Laurens County, SC Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 4-6(e) prohibits owning, possessing, harboring or keeping any carnivore in Laurens County that is both normally not domesticated and not native or indigenous to South Carolina. Chapter 4's definitions sweep in raccoons, foxes, skunks, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, wolf-dogs, weasels, civet cats, spotted skunks, lynx and any offspring crossbred between such wild animals and domestic dogs or cats. The ban does not apply to an animal kept under a permit issued by the Laurens County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Division, or under a federal Class A, B or C license issued by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture authorizing a breeder, dealer, exhibitor or auction operator, or as otherwise allowed by state law. Animal control may grant a permit for a zoological park, a transit circus, carnival or fair, or for research or breeding by a governmental or educational agency, subject to review by the Sheriff. Anyone applying for a permit, other than one exempted under federal law or issued to a government or educational institution, must submit proof of liability insurance of at least $50,000.00 covering personal injuries the carnivore inflicts, kept in force for the whole permit period.

Any carnivore kept in Laurens County in violation of Sec. 4-6(e) is confiscated by a deputy or another assisting officer and, at animal control's discretion, is euthanized, released to the wild, or otherwise humanely disposed of based on the circumstances and applicable law, under Sec. 4-7(f).