Kent County, DE Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 205-35(A) bars anyone in unincorporated Kent County from possessing a dangerous animal, a category the ordinance treats as including animals exotic to Delaware because they cannot adapt to human companionship and endanger firefighters, police officers, utility workers and the public. Subsection B carves out two exemptions. First, a property or person already legally permitted for the purpose, such as a zoological park, licensed wildlife rehabilitator, licensed veterinarian, bona fide educational or medical institution, an animal shelter as defined by 7 Del. § 1701, or a traveling circus, carnival or exhibit, may keep such animals.

Second, anyone who already possessed an animal exotic to Delaware before the section's effective date may continue to keep it, but only if they do not breed or attempt to breed it, obtain a permit for it under 3 Del. § 7201 from the Delaware Department of Agriculture within 30 days of the effective date, and acquire no additional dangerous animals. Enforcement runs through the Kent County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the State Office of Animal Welfare, either of which may impound an animal kept in apparent violation, with the SPCA authorized to dispose of it under 3 Del.

C. Chapter 80. Because § 205-35 carries its own penalty and enforcement clause, it operates outside the Chapter 205 general zoning penalty at § 205-426 that backs most other Article IV provisions.