Franklin County, OH Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Section 935.02 | Possession of dangerous wild animal prohibited. No person shall possess a dangerous wild animal on or after January 1, 2014. (B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, sell, trade, or transfer possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal on or after the effective date of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, a person that operates a rescue facility may acquire, except by purchase, possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal if one of the following applies:

(a) Prior to January 1, 2014, the person is authorized to do so by the director of agriculture in accordance with procedures adopted by the director.

(b) On or after January 1, 2014, the person has obtained a rescue facility permit under section 935.101 of the Revised Code.

Section 935.03 | Exceptions.

(A) Division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code does not apply to any of the following:

(1) A person to which all of the following apply:

(a) The person possesses a dangerous wild animal.

(b) The person has been issued a license by the United States department of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act.

(c) The director of agriculture has determined that the person is in the process of becoming an accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of America.

(d) The director has informed the person that the person is exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code.