Little Rock, AR Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Little Rock Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-42
- Banned classes
- Carnivora, innately wild animals, nonhuman primates, venomous reptiles
- Conduct covered
- Sale, possession, maintenance or keeping
- Institutional exceptions
- Little Rock Zoo; Museum of Science and History; bona fide circuses and carnivals; research or educational institutions
- Only individual exception
- Arkansas Herpetological Society professionals with prior zoo director approval
- Grace period
- Three days after notice
- Required action
- Removal of the animal from the city
- Ordinance history
- Ord. No. 18,668, § 3, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 18,959, § 4, 10-7-03
Summary
Little Rock Sec. 6-42 makes the sale, possession, maintenance or keeping of carnivora, innately wild animals, nonhuman primates and venomous reptiles unlawful within the city. The exceptions are institutional: the Little Rock Zoo, the Museum of Science and History, bona fide circuses and carnivals, research or educational institutions, and professional members of the Arkansas Herpetological Society who have prior approval from the director of the Little Rock Zoo. After notice, there is a three-day grace period to remove the animal from the city before the penalty applies.
The sale, possession, maintenance or keeping of carnivora, innately wild animals, nonhuman primates and venomous reptiles within the city is unlawful.(c)Subsection (b) of this section does not apply to:(1)The Little Rock Zoo.(2)The Museum of Science and History.(3)Bona fide circuses and carnivals.(4)Research or educational institutions complying with applicable laws and regulations.(5)Professional members of the Arkansas Herpetological Society who have received prior approval from the director of the Little Rock Zoo.(d)There shall be a three-day grace period after notice for removal of the innately wild animal from the city before the penalty for violation of this section shall be imposed. (Ord. No. 18,668, § 3, 4-2-02; Ord. No. 18,959, § 4, 10-7-03)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-42(b) reaches more than ownership. It makes unlawful the "sale, possession, maintenance or keeping" of the covered animals within the city, so a shop offering one for sale, a person holding one temporarily, and someone caring for an animal that belongs to a friend are all inside the prohibition. There is no permit path written into the section for an individual pet owner.
The covered classes are carnivora, innately wild animals, nonhuman primates and venomous reptiles. The carnivora grouping is what sweeps in bears, wolf-hybrids, big cats, raccoons, weasels and civets, which is why a hand-raised raccoon or a wolf-hybrid dog is not treated as an ordinary pet in Little Rock. "Innately wild animals" then works as a catch-all beyond the named orders, so an animal does not escape Sec. 6-42 simply because it is not a carnivore, a primate, or venomous.
Subsection (c) lists what subsection (b) does not apply to, and the list is built around institutions rather than households. It covers the Little Rock Zoo, the Museum of Science and History, bona fide circuses and carnivals, and research or educational institutions "complying with applicable laws and regulations," which makes that exception conditional: an institution out of compliance with the laws that govern it is not sheltered by (c)(4). The word "bona fide" does similar work on circuses and carnivals.
The only exception written for an individual is Sec. 6-42(c)(5), for professional members of the Arkansas Herpetological Society who have received prior approval from the director of the Little Rock Zoo. Both halves are required, and the approval must be prior. Bringing a venomous reptile into Little Rock and seeking approval afterward is not what (c)(5) describes.
Subsection (d) supplies the only breathing room. There is a three-day grace period after notice for removal of the innately wild animal from the city before the penalty for violating the section is imposed. Two details matter: the clock starts at notice, not at the moment the city learns of the animal, and the required step is removal from the city, not simply moving it indoors or to another address in Little Rock.
The section was adopted by Ord. No. 18,668, § 3, on 4-2-02 and amended by Ord. No. 18,959, § 4, on 10-7-03.
Violations & Fines
Possession, sale, maintenance or keeping of a covered animal is unlawful under Sec. 6-42(b). Under Sec. 6-42(d), an owner who receives notice has a three-day grace period to remove the innately wild animal from the city before the penalty for violation of the section is imposed. Meeting an exception in Sec. 6-42(c) is what avoids liability, and for an individual the only route is professional membership in the Arkansas Herpetological Society with prior approval from the director of the Little Rock Zoo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a pet raccoon or fox in Little Rock?
Is there any way to legally keep a venomous snake?
Does the ban cover selling as well as owning?
What happens if the city finds out I have one?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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