Linn County, IA Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Linn County Code § 6-58
- Covered species
- Wolves, big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes
- Requirement
- Board-issued dangerous animal permit
- Excluded
- Domestic dogs and cats
Summary
Keeping wolves, big cats, bears, primates, venomous snakes and dozens of other wild species in unincorporated Linn County is banned without a board-issued dangerous animal permit.
No person shall keep a dangerous animal in the county except by permit as hereinafter provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Linn County Code § 6-58 makes it unlawful to keep a "dangerous animal" in the county except under a permit issued through Article III of Chapter 6. Section 6-57 defines the covered species by family, from wolves, wolf hybrids and big cats to bears, primates, venomous spiders and constricting snakes, while explicitly excluding domestic dogs and cats. Permits are limited to uses like veterinary care, education, zoos or USDA-compliant facilities under § 6-59, and require the caging, fencing and signage standards in §§ 6-61 through 6-64.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a dangerous animal without a permit lets a law enforcement or animal control officer seize the animal for euthanasia under § 6-69, with confinement costs billed to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a wolf-dog hybrid or a big cat in unincorporated Linn County?
Does this rule apply inside Cedar Rapids?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linn County
Compare Linn County to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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