed in a pen constructed in accordance with county requirements. California's restricted-species list (CCR Title 14 §671) covers many non-native mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians, and CDFA/CDFW generally do not issue permits for keeping such animals as exotic pets. Because the county incorporates state restricted-species law directly and layers a local permit-and-pen requirement on top, would-be owners should verify both state restricted-species status and the local permit before acquiring any wild animal.