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

Kings County does not issue blanket permits for keeping wild or exotic animals as pets; the controlling law is California's restricted-species framework. Under California Fish and Game Code Sections 2118 and 2120 and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 671, a long list of 'restricted species' — including many non-domestic cats, bears, primates, certain reptiles and other animals deemed detrimental to native wildlife, agriculture or public safety, or kept for welfare reasons — may not be imported, transported or possessed without a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). CDFW issues these permits only for limited purposes such as research, public exhibition, education or shelter, and does not grant them for keeping a wild animal as a pet. As a result, animals such as monkeys, large or exotic cats, ferrets (which are also restricted in California), and venomous or large constricting snakes are effectively illegal to keep as personal pets statewide, including in unincorporated Kings County. The County's animal code (Chapter 4) recognizes 'domestic animals' as dogs, cats, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds kept as household pets, distinguishing them from wild and exotic species. Anyone considering an unusual animal should verify its status with CDFW before acquiring it, because penalties for illegal possession of restricted species can be significant.