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

Wild, exotic, and non-domestic animals are tightly regulated in unincorporated Nevada County. Under Nevada County General Code Section G-IV 1.55, no person may have, keep, or maintain any wild, exotic, or non-domestic animal without first applying for and receiving special authorization from the Chief of Animal Control, and Animal Control will not issue authorization for any wild animal that requires a state permit until that permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (formerly Fish and Game) is obtained; violation is a misdemeanor. On the zoning side, Sec. 12.03.040 (Animal Keeping and Raising, Table 12.03.040.C) treats wild, exotic, or non-domestic animals as a Use Permit use in the agricultural, rural, and residential-agricultural (RA) districts and as 'Not Allowed' in the standard residential (R1, R2, R3), commercial, and industrial districts. Specific wild or non-domestic animals may also be kept for rehabilitation purposes, and wildlife rehabilitation facilities are allowed only with an administrative permit subject to LUDC Section 3.26. California state law (Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations) separately restricts which species may be possessed at all.