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Kootenai County, ID Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

No county species ban list: 5.1.108 sets no specific prohibited species
Core duty: Comply with all federal, state, local wildlife laws
Named agencies: USDA, Idaho Dept of Agriculture, Idaho Fish and Game
Exotic animal defined: Non-native animal not commonly kept as domestic
Penalty class: Misdemeanor, not a civil violation
Enforcement: Punishable under Code 1-4-1

Summary

Kootenai County doesn't license or specifically regulate exotic pets itself. Code 5.1.108 instead requires owners of any exotic or wild animal to follow every applicable federal, state, and local law, naming the USDA, Idaho Department of Agriculture, and Idaho Fish and Game as agencies with jurisdiction, and a violation is a misdemeanor.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kootenai County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

EXOTIC ANIMAL: Any animal which is not native to, or regularly present as a wild animal in, the state of Idaho. Exotic animal does not include any animal commonly accepted as domestic in the United States. ... WILD ANIMAL: Any animal native to or regularly present in the state of Idaho and regulated by the U.S. fish and wildlife service or the Idaho department of fish and game pursuant to the authority of federal or state law. ... 5.1.108: EXOTIC AND WILD ANIMALS: The owner of an exotic or wild animal shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those of the United States department of agriculture, the Idaho department of agriculture, the Idaho department of fish and game, and any other federal, state or local agency with jurisdiction.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Code current through: Ord. 633, passed December 23, 2025).

Full Breakdown

108, titled "Exotic And Wild Animals," doesn't set its own possession limits or list banned species. 103 split the animals this section covers into two categories: an "EXOTIC ANIMAL" is "any animal which is not native to, or regularly present as a wild animal in, the state of Idaho," but the definition excludes "any animal commonly accepted as domestic in the United States," so ordinary pet species that are commonly kept domestically fall outside it. 108 as well, exposing them to county enforcement on top of whatever the state agency does.

Violations & Fines

Violating section 5.1.108 is listed among the misdemeanor offenses in 5.1.110(B)(5), punishable as provided in Code 1-4-1 (5.1.111(C)), unlike the at-large and noise rules in the same chapter, which are only civil violations. Each day of continued noncompliance is a separate offense under 5.1.111(D), and the sheriff can also pursue impoundment of an animal that poses a danger to public health or safety under 5.1.114.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kootenai County ban exotic pets like reptiles or big cats?

The county code doesn't list banned species itself. Section 5.1.108 instead requires the owner of any exotic or wild animal to follow every applicable federal, state, and local law, so if Idaho Fish and Game or the USDA prohibits or permits a species, that state or federal rule controls whether you can keep it here.

What counts as an exotic animal under county code?

Code 5.1.103 defines an exotic animal as any animal that isn't native to, or regularly present as a wild animal in, Idaho, but the definition carves out anything "commonly accepted as domestic in the United States." A separate "wild animal" definition covers Idaho-native species regulated by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What happens if I violate the exotic animal rule?

It's a misdemeanor under 5.1.110(B)(5), punishable as set out in Code 1-4-1, not just a civil fine like the county's leash or noise rules. The sheriff can also impound an exotic or wild animal that poses a danger to public health or safety under the county's general impoundment authority in 5.1.114.

Sources & Official References

[1]Kootenai County Code 5.1.108 (amlegal)

Other rules in Kootenai County

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All Kootenai County rules

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