Jackson County, GA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 8-78, in chapter 8's general offenses article, makes it 'unlawful to purchase, sell, own, possess, harbor or breed' a named list of wild and exotic species: skunks, foxes, prairie dogs, raccoons, coyotes, wolves, hybrid wolves, any hybrid animal that is part wild animal, exotic cats, or any other wildlife. The only way around the prohibition is a license from the respective federal or state department of agriculture authorizing possession of that specific animal; county animal control has no independent local permitting process for these species.

Because several of the listed animals (foxes, raccoons, skunks) are also treated elsewhere in chapter 8 as high-risk rabies carriers, the exotic-pet ban dovetails with the county's rabies-control article, which bars unlicensed wildlife from being exhibited where it could contact people. An animal held in violation of section 8-78 is subject to seizure and impoundment under the chapter's general impoundment authority, and county animal control disposes of unlicensed wildlife in accordance with state and federal guidelines rather than the standard hold-and-redeem process used for dogs and cats.