Hesperia, CA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Animal cap
- Two exotic animals per property
- Permit term
- 36 months initial, then annual renewal
- Other permits needed
- County health dept. and Fish and Game
- Allowed zones
- Single-family residential or agricultural only
Summary
Hesperia allows exotic animals only in single-family or agricultural zones with a special use permit good for 36 months, capped at two animals per property unless a zoo or menagerie CUP is approved.
The keeping of exotic animals shall be permitted in a single-family residential or agricultural designation subject to the requirements of this section. ... No more than two exotic animals over the age of six months may be kept as an accessory use to a single-family residence, unless a conditional use permit for a menagerie or zoo has been approved;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 24 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Applicants file with the planning division and pay a council-set fee; review is administrative with notice to neighbors and includes a city-approved veterinarian's statement on the animal's temperament. The permit only takes effect once the owner also holds a county public health department permit and a State Department of Fish and Game permit. Conditions require the animal have adequate exercise space, comply with all development-code setbacks from property lines, and keep any noise, odor, or activity contained on site. Initial permits run 36 months, with 12-month renewals afterward.
Violations & Fines
Keeping an unpermitted exotic animal is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement action, and the reviewing authority can decline to renew or can revoke the special use permit for noncompliance with its conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an exotic animal under Hesperia's code?
Can I keep more than two exotic animals in Hesperia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hesperia
California rules heatmap·Compare Hesperia to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle exotic pets.