Lake Charles, LA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 4-20
- Scope
- Own, keep, possess, or harbor banned
- Named species
- Lions, bears, alligators, raccoons, wolves
- Helpless-animal exception
- Sec. 4-21, licensed custody required
- Show exception
- USDA-permitted traveling exhibitions
- Enacted
- Ord. No. 17879, June 7, 2017
Summary
Lake Charles bans owning, keeping, possessing or harboring any wild and exotic animal within city limits under Sec. 4-20, naming lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bears, poisonous snakes over seven feet, alligators, raccoons, foxes, wolves, monkeys and other non-domesticated species. Limited exceptions exist for helpless animals in licensed care and traveling shows.
Sec. 4-20. - Wild and exotic animals prohibited. It shall be unlawful to own, keep, possess, maintain, or harbor any "wild and exotic" animal. For purposes of this section "wild and exotic animal" shall mean: (i)Any animal or fowl which is not normally domesticated or kept as a pet;(ii)Any animal or fowl, the majority of which members of the same species are not domesticated;(iii)Any animal or fowl which, as a species, has demonstrated in overt ways or is commonly known to have a propensity to bite or inflict harm on human beings without provocation; including but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bears, poisonous snakes and snakes that can reach a length of over seven feet at maturity, poisonous lizards, poisonous amphibians, alligators, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, foxes, wolves, otters, monkeys, prairie dogs, kangaroos, and apes; or (iv)Wild animals crossbred with domestic animals to create hybrids considered wildlife by the Compendium of Public Health Veterinarians and the Department of Health and Hospitals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-20 makes it unlawful to own, keep, possess, maintain, or harbor any "wild and exotic" animal, defining the term to cover any animal or fowl not normally domesticated or kept as a pet, any species whose members are mostly non-domesticated, any species with a demonstrated or commonly known propensity to bite or harm humans without provocation, and wild-domestic hybrids classified as wildlife by the Compendium of Public Health Veterinarians and the Department of Health and Hospitals. The ordinance lists specific examples covered by the propensity-to-harm prong: lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bears, poisonous snakes, snakes exceeding seven feet at maturity, poisonous lizards, poisonous amphibians, alligators, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, foxes, wolves, otters, monkeys, prairie dogs, kangaroos, and apes. S. 14:102. The current Section 4-20 was enacted by Ord. No. 17879 in 2017, replacing a prior version that instead addressed dangerous animals generally.
Violations & Fines
Section 4-20 does not set a distinct fine, so a violation defaults to Chapter 4's catch-all civil penalty under Sec. 4-71(a)(11): $100.00 for a first offense, $200.00 for a second, and $500.00 for a third or subsequent offense, in addition to any criminal prosecution under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-8 (up to $1,000.00 or six months, or both). Animals found in violation are subject to seizure and impoundment by the director of the parish animal services and adoption center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally keep a pet raccoon or fox in Lake Charles?
Are there any exceptions to the wild animal ban?
What snakes are illegal to own under this ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake Charles
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